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guzzler project
Truckee River hyporheic pilot
Truckee River spill modeling
Khorezm research
HSPF model
wetland model
Truckee R isotopes
Blue Mesa
Shasta CE-QUAL-W2
Truckee R spill model
       

 

Current and Past

bulletUsing wildlife guzzlers to estimate precipitation and runoff in remote catchments:  We are investigating the feasibility of instrumenting wildlife guzzlers to enhance knowledge of the hydrologic cycle and water use in remote catchments in Nevada.
 
bulletHyporheic influences on the Truckee River:  We are using temperature approaches to investigate select reaches of the Truckee River to estimate the potential influence of hyporheic exchange on the Truckee River.
 
bulletDevelopment of Truckee River spill modelUsing additional dye study data provided by 2006 data from the USGS and surveyed cross sections of the Truckee River, we are calibrating and applying a new spill model for the Truckee River.  This model will predict surface water spill concentrations at water treatment plant intakes for spills of high risk on the Truckee River.
 
bulletInvestigation of water resources in Khorezm, Uzbekistan to see if irrigation runoff lakes may provide a viable water resource for inhabitants of the Khorezm province; Classrooms without borders Link to Nevada News (4/25/2008)
 
bulletInterdisciplinary modeling for aquatic ecosystems curriculum development workshop

 

bulletHSPF modeling to predict changes in nitrogen uptake and nitrogen assimilative capacity due to Truckee River restoration at McCarran Ranch

 

bulletStable isotope and water quality sampling on the Truckee River to develop food web models and investigate correlations between stable isotopes, water quality, and anthropogenic impacts on the Truckee River; Unraveling the mysteries of the Truckee Link to Nevada News (1/11/2006)

 

bulletWetland modeling for investigation of reduction of nutrient loading and impacts of mercury contamination from nonpoint source pollution through wetland management, Steamboat Creek Watershed, Nevada

 

bulletThermal modeling of Blue Mesa Reservoir using CE-THERM under drought conditions {Previous Work}

 

bulletUpdate of Lake Shasta CE-QUAL-W2 model: The bathymetry of Shasta Lake was re-measured and CE-QUAL-W2 model has also been updated by the Corps of Engineers.  Because both the model version and the bathymetry changed, the existing model application for Shasta Lake needed to be updated and checked for validity of water quality predictions.  {Previous Work}  
 
bulletThermal modeling of Blue Mesa Reservoir using CE-THERM to investigate effects of surface releases. {Previous Work}
 
bulletEvaluation of contaminant spill model on the Truckee River:  Using data from a 1997 U.S. Geological Survey dye study on the Truckee River, we calibrated and validated a spill model. This model was used to assess surface water spill concentration and timing in the Truckee River at water treatment plant intakes. 
 
bulletSynthesis documents on infrastructure integrity:  We compiled and synthesized information on past, on-going, and proposed future research on water supply infrastructure integrity, condition assessment, prioritization, and rehabilitation or replacement.  A survey was been conducted of water supply agencies on their infrastructure integrity management activities, issues, and needs.  The study included 17 participating utilities and was sponsored by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation.
 
bulletEutrophication of reservoirs on the Colorado Front Range:  This project involved assessing the water quality and trophic state of drinking water reservoirs along the Colorado Front Range.  The one-year project was sponsored by the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and several municipalities, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.  A survey of the physical conditions, monitoring programs, and water management issues was conducted to develop a database that was used to assess the similarities and differences between the reservoirs, and also to determine what knowledge gaps exist to understand the dynamics in the reservoirs.  The study also examined potential areas for regional management of the reservoirs.
 
bulletEstimating land-based sources of oil in the sea:  We investigated contributions of oil pollution to marine environments through land-based sources such as urban runoff and municipal and industrial discharges.  This data will became part of the National Research Council's white paper on oil in the sea.  See http://www.unr.edu/content/news.asp?sto_id=283 and Oil in the Sea
 
bulletThermal modeling at Blue Mesa Reservoir:  We used the one-dimensional model CE-THERM to evaluate the relative importance of reservoir operations and climate on reservoir thermal conditions.  New operations are being implemented at Blue Mesa to generate downstream spring hydrographs for threatened and endangered fish in the Upper Colorado River.  The thermal modeling, in conjunction with ecological models, predicted physical and biological responses in the reservoir to the new dam operations. {Updated Work}

 

bulletInterdisciplinary modeling at Shasta Lake:  My dissertation research involved interdisciplinary modeling to assess the effects of a recently installed temperature control device (TCD) at Shasta Lake in northern California.  A hydrodynamic and water quality model, CE-QUAL-W2 (W2), was used to model water temperature, nutrients, and phytoplankton.  I calibrated the W2 model for water temperature predictions, and linked the water temperature output with a fish bioenergetics model to predict thermal pattern effects on fish scope for growth.  I also used phytoplankton production predictions from W2 with a food web-energy transfer model that was developed using stable isotope analysis to investigate effects of primary productivity changes due to TCD operations on reservoir fish growth potential.  To develop the food web-energy transfer model, I designed and implemented a fish sampling effort that involved electrofishing, gill netting, and trap netting at four locations in the reservoir.    {Updated Work}

Last updated 18 Aug 2008
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