|
October 31, 2006
|
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 do not want to receive
this newsletter, please scroll down and follow the directions to unsubscribe.
If you are seeing only text in this email, or if it's not easy to read, please make
sure your email program is set to view "HTML" messages, or view
the newsletter online in the newsletter archives. |
|
| |
 |
| Constructed
Wetlands in Colder Climates |
(From Left) Otto Stein, Rickey
Schultz, Jeff Barron,
and Blake Wambold with their experimental
wastewater treatment facility
on MSU’s campus. |
For the last ten years MSU civil
engineering professor Otto Stein has taken a different approach to constructed wetlands --
a colder one. While “nature’s filters” are in use throughout the world to process waste, most
areas using them have climates warmer than Montana. Traditionally, constructed wetland waste
treatment does not work as well in colder climates due to the affects of low temperatures on
plant-mediated oxygen transfers and microbial reactions. However, Stein has found that the
constructed wetlands tend to hold up better during the winter months than previously thought.
While the temperature doesn’t
seem to affect Professor Stein’s wetlands, the plants in it do. “Species are uniquely tied
to performance in cold weather,” says Stein. The traditional cattails and bulrush won’t cut
it. The Professor has found that Carex (sedges) do a better job. Carex are
found in many areas of the world. Finding which plants do the most work during the winter has
become a project in itself. Stein is preparing to dive into a USDA-funded experiment involving
20 different plant species and their ability to breakdown waste during the colder months. Determining
optimal microbial structure and measuring the affects of different water applications will
also be studied.
The future for this technology
is bright. Implementing these systems in less developed countries is much more economical and
possible than traditional treatment facilities. While these systems are not suited for large
municipalities they are a great solution for smaller cities. Stein points out that this technology
would be a good fit in a place like Montana where cities are generally smaller than 5,000 people.
Research of other possible applications, such as mining and industrial waste removal, is also
being explored.
|
|
|
 |
| 2007 Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) Dissertation Award |
|
The Montana Water Center invites
university faculty from Montana to nominate outstanding PhD dissertations for the 2007
Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) Dissertation Award. Two awards are made each year, one for
Water Policy and Socioeconomics, and another for Natural Science and Engineering. The award
for each is $750, plus $1000 for travel expenses to attend the UCOWR conference in Boise along
with free conference admission. Dissertations must report on research conducted in 2005 or
2006 and all applicants must have completed graduation requirements by December 31st, 2006.
Submissions are due by 12/01/2006. For more info visit http://ucowr.siu.edu. |
|
| |
| College
Students: Write about Anything Water and Win $200! |
|
The Montana Section of the American
Water Works Association (MSAWWA) is the organization of drinking-water professionals
in Montana. MSAWWA produces the Newswaves newsletter three times a year for subscribers
including engineering firms, Montana cities and towns, and suppliers of equipment, chemicals
and services. Each issue features a student paper of 1000 words or less on a water topic. The
papers are judged by a professional panel, and students whose papers are printed receive a
$200 scholarship and a one-year membership to AWWA. The next Newswaves will be distributed
this winter; articles must be received by December 1, 2006 to be considered. MSAWWA also offers
cash prizes for student posters displayed at its annual conference slated for Butte on May
9-11, 2007. Interested students should contact Barb Coffman at bcoffman@3riversdbs.net or
406-781-2298 to discuss these opportunities, or visit the MSAWWA web site at http://www.montana-awwa.org for
more information. |
|
| |
| 2006
Watershed Symposium: Charting Our Course in a Changing West |
|
The 2006 Watershed Symposium:
Charting Our Course in a Changing West, is scheduled for December 5-7 at the Great Falls Holiday Inn.
Participants will gain information that can help local efforts improve natural resources while
maintaining community values. Symposium speakers include Ed Marston, publisher emeritus of
the High Country News, Dr. Harry Fritz, University of Montana, and many more local and regional
experts and practitioners. It also offers opportunities for networking and further resources.
Scholarships are available.
Early registration is due November
14. Forms and further information about the symposium are available on the web at http://watersheds.montana.edu/symposium or by emailing or calling Montana Watercourse at mtwatercourse@montana.edu or (406) 994-6671.
|
|
|
| 2006 Clark Fork River Basin Ground Water Policy Conference |
The 2006 Clark Fork River Basin
Ground Water Policy Conference will enable citizens and officials to discuss the future of
the Clark Fork River Basin. The conference will examine the economic trends and population
growth of the basin and how they impact the fresh water supply. All local, state, and tribal
government officials are encouraged to attend and discuss the future of the Clark Fork with
the citizen users. University of Montana’s Center Theater will host the event from 7:30am to
5:00pm on the 9th of November. For more info go to http://water.montana.edu/attachments/
CFRB_policy_brochure.pdf. |
|
|
| Watershed Planning Assistance Grants |
|
The Montana DNRC Conservation Districts
Bureau announces Watershed Planning Assistance Grants for FY2007 – Third Round. Applications
for the third round are due at DNRC by the end of business on December 15, 2006. Late applications
will not be accepted. This will allow groups time to write applications and obtain conservation
district sponsorship. Approximately $25,000 will be available. View complete grant guidelines
at: http://dnrc.mt.gov/cardd/loans_grants/watershed_planning_asst.asp,
or contact David Martin at 406-444-4253 or damartin@state.mt.us. |
|
|
| Montana
Water Center Funding Opportunities |
|
Graduate and undergraduate students
engaged in water research at Montana universities are encouraged to apply for a Montana
Water Center Student Water Research Fellowship. Click
here [76 KB PDF] to download application instructions. Deadline for application is November
20, 2006.
Also, the Water Resources
Research National Competitive Grants Program Request for Proposals FY 2007 is now available. Please click
here [56 KB PDF] to download the full announcement. Deadline for proposals is February
16, 2007.
Please contact Sue Higgins at
the Montana Water Center, shiggins@montana.edu, 406-994-1772,
if you have questions about either of these opportunities.
|
|
|
 |
| Water
Rights Specialist/Hydrologist at Friends of the Teton River |
|
Friends
of the Teton River (FTR) uses sound science and collaborative partnerships to work for
clean water, healthy streams and abundant fisheries in Teton Valley, ID/WY. Over the past six
years, FTR has conducted an extensive watershed research and restoration program. FTR seeks
applicants for its Water Rights Specialist/Hydrologist position in its Driggs office. This
individual will advance FTR’s mission by working to improve streamflows in the Teton River
and its tributaries.
The position requires both scientific
and practical skills. Primary responsibilities are to: (1) work with the local community to
identify opportunities to rewater currently dewatered tributary streams; (2) work with state/federal
agency staff and water providers to develop and implement strategies for fish-friendly water
management; (3) monitor streamflow and diversions in the upper Teton watershed; (4) fundraise
for streamflow restoration program; (5) work closely with FTR staff to implement restoration
and education programs.
Read the complete job listing
at:
http://water.montana.edu/resources/funding/details.asp?GrantID=4880.
Salary: DOE. Excellent benefits.
Application deadline: January 1st 2007 or until position filled.
To apply, send letter of interest, résumé, and writing sample to:
Lyn Benjamin, Executive Director,
at lyn@tetonwater.org.
|
|
|
 |
| Stormwater
Control Tutorial |
Stormwater Control: The Graphic
Guide screenshot. |
See the new Stormwater
Control Tutorial, created by Stuart Jennings and the Montana Water Center at http://stormwater.montana.edu.
Its purpose is to assist contractors in the installation, evaluation and enhancement of stormwater
best management practices (BMPs) in the Northern Rocky Mountains. BMPs are widely used for
stormwater management on construction sites larger than one acre. Effective control of sediment
at disturbed sites is often compromised by both the limited number of BMPs available to the
contractor and limited installation experience. The goal of this site is to help contractors
know when and how to implement, manage and maintain BMPs. |
|
| |
|
Do you have more news?
Many Montana Water News articles
are generated by the Montana Water Center’s new student intern, Evan Tennant. Evan is studying
public policy at Montana State University with a special interest in water policy. He spends
what free time he has writing stories for this e-newsletter. Do you have some stories of interest
you would like him to feature? If so, please contact Evan at etennant@montana.edu.
He’d like to hear from you. |
|
| |
 |
So
many meetings, so little time. Take special note of upcoming national and local water
meetings on the Events
Calendar at MONTANA WATER. |
| |
|
 2006
Annual AWRA Water Resources Conference, Baltimore, MD, November 6 - 9, 2006
[INFO]
|
|
Clark
Fork River Basin Ground Water Policy Conference, Missoula, November 9, 2006
[INFO]
|
|
Hard
Rock 2006: Sustainable Modern Mining Applications, Tucson, AZ, November 14 - 16, 2006
[INFO]
|
|
57th
Annual Pacific Northwest Fish Culture Conference, Portland, OR, December 4 - 6, 2006
[INFO]
|
|
MWCC
E&O Committee Meeting, Great Falls, December 4, 2006
[INFO]
|
|
2006
Montana Watershed Symposium, Great Falls, December 5 - 7, 2006
[INFO]
|
|
|
