Is the West drying up? What happens to a watershed when many of the trees in it die? Let's explore the major scientific issues related to water in the American West. Along the way, we'll hear from a number of experts working on some of the latest cutting-edge research in hydrology, ecology, climate, and more!
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Climate in the Western US and Water Resources
Jeff Lukas with Western Water Assessment discusses how the climate of the Western United States affects the availability of water resources. Learn more about the natural processes that drive our water cycle in the Western United States. This video is part of the Water in the Western US lecture series.
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Water Quality, Aquatic Habitat, and Drinking Water
This lecture by Dr. Anne Gold discusses water quality challenges in the Western United States and how that affects aquatic habitats and drinking water. This video covers streamflow, salinity, pollution, sediment load, and more. This video is part of the Water in the Western US lecture series.
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Groundwater Resources
In this video, Dr. Ben Livneh from CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder gives an overview of all things groundwater in the Western United States. This video is part of the Water in the Western US lecture series.
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Watershed Impacts
In this lecture, Eric Gordon covers how the state of watersheds in the west can impact life in the surrounding areas. This includes an overview of the effects of wildfires, bark beetle infestations, and desert dust deposition on snow on the watershed. This video is part of the Water in the Western US lecture series.
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River and Flash Flooding
Research scientist Dr. Kelly Mahoney explores rivers and flash flooding in the west. This video covers different kinds of floods, what causes flash flooding, why flash flooding is more of a risk in the Western US, and what happened in the 2013 Front Range floods. This video is part of the Water in the Western US lecture series.
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Impacts of Climate Change in the Interior West
This video features Eric Gordon, who delivers a lecture on the effects that climate change will have on water in the Western United States. This is part of the Water in the Western US lecture series.
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Water Demand for Agriculture
Dr. Reagan Waskom, director of the Colorado Water Institute at Colorado State University, provides an overview on agricultural water use in the west. Learn about types of agriculture, how water is used in agriculture, and why so much water is needed for agriculture in the west. This video is part of the Water in the Western US lecture series.
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Water Demand for Urban Areas
In this lecture, Dr. Joanna Endter-Wada from Utah State University discusses water demand for urban areas. Learn about the nature of urban water demand, urban water management, and more. This is part of the Water in the Western US lecture series.
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