Grantee Research Project Results

Prediction of Nonlinear Climate Variations Impacts on Eutrophication and Ecosystem Processes and Evaluation of Adaptation Measures in Urban and Urbanizing Watersheds

EPA Grant Number: R835866
Title: Prediction of Nonlinear Climate Variations Impacts on Eutrophication and Ecosystem Processes and Evaluation of Adaptation Measures in Urban and Urbanizing Watersheds
Investigators: Barber, Michael , Clark, Brett , Goel, Ramesh , Hinners, Sarah , Burian, Steven
Current Investigators: Barber, Michael , Goel, Ramesh , Burian, Steven , Hinners, Sarah , Clark, Brett
Institution: University of Utah
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2018 (Extended to August 31, 2021)
Project Amount: $1,250,000
RFA: National Priorities: Systems-Based Strategies to Improve The Nation’s Ability to Plan And Respond to Water Scarcity and Drought Due to Climate Change (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water

Objective:

The overall project goal is to develop an improved system-wide quality and quantity model of the Jordan River watershed that can be used by stakeholders to improve sustainable planning efforts related to water supply and demand forecasting, TMDL planning and implementation, policy decisions related to urban growth and water projects, and public education and outreach. Researchers from Engineering, Planning, and Sociology will utilize a unique combination of widely available process models for hydrodynamics, stormwater, hydrology, reservoir management, and land use planning, to explore holistic watershed approaches that look to participatory solutions to establish and improve resiliency and vulnerability metrics for urban water resources management. The dynamic models of surface water flows and water quality will be used under historic, projected, and climate-impacted projected scenarios to help establish which adaptive solutions fit within the societal context of stakeholders. The impacts of climate change on extreme events and future ecological responses will be studied using field and laboratory analyses with results transferred to our process models to improve prediction capabilities. By evaluating stakeholder based futuristic scenarios, the work expects to demonstrate the necessary collaborative actions to protect ecosystems and secure water for future generations in the face of climate change and population expansion. The project also intends to improve educational training to encourage the next generation workforce to look holistically at the challenges and opportunities with regard to sustainable communities.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 27 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 10 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

nutrients, sediment oxygen demand, integrated assessment, Conservation, reuse, socio-economic, public policy

Progress and Final Reports:

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.