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Dr. Wyatt Cross

Q: Wyatt, how will your research be able to determine how wastewater nutrients move through aquatic communities? And how will it build upon what’s already been done in comparable studies?

A: Essentially, our research will take advantage of the unique isotopic signature of human wastewater nitrogen (N). Wastewater N is "enriched" in the heavy nitrogen isotope (¹⁵N) relative to other potential sources of nitrogen (e.g., precipitation and geologically-derived N) because humans tend to eat a lot of meat, which is enriched in ¹⁵N, and also because microbial processes in wastewater treatment plants leave nitrogen enriched in heavy ¹⁵N. Most importantly, though, we can use this chemical "signal" to track the movement of wastewater N from leaky septic tanks and treatment plants into aquatic organisms including algae, invertebrates, and fish. By doing this, we can quantify how much of the nitrogen that cycles in stream food webs is coming from human-derived sources and how much is coming from other "natural" sources. Next, we can examine how the magnitude of human-derived N in the food web influences the diversity and community structure of stream invertebrates (e.g., mayflies, stoneflies, etc.). For example, we might hypothesize that streams with large inputs of human wastewater have a reduced diversity of invertebrates. Our research will benefit from and build upon a large amount of recent data on origins and movement of dissolved nitrogen conducted in Brian McGlynn’s watershed hydrology laboratory at Montana State University.

Q: Why study the West Fork watershed?

A: The West Fork of the Gallatin watershed is an area of intense land-use change associated with ski resort development (i.e., Big Sky Resort, Moonlight Basin). This watershed provides an ideal study location because of the large amount of spatial variation in land use and wastewater inputs. For example, streams that are nearly pristine exist close to streams of the same size that receive a large amount of wastewater. This spatial pattern will give us a greater ability to tease out the influence of wastewater enrichment versus other potentially confounding factors. The West Fork watershed is also unique because there is major interest and involvement of the local community, and there is a strong sense that science can have a tangible influence on future infrastructure and land-use planning.

Q: Are there already established aquatic community baselines to compare current conditions in the West Fork with historical ones?

A: We’re somewhat fortunate in this regard because at least some information exists for this area prior to ski resort development. In the mid-70s, the National Science Foundation funded a large, interdisciplinary study in the Big Sky area aimed at providing baseline information about the watershed prior to development. We also have the luxury of comparing perturbed sites to pristine sites with the assumption that aquatic communities at the pristine sites represent conditions before large development and land use change. In essence, we can use the spatial variation to ask questions about changes over time.

Q: Do you see this research expanding in the future?

A: Absolutely. We view this project as the beginning of a long-term scientific investment in this area. We’ve already learned a great deal about spatial and temporal variation in dissolved nutrients, but we’re poised to embark on larger interdisciplinary studies that will, hopefully, become central to the way aquatic systems are managed in the area. We already know the Big Sky community is highly supportive and folks seem willing to adapt in order to preserve the healthy streams to which they are accustomed.

Q: How do you feel your work will benefit Montana and other developing watersheds in the region?

A: Pockets of western Montana are experiencing rapid population growth and development. These areas are unique because they are usually embedded in a relatively pristine mountainous landscape. Thus, land use and consequent changes in ecological factors can be magnified and relatively acute. Our research will broaden our understanding of nutrient enrichment effects on mountain streams and provide critical information about the locations and magnitude of enrichment effects on stream organisms and ecological processes.

Q: When do you project having results or products available from this study?

A: Our project will begin this summer and last for about two to three years. We expect to have some information within the first year, but the bulk of our results will come in years two and three. Our major outlets for communication will be written reports, a Master’s thesis, peer-reviewed publications, university and community seminars, and educational opportunities via the Big Sky Institute at MSU and the Ophir School and Blue Water Task Force in Big Sky.

One person was killed, four businesses were destroyed and others were damaged in the explosion and fire.

Total fire flows for the five-day event were 4.7 million gallons; 3.7 MG of this was expended during the first 28 hours. The Sourdough and Hilltop tanks were kept to a minimum level of 75% through the event, and the 5 MG Lyman tank was held in reserve, in case the fires could not be contained or a main break occurred. Increased turbidity was measured at some city taps, but the increases were slight and short-lived. All distribution-system chlorine measurements were acceptable. The careful, behind-the-scenes work of Bozeman Water Plant and Water & Sewer Department employees assured that firefighters had enough water to fight the blaze, water infrastructure was protected, and customers continued to receive safe water in their homes and businesses. (Based on an account by Rick Moroney, Bozeman Water Plant Superintendent).

YRCDC and others will be honored at the “Wetland & Watershed Stewardship Award Ceremony” Thursday, May 7, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the state capitol building in Helena. For more information contact Lynda Saul at lsaul@mt.gov.

Bozeman Storm Water Tour

The Greater Gallatin Watershed Council is sponsoring a Bozeman storm water tour Thursday, April 9, 2009, from 8:30-1:30 p.m. The tour is being held in conjunction with the DEQ storm water conference mentioned above.

The registration deadline for both the conference and tour is April 1.

Please note: This a joint conference of the MT AWRA and the University of Montana’s River Center. The abstract submission site is for everyone who wishes to present at this conference, as there will be no separate River Center conference this year.

The 2009 American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Spring Specialty Conference, “Managing Water Resources and Development in a Changing Climate,” will be held at the Anchorage Marriott Downtown in Anchorage, AK, May 4-6, 2009.

The AWRA Summer Specialty Conference, “Adaptive Management of Water Resources II,” will be at the Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort in Snowbird, UT, June 29-July 1, 2009.

Visit the AWRA website at http://www.awra.org for more information about these and other AWRA conferences.

AWRA Call for Abstracts

The 2009 AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference will be held in Seattle, Washington at the Red Lion Hotel on 5th Avenue, November 9-12, 2009. Abstracts for the conference are to be submitted online by May 22, 2009. For more information, visit http://www.awra.org/meetings/Seattle2009/abstracts.html.

Do you have more news?

Take special note of upcoming national and local water meetings on the Events Calendar at MONTANA WATER.

MRNRC Conference & BiOp Forum, Billings, March 25-27, 2009 [INFO]

Clear Choices: Storm Water Solutions for Montana, Bozeman, April 7-9, 2009 [INFO]