Water covers 880 square miles of Idaho and makes up 1% of our state. Meeting the needs of agriculture, industry, human consumption and recreation without compromising the health of that water is important to our future â and a task weâre willing to tackle at the University of Idaho. Few things could be more critical to human health and progress than clean water. Since my return, I have been impressed by how much work the university is doing to study this resource. The list of University of Idaho water-related research is long, but here are a few recent and notable examples: - Ensuring sustainability of the water that irrigates Idaho agriculture and grows our food supply is a complicated but important task. Extension faculty track snowpack, water consumption, crop yields and plant growth across the state to get a complete picture of water quality and availability. From water quality monitoring to hydrology and irrigation management, work is being conducted across the state to support this critical element of Idahoâs agriculture industry.
- Masterâs student Heather Crawford in the College of Natural Resources is studying Payette Lake and how waves and boat wakes impact the shoreline. The Big Payette Lake Water Quality Council organized funding for Heather to investigate how these disturbances influence shoreline erosion. The work will help policymakers across the Northwest gauge water quality issues and protect our lakes while also maintaining the ability to recreate.
- Toxic algae blooms erupt in roughly 20 to 25 Gem State lakes each summer. These blooms harm animals and humans and reduce recreation opportunities. On Fernan Lake in Kootenai County, Professor Frank Wilhelm investigated their cause. His team has found that 81% of the phosphorus entering the lake never leaves, allowing the element to build up year after year. Their findings will help lake managers develop mitigation plans to ensure the safety of its users.
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences researchers Greg Moller, Dan Strawn and Martin Baker partnered with food processing companies in the Magic Valley and others to improve water quality using their Clean Water Machine. The machine recovers excess phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater and has municipal and agricultural applications throughout the state. The project has garnered regional and national attention and continues to receive accolades. Just last week, the team secured a $1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help continue that research on algae-impacted waters.
- Researchers at our Center for Ecohydraulics Research in Boise are using innovative laboratory experiments with invisible simulated sediment to âseeâ through riverbeds and study water quality, cost-effective sensors to quantify water movement between rivers and aquifers, as well as acoustic river ânoiseâ measurements to continuously monitor river stability. Funded with both state and federal National Science Foundation grants, their work has broad implications for river management and restoration in the state.
- In Bonneville County, our Extension educators promote xeriscaping â a form of landscaping with low-water plants to conserve resources â through a demonstration garden and events including the annual Greater Idaho Falls Area Water Festival. Their message about the supply and demand for water helps educate fifth and sixth graders across East Idaho.
- The universityâs Water Sustainability Initiative â a series of five research projects funded with micro grants from my office â will allow teams to collaborate on water and sustainability issues that will attract government, academic and industry partners. The projects focus on everything from water access at the Taylor Wilderness Research Station to crop sensors and satellite mapping.
Sustainability of our water resources is paramount across the Gem State and the world. University of Idaho researchers are addressing the issue on multiple fronts as they look for solutions to water-related challenges. We intend to be global leaders in sustainability and remain the go-to university for water-related research. |