Education

Powder River Basin: Open-air coal mining creates high salinity (sulfate, SO42-) in surface waters of the Powder River Basin (PRB) and poses threats to downstream agriculture, livestock and livelihoods. PRB research will investigate how actions associated with energy development alter groundwater-surface water exchange pathways and influences on hydrochemical and biological aspects of water quality.

Judith River Watershed: Agricultural activities in the Judith River Watershed (JRW) have led to exceptionally high levels of NO3- and a cocktail of organic pesticides in ground water, challenging farming communities and rendering the water an unusable resource. JRW research seeks to understand how intensive agriculture interacts with natural hydrologic dynamics to control NO3- and applied organics in soil, aquifer, riparian, and stream systems.

Upper Clark Fork River: Water quality in the Upper Clark Fork River (UCFR) suffers from a century-old mining legacy. Heavy metals and N enrichment influence aquatic communities and processes. UCFR research will investigate how nutrients and metals act as subsidies and stressors in the context of river productivity, algal blooms, and ecological integrity along a contaminated river. UCFR Team: