Publications
The majority of publications in this section address water resources in Utah or in bordering states. Some of the publications are included because one or more of the authors work at the Utah Water Science Center but have provided expertise to studies in other geographic areas.
Filter Total Items: 916
Evaluating distributed snow model resolution and meteorology parameterizations against streamflow observations: Finer Is not always better Evaluating distributed snow model resolution and meteorology parameterizations against streamflow observations: Finer Is not always better
Estimating snow conditions is often done using numerical snowpack evolution models at spatial resolutions of 500 m and greater; however, snow depth in complex terrain often varies on sub-meter scales. This study investigated how the spatial distribution of simulated snow conditions varied across seven model spatial resolutions from 30 to 1,000 m and over two meteorological data sets...
Authors
Theodore Barnhart, Annie Putman, Aaron Heldmyer, David M. Rey, John C. Hammond, Jessica Driscoll, Graham A. Sexstone
Isotopic evaluation of the National Water Model reveals missing agricultural irrigation contributions to streamflow across the western United States Isotopic evaluation of the National Water Model reveals missing agricultural irrigation contributions to streamflow across the western United States
The National Water Model (NWM) provides critical analyses and projections of streamflow that support water management decisions. However, the NWM performs poorly in lower-elevation rivers of the western United States (US). The accuracy of the NWM depends on the fidelity of the model inputs and the representation and calibration of model processes and water sources. To evaluate the NWM...
Authors
Annie Putman, Patrick Longley, Morgan McDonnell, James E. Reddy, Michelle Katoski, Olivia Miller, J. Brooks
Remotely mapping gullying and incision in Maryland Piedmont headwater streams using repeat airborne lidar Remotely mapping gullying and incision in Maryland Piedmont headwater streams using repeat airborne lidar
Headwater streams can contribute significant amounts of fine sediment to downstream waterways, especially when severely eroded and incised. Potential upstream sediment source identification is crucial for effective management of water quality, aquatic habitat, and sediment loads in a watershed. This study explored topographic openness (TO) derived from 1-m lidar for its ability to...
Authors
Marina Metes, Andrew Miller, Matthew Baker, Kristina Hopkins, Daniel Jones
Low flows from drought and water use reduced total dissolved solids fluxes in the Lower Colorado River Basin between 1976 to 2008 Low flows from drought and water use reduced total dissolved solids fluxes in the Lower Colorado River Basin between 1976 to 2008
Study area:We evaluated the Virgin, Verde, Salt, and Gila Rivers in the Lower Colorado River Basin. The watersheds have extents in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, US and Sonora, MX.Study focus:We calculated trends in total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations and fluxes with the Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge and Season model. The modeling framework leverages daily streamflow and...
Authors
Annie Putman, Hannah Mcilwain, Christine Rumsey, Thomas Marston
Temporal variability in irrigated land and climate influences on salinity loading across the Upper Colorado River Basin, 1986-2017 Temporal variability in irrigated land and climate influences on salinity loading across the Upper Colorado River Basin, 1986-2017
Freshwater salinization is a growing global concern impacting human and ecosystem needs with impacts to water availability for human and ecological uses. In the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB), dissolved solids in streams compound ongoing water supply challenges to further limit water availability and cause economic damages. Much effort has been dedicated to understanding dissolved...
Authors
Olivia Miller, Annie Putman, Richard Smith, Gregory Schwarz, Michael Hess, Morgan McDonnell, Daniel Jones
Assessment of managed aquifer recharge at Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington County, Utah, updated to conditions through 2018 Assessment of managed aquifer recharge at Sand Hollow Reservoir, Washington County, Utah, updated to conditions through 2018
Sand Hollow Reservoir in Washington County, Utah, was completed in March 2002 and is operated primarily for managed aquifer recharge by the Washington County Water Conservancy District. Sand Hollow Reservoir has remained nearly full since 2006 because of surface-water diversions of about 288,000 acre-feet (acre-ft) from 2002 through 2018. Groundwater levels in monitoring wells near the...
Authors
Thomas Marston
Integrated science strategy for assessing and monitoring water availability and migratory birds for terminal lakes across the Great Basin, United States Integrated science strategy for assessing and monitoring water availability and migratory birds for terminal lakes across the Great Basin, United States
Executive SummaryIn 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) established the Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment (IWAAs) to monitor and assess the hydrology of terminal lakes in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife dependent on those habitats. Scientists from across the USGS (with specialties in water quantity, water quality, limnology...
Authors
Rebecca Frus, Cameron Aldridge, Michael Casazza, Collin Eagles-Smith, Garth Herring, Scott Hynek, Daniel Jones, Susan Kemp, Thomas Marston, Christopher M. Morris, Ramon Naranjo, Cee Nell, David R. O'Leary, Cory Overton, Bryce A. Pulver, Brian Reichert, Christine A. Rumsey, Rudy Schuster, Cassandra Smith
Assessing exposure of northern Utah communities to dust from the contaminated and dynamic Great Salt Lake playa Assessing exposure of northern Utah communities to dust from the contaminated and dynamic Great Salt Lake playa
No abstract available.
Authors
Annie Putman, Molly Blakowski, Morgan McDonnell, Destry DiViesti, Diego Fernandez, Patrick Longley, Daniel Jones
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in United States tapwater: Comparison of underserved private-well and public-supply exposures and associated health implications Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in United States tapwater: Comparison of underserved private-well and public-supply exposures and associated health implications
Drinking-water quality is a rising concern in the United States (US), emphasizing the need to broadly assess exposures and potential health effects at the point-of-use. Drinking-water exposures to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a national concern, however, there is limited information on PFAS in residential tapwater at the point-of-use, especially from private-wells. We...
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Kristin Romanok, Paul Bradley, Matthew Morriss, James L. Gray, Leslie Kanagy, Stephanie Gordon, Brianna Williams, Sara Breitmeyer, Daniel Jones, Laura DeCicco, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Tyler Wagner
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center
Quantifying stream-loss recovery in a spring using dual-tracer injections in the Snake Creek drainage, Great Basin National Park, Nevada, USA Quantifying stream-loss recovery in a spring using dual-tracer injections in the Snake Creek drainage, Great Basin National Park, Nevada, USA
Simultaneous short-pulse injections of two tracers (sodium bromide [Br–] and fluorescein dye) were made in a losing reach of Snake Creek in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, USA, to evaluate the quantity of stream loss through permeable carbonates that resurfaces at a spring approximately 10 km down drainage. A revised hydrogeologic cross section for a possible flow path of the...
Authors
C. Eric Humphrey, Philip Gardner, Lawrence Spangler, Nora Nelson, Laura Toran, D. Solomon
A review of current capabilities and science gaps in water supply data, modeling, and trends for water availability assessments in the Upper Colorado River Basin A review of current capabilities and science gaps in water supply data, modeling, and trends for water availability assessments in the Upper Colorado River Basin
The Colorado River is a critical water resource in the southwestern United States, supplying drinking water for 40 million people in the region and water for irrigation of 2.2 million hectares of land. Extended drought in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCOL) and the prospect of a warmer climate in the future pose water availability challenges for those charged with managing the river...
Authors
Fred Tillman, Natalie Day, Matthew P. Miller, Olivia Miller, Christine Rumsey, Daniel Wise, Patrick Longley, Morgan McDonnell
Spatial patterns and seasonal timing of increasing riverine specific conductance from 1998 to 2018 suggest legacy contamination in the Delaware River Basin Spatial patterns and seasonal timing of increasing riverine specific conductance from 1998 to 2018 suggest legacy contamination in the Delaware River Basin
Increasing salinization of freshwater threatens water supplies that support a range of human and ecological uses. The latest assessments of Delaware River Basin (DRB) surface-water-quality changes indicate widespread salinization has occurred in recent decades, which may lead to meaningful degradation in water quality. To better understand how and when salinity transport occurs and...
Authors
Christine Rumsey, John C. Hammond, Jennifer Murphy, Megan Shoda, Alexander Soroka