Overall Project Description
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Study Site |
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The study area (Fig. 2) is located in the Weber River Basin of northern Utah (41.34N 111.48W), where there are two main drainages at Bear Creek (11 km2) and Frost Creek (9 km2). Elevation of the study watersheds ranges from 2171 m to 2678 m. Meteorological stations that measure precipitation, snow depth, solar radiation, temperature, wind speed, and soil temperature were installed in 2004 at the top of Bear catchment and at the confluence of Bear and Frost creeks. In addition, there are two local SNOTEL sites, one on the west ridge of Frost catchment and the other ca. 2 km southeast of the confluence. Mean annual precipitation is 917 mm; the majority of which is snow. Bear Creek and Frost Creek are gauged, and the summer baseflow is 25 L s-1 and 28 L s-1, respectively. Both creeks experience a steep snowmelt peak in late May to early June, when discharge exceeds 1500 L s-1. Information on topography and vegetation cover can be found at |
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Members |
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PI |
Current Graduate Students Soil Water |
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Projects |
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Current 1. Hillslope-Stream Connectivity in Aspen and Conifer Hillslopes |
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Completed 5. Linking quantified lateral flow gains to catchment attributes in a paired watershed study |
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Related 7. Vegetation Manipulation project |
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Current Graduate Students |
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1. Amy Burke (Supervisor: Dr. Tamao Kasahara)
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Hillslope-Stream Connectivity in Aspen and Conifer Hillslopes |
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2. Jason McClure (Supervisor: Drs. Matt Baker & Tamao Kasahara)
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Analyzing the controls of watershed topographic attributes on water residence time Water residence time within watersheds is thought to be controlled primarily by topographical constraints of gradient, aspect, and contributing area. We intend to evaluate these attributes, in conjunction with vegetation differences (aspen, conifer, sagebrush/open), as predictors of water residence time within a gradient of watershed sizes. Our driving hypothesis states that residence time variability will decrease with an increase in watershed contributing area, and that the variability can be explained by gradient, aspect, and/or vegetation. In particular, we are interested in the snowmelt portion of these watershed’s hydrographs, as this proportion of water is the most difficult to predict, yet is the most significant contributor to downstream quantity and quality of water. We will use isotopic analysis of water from snowmelt and streamwater, in conjunction with streamflow measurements, to obtain an estimate of upslope residence time of water. In addition to residence time, we are also interested in describing the biogeochemistry of the riparian areas that connect hillslope processes to in stream ecosystems. We believe that hillslope characteristics (aspect, slope, and vegetation), thus residence time, will drive the quantity and quality of nutrient flux (C, N, P, etc.) to and through near stream ecosystems. With a landscape analysis of our results, we hope to model rates of nutrient processing and export based on simple metrics obtained and analyzed through GIS. By continuously sampling streamwater via a network of stream sampling stations, we can then begin to contemplate seasonal rates of nutrient flux throughout landscape scales of the Wasatch Mountains and the Intermountain West. |
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3. Lauren Ducas (Supervisor: Dr. Ron Ryel)
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Effects of snow and rain removal of understory community in aspen forests Soil water content may determine if the interactions between aspen and its understory are facilitative, neutral, or competitive. Moisture content may also determine the yearly biomass production. This will be assessed by modifying the overwinter recharge of water available to plants. Snow at Deseret will be controlled by the use of snow fences. A peak snow survey will be conducted in areas treated by the snow fences and compared with untreated areas to understand the degree of snow reduction in the experimental plots. A community effects index that uses biomass production as an input will be used to determine the intensity of the aspen-understory interaction |
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Completed Projects |
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1. Brooke Shakespeare (Supervisor: Dr. Mike Gooseff)
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Linking Quantified Lateral Flow Gains to Catchment Attributes in a Paired Watershed Study Stream flow at 26 stations and flow gains/losses for 24 stream reaches throughout two paired headwater catchments were measured synoptically using novel dilution gauging techniques on three occasions during the seasonal discharge recession. Laterally contributing landscape characteristics were determined from digital elevation data and investigated for relationships with the flow gains and losses. Temporal variations in these catchment stream connections were quantified from the synoptic samplings. Additional comparative analysis of streamflow generation during baseflow in these two catchments was done through a qualitative assessment of stream chemistry and geological formations. Results showed that each stream consisted of gaining and loosing reaches rather than a continuum of flow gains moving downstream. Of the landscape characteristics investigated, contributing area was the most dominant explanatory variable in explaining flow gains and losses for both catchments and accounted for as much as 83% of the variation in flow gains for one of the catchments. The regression relationship strength and slope deteriorated for the later synoptic samplings in both catchments, suggesting a drying out of hillslopes and a relative increase in hydrologic control by another variable. Stream chemistry patterns for some constituents were explained by catchment lithology patterns; concentrations were significantly (p-value < 0.01) different between the two catchments, suggesting older source water for one of the catchments. |
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2. Eric LaMalfa ( Supervisor: Dr. Ron Ryel) |
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