Idaho NSF EPSCoR

Research Infrastructure Improvement:
 

Water Resources in a Changing Climate
 

Project Summary

Context: Idaho has benefited markedly from a strong partnership with NSF EPSCoR, resulting in growth in academic R&D expenditures that exceeds the national average and increases its share of total National Science Foundation funding. Idaho’s universities, via the ongoing RII Project (V), have built basic research expertise in hydrology and stream ecology. These strengths, combined with Idaho’s natural field laboratories, provide a firm foundation on which to build infrastructure to support nationally-competitive research on understanding the effects of climate change on water resources and the impact of these effects on ecological, human, and economics systems (RII VI).

RII VI—the result of a nine-month planning effort involving the University of Idaho, Boise State University, and Idaho State University—addresses current barriers to competitiveness and targets Ecosystem Health, an area of major significance to Idaho as identified by the Governor’s S&T Council. The project is guided by Idaho’s EPSCoR Committee (reporting directly to the Office of the Governor) and led by the State Project Director Dr. Jean’ne Shreeve (PI), an internationally recognized chemist. Dr. Von Walden (co-PI), a nationally known climate scientist, will have responsibility for scientific progress and integration of research activities.

This RII strategy has two objectives: First, EPSCoR will build a unifying Statewide infrastructure to support research and fill gaps that currently hinder Idaho’s and the nation’s ability to address vital issues that “improve our ability to live sustainably on Earth.” Specifically, this RII plan will: leverage Idaho research activities with a nationally recognized regional center in climate change research; fill a critical niche in hydrology by understanding the nexus between surface flow and groundwater; support complementary field studies on a highly managed river system and a relatively unmanaged system; establish fully-engaged external collaborations; and enhance learning and expertise. Second, EPSCoR will support capacity development in three areas: 1) hydroclimatology to improve modeling of water resources affected by climate change; 2) integration of hydrology and economic modeling in the Snake River basin; and 3) integration of hydrology and ecological change in the Salmon River basin.

These objectives will be accomplished by new faculty positions, startups, and mentoring; junior faculty support and mentoring; modern instrumentation; improved cyberinfrastructure capabilities; enhanced integrative, interdisciplinary, multi-institutional research; undergraduate and graduate students mentored in research, and summer programs; postdoctoral development; federal funds competitions; interdisciplinary graduate programs; increased STEM diversity; and contributions to economic development.

Intellectual Merit: This RII VI effort will create a cohesive team of researchers in climate change and water resources, and interactions with ecological and human systems. Research on climate impacts will focus on: the two-way coupling between hydrology, ecology, and economics and policy; greatly improved modeling of surface and groundwater connections in managed river systems; utilizing long-term datasets of ecological change in pristine river systems; understanding economic ramifications of increased climate variability; collection and management of disparate data types and large datasets from multiple disciplines through cyberinfrastructure. Research in adaptation strategies will focus on: understanding how climate change impacts may be buffered through effective utilization of groundwater; and better long-term management of water in an area that serves over half the population of Idaho.

Broader Impacts: Science will be incorporated into learning and outreach activities to achieve broader impacts. Stakeholders (state and federal agencies, irrigation districts, Idaho Power, agriculture, etc.) will benefit from regular interactions with faculty, and ready access to climate and hydrologic forecasts for economic and policy decisions. Integration of research and education will train approximately 20 graduate and 150 undergraduate students, and incorporate water resources and climate change science into educational experiences for hundreds of K-12 students and teachers. Faculty will become more engaged in communities. Outreach and Diversity investments will provide new, sustainable experiential learning programs for 1,750 secondary students/teachers in an outdoor science school; e-Camp for 200 Hispanic students; and research experiences and mentoring for approximately 75 Native American high school students. A more visible “STEM Pipeline” will bridge critical junctures in STEM education. The long-term success of these programs will significantly increase the number and diversity of students pursuing STEM disciplines and careers.