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November 23, 2005
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Welcome
to the newsletter about all things water in Montana!
MONTANA
WATER NEWS will come your way via email every month with fresh news
about meetings and water topics that we hope is of interest to you. If you
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| This
month, we feature the work of two graduate student teams funded by the Montana
Water Center's USGS student water research fellowship program. Stories by Alicia
Paz-Solis. |
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| Cottonwood
Survival along the Yellowstone River |
The Yellowstone
River. |
Riparian cottonwood forests hold some of North America’s richest wildlife habitats
but these valuable forest ecosystems are threatened. Riparian cottonwoods have
been declining across western North America because of clearing for domestic
or agricultural use, livestock grazing, river damming, irrigation diversions,
and a variety of other factors.
Current efforts
to conserve remaining riparian forests through monitoring and management are
hindered by a lack of understanding of the reproductive ecology of cottonwoods.
Most habitat managers assume that sexual reproduction is the major mode of reproduction
in all systems, and that asexual reproduction (cloning) only plays a very minor
role. Mary Louise Polzin, PhD candidate at the University of Montana in the field
of Forestry, is conducting an investigation to understand just how much of a
role clonal recruitment of cottonwood trees play along the upper Yellowstone
River.
Understanding
asexual versus sexual cottonwood reproduction could provide a new tool in managing
river systems that are losing cottonwood trees due to human-induced factors
(dams and other man-made structures) and where restoring flows required for seedling
recruitment may not be feasible. This situation is particularly applicable in
the upper Yellowstone River Watershed, where landowners have expressed interest
in restoring the riparian forests where mature trees are still present, but the
forest extent has been reduced over time or the density of the trees is very
low.
Polzin’s in-depth
study of clonal reproduction will help us understand the environmental factors
that help initiate this form of reproduction so that those factors can be considered
in restoration and management decisions. |
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| CO2
Efflux in the Stringer Creek Watershed, Little Belt Mountains |
Stringer Creek
in the Little Belt Mountains. |
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
is the principal greenhouse gas responsible for predicted global climate change.
Fluxes of CO2 from soil ecosystems, though globally important, are
poorly characterized. Soil CO2 efflux produces 10 times more atmospheric
CO2 than fossil fuel combustion.
More than two-thirds of total terrestrial carbon (C) is stored below ground and
exchanged to the atmosphere through plant and microbial activity, but the mechanisms
of such exchange are not well understood.
Vince Pacific
and Diego Riveros have investigated the environmental factors that control CO2
production to understand the heterogeneity of soil CO2 concentration and efflux
at the watershed scale. Pacific and Riveros are both graduate students, pursuing
Masters and PhD degrees respectively. The are also members of Dr. Brian McGlynn’s
Watershed Hydrology Research Group of the Land Resources and Environmental Sciences
Department at Montana State University.
Measuring Winter
Flux. |
The researchers
measured CO2 concentrations and flux over one year in the mountainous terrain
of the 550-ha Stringer Creek watershed located in the Little Belt Mountains of
Central Montana. Their results showed that the interaction of soil moisture and
soil temperature plays a major role in controlling CO2 production and efflux
across topographic positions. They concluded that riparian zones show greater
variability in CO2 concentrations that the corresponding hill slope zones. They
also observed that snow pack accumulation leads to peaks in soil CO2 concentrations
during snowmelt.
By conducting
this research, Pacific and Riveros hope to assess and model the role of topography
in controlling soil temperature, moisture and nutrient status that play into
CO2 production and efflux at the watershed scale. Their approach is unique as
it directly addresses the variability in CO2-generated efflux at the catchment
scale, and focuses on the controls of soil respiration across environmental gradients.
Their study is the first to show watershed-scale concentrations and fluxes of
CO2 over time.
Congratulations
to Pacific for winning third place at the 2005 AWRA Conference for his poster
entitled: “Variability in CO2 production and efflux across riparian/hillslope
transitions in the Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest, Montana.” |
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| Interactions
Between Surface Water and Ground Water A Hot Topic Statewide |
Surface
water/ground water interaction has been a central theme of several scientific
symposia and policy meetings this fall throughout Montana. Consider these:
- the ongoing
work of the Governor’s Surface Water/Ground Water Task Force in Helena;
- the
University of Montana Riverine Center’s September 2005 conference in Missoula
entitled “Floodplains and Rivers: Connections and Re-Connections” [http://www.umt.edu/rivercenter];
- the Burton
K. Wheeler Center’s recent Kalispell roundtable which studied “The New Realities
of Development;” [http://www.montana.edu/wheeler], and to some degree its impact
on resources; and
- the recent meeting
of the Montana Section of the American Water Resources Association in Bozeman
where the ”Surface Water/Ground Water: One Resource“ theme was the discussion
and presentation theme [http://awra.org/state/montana/events/conference.htm].
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These gatherings
are producing gems of good information which need to be shared widely and regularly
with a broader audience. The AWRA meeting alone featured a plenary session of
invited specialists which offered innovative perspectives. Dr. Robert Glennon,
University of Arizona legal scholar and author of “Water Follies: Groundwater
Pumping and the Fate of America's Fresh Waters,” reviewed the problem of ground
water shortages nationwide. He recommended, among many ideas, a new system of
water pricing to reflect the value of groundwater. Dr. Bill Woessner, hydrogeologist
and director of the University of Montana's Center for Riverine Science and Stream
Renaturalization, and the Geological Society of America’s 2005 Birdsall-Dreiss
Distinguished Lecturer, reviewed contemporary modeling strategies for assuring
optimal surface water/ground water interactions in restoration projects. He stressed
the importance of multidisciplinary approaches among scientists, and the great
need to encourage bright new scientists to pool their expertise. In a panel that
followed, scientists and policymakers at the hub of surface water/groundwater
issues stressed the need for new laws, a higher level of sophistication in and
attention to monitoring, and possible new models for pricing water.
If you are interested
in viewing the proceedings of the AWRA meeting, go to http://awra.org/state/montana/events/conference.htm,
where you can also view photos of the meeting, a listing of student awards, and
information about Chuck Parrett, chosen as the 2005 AWRA Montana Section Water
Legend for his great contributions to the field. Student awards for excellence
in oral paper presentation are Tracy Grant (Montana Tech), first place; Dale
Engstrom (University of Montana), second place; and Tim Covino (Montana State
University), third place. Student winners for excellence in poster presentation
are Dan Hoffman (University of Montana), first place; Steve Cook (Montana State
University), second place; and Vince Pacific (Montana State University), third
place. |
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New
Staff at the Water Center |
Kajsa Stromberg. |
The national Whirling
Disease Initiative managed by the Montana Water Center welcomes its new staff
member, Kajsa Stromberg. As the Initiative’s new whirling disease outreach coordinator,
Kajsa offers many talents. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Kansas
State University, and a master’s in Fisheries Resources from the University of
Idaho. Before taking on her new position, Kajsa was Watershed Program Manager
for the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, and Conservation Coordinator
for the Federation of Fly Fishers. You'll be hearing more from Kajsa in the months
to come as she delivers new information on whirling disease research findings
and management solutions. |
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Whirling
Disease Initiative Requests Pre-Proposals |
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Whirling Disease,
caused by the microscopic parasite Myxobolus cerebralis, has impacted
salmonid fisheries in nearly half of US states and it’s still spreading. The
federally-funded Whirling Disease Initiative supports research that contributes
to management strategies for control of the disease in wild and native salmonid
fisheries. In 2006-2007, the Whirling Disease Initiative plans to expend $600,000
to $700,000 for whirling disease-related research projects. Recognizing the complex
nature of the disease, the Initiative plans to fund multidisciplinary, broad-scale
and management-oriented projects drawing on fisheries biology, ecology, epidemiology,
and other natural-resource specialties.
The deadline for
pre-proposals is December 23, 2005. The Request for Pre-Proposals may be viewed
and downloaded from the Whirling Disease Initiative’s website at http://whirlingdisease.montana.edu.
For more information, contact Sue Faber at the Montana Water Center – sfaber@montana.edu or (406) 994-6690. |
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USGS
104G Competitive Grant Opportunity |
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The Request for
Proposals for the FY 2006 National Competitive Grants Program authorized by section
104G of the Water Resources Research Act can be obtained either by going
to
https://niwr.org and clicking on "View the
RFP" under "National
Competitive Grants Program" or by downloading the document directly at https://niwr.org/competitive_grants/2006RFP104G.
Approximately $920,000 is available for water-research projects of regional or
national significance. The research priorities for FY 2006 differ only slightly
from those of last year. The closing date for proposals to be filed on the website
by principal investigators is 3:00 PM, Mountain Standard Time, February 10, 2006.
Note: Water Center Director Gretchen Rupp served on the project selection panel
this year, and would be pleased to share tips with potential investigators from
Montana universities. |
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Important
Water Rights Legislation Passed |
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The 2005 Montana
Legislature passed House Bill 22 to accelerate statewide water rights adjudication.
HB22 requires every water right owner in the state to pay $20 every two years
per water right for the next ten years. Using DNRC ownership records, invoices
will be sent every two years starting in December 2005 from the Department of
Revenue. The accuracy of the DNRC records will affect how much you have to pay.
For more information about HB22, visit http://dnrc.state.mt.us/house_bill22. |
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Go
to http://watercenter.montana.edu/lending_library to
find these new acquisitions now available at the Montana Water Center online
library!
- Montana
Water Center Annual Report Fiscal Year 2005. Montana Water Center, 2005.
This report summarizes how the Montana Water Center pursued research, outreach
and educational activities during fiscal year 2005 (July 2004 – June 2005).
- Protect
our Health from Source to Tap: Safe Drinking Water Act 1974-2004. Environmental
Protection Agency, 2004. Includes CDs, games and activities (k-12), interactive
manuals, guides to protecting America's drinking water, brochures on tap water
and information for health care providers.
- Water
for a Sustainable and Secure Future: A Report for the Fourth National Conference
on Science, Policy and the Environment. National Council for Science and the Environment,
2004. More than 800 scientists, policymakers, business executives, and civil
society representatives from 46 states and 14 countries came together to discuss
how science can help promote sustainable water managements in the United Sates
and globally.
- Protecting
Public Health in Small Water Systems. Tim Ford, Gretchen Rupp, Phillip Butterfield,
and Anne Camper, 2004. In May 2004, a group of international experts convened
to share observations and recommendations on which small-system approaches successfully
supply water in a sustainable way within developed countries around the world.
- The
New Frontier of Ranching: Business Diversification and Land Stewardship. Ben Alexander, Sonoran
Institute, 2000.This guidebook explores business diversification as a strategy
to assist ranches in rapidly growing regions of the West to become ecologically
sustainable and financially viable.
- Yellowstone
2020: Creating Our Legacy. Patricia Gude, Sonoran Institute, 2000. Land use policies
put into practice now will determine what our communities, natural areas, and
economies will be far into the future. With effective planning our legacy for
the Yellowstone region can e vibrant communities, prosperous economies and open
spaces.
- Confronting
the Nation’s Water Problems: The Role of Research. National Research Council,
The National Academies Press, 2004. This report identifies the individual research
areas needed to help ensure that the water resources of the United States remain
sustainable over the long run.
- Getting
In Step: A Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaign. Environmental
Protection Agency, 2003. This guide offers advice on how watershed groups, local
governments, and others can maximize the effectiveness of public outreach campaigns
to reduce nonpoint source pollution and protect the lakes, rivers, streams, and
coasts that we treasure.
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So
many meetings, so little time. Take special note of upcoming national and local
water meetings on the Events
Calendar at MONTANA WATER. |
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 Land
Use Planning Discussion, Townsend, November 29, 2005 [INFO] |
Advanced
Modeling Techniques for Rapid Diagnosis and Assessment of CBRN Agents Effects
on Water Resources, Sarigerme, Turkey, December 4 - 16, 2005 [INFO] |
Midwest
Fish & Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, MI, December 11 - 14, 2005 [INFO] |
MWCC
Outreach and Education Committee Meeting, Helena, January 5, 2006 [INFO] |
Global
Water Policy and Peace: Learning from the Middle East Conference, Jonesboro,
AR, January 12 - 14, 2006 [INFO] |
MWCC
Quarterly Meeting, Helena, January 25, 2006 [INFO] |
Whirling
Disease Symposium 2006, Denver, CO, February 9 - 10, 2006 [INFO] |
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