Research
As part of its mission, the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute conducts applied water-related research. Two of the outcomes of IWRRI research are written reports and published papers. Explore this page for highlights of our research, a map with links to some of our previous reports, and recent scientific publications.
Research Highlights
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IWRRI Grant Recipients Work on Sediment Transport PhysicsGianluca Blois, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Idaho’s Boise campus, works at the Center for Ecohydraulics Research (CER) with students to study how water moves through streams and rivers. Their research focuses on how stationary objects, like plants, affect water flow and the movement of sediments. This study used a specialized laboratory flume—a controlled stream environment—to measure water speed and pressure in aquatic systems. While scientists have long studied how landscape features like riverbanks and terrain…
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BSU Team Develop New Approaches to Estimating Contributions to StreamflowBoise State University faculty Anna Bergstrom and her team investigated rain and snowmelt contributions to streamflow in the Mores Creek Watershed spanning the rain-snow transition zone in southwestern Idaho. Researchers commonly use naturally occurring water isotopes to track water sources allowing for the quantification of if streams are sourced from rain or snow. By developing new approaches to define rain and snow isotopic signatures, Bergstrom and team found that streamflow contribution estimates can vary by up to 20%, depending on…
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IWRRI Grant Recipients Work on Irrigation Efficiency in Southern IdahoUniversity of Idaho faculty Karen Humes and Russell Qualls, along with their students, analyzed 30 years of crop water use data in southern Idaho to understand variations in irrigation application needs. Their research examined how differences in wet versus dry years and cool versus warm years influence crop water use and irrigation needs. By considering forecasted climate conditions, farmers can make informed decisions about crop selection and irrigation allocation, optimizing water use and improving overall agricultural efficiency.
IWRRI Research Publications
Historically funded IWRRI project publications will be posted here. For older reports, view our archive.
J. Szilagyi, Y. Zhang, N. Ma, R. Crago, R. Qualls, & J. Jozsa, Diminishing control ov evaporation on rising land surface temperature of the Earth, Communications Earth & Environment, 5, 613, 2024. doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01796-8
Zhao, M., McCormick, E. L., A, G., Konings, A. G., and Li, B.: Substantial root-zone water storage capacity observed by GRACE and GRACE/FO, EGUsphere doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1939
Bare R., E. Struhs, A. Mirkouei, K. Overturf, and B. Small, 2023, “Engineered, Porous-structured Biomaterials for Removing Harmful Nutrients from Downstream Water of Aquaculture Facilities,” Processes, 11(4), 1029. doi.org/10.3390/pr11041029
Bare R., E. Struhs, A. Mirkouei, K. Overturf, M. Chacón-Patiño, A. McKenna, and H. Chen, 2023, “Controlling Eutrophication of Aquaculture Production Water Using Biochar: Correlation of Molecular Composition with Adsorption Characteristics as Revealed by FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry,” Processes 2023, 11(10), 2883. doi.org/10.3390/pr11102883
Crago, R., J. Szilagyi, and R. Qualls, What is the Priestley-Taylor wet-surface evaporation parameter? Testing four hypotheses, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 3205-3220, 2023. doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-3205-2023
Kerner P., E. Struhs, A. Mirkouei, K. Aho, K.A. Lohse, R.S. Dungan, and Y. You, 2023, “Microbial Responses to Biochar Soil Amendment and Influential Factors: A Three-level Meta-analysis,” Environmental Science & Technology. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c04201
Hilliard, B., Reeder, W. J., Skifton, R.S., Budwig, R., Basham, W., & Tonina, D. 2021. A biologically friendly, low-cost, and scalable method to map permeable media architecture and interstitial flow. Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2020GL090462. doi.org/10.1029/2020GL090462
Joseph, N., E. Winford, J. Sprinkle, J. Lucas, R. Findley, M. Strickland, N. Vishwanath & A.S. Kolok. 2021. “Relationships among fecal coliforms, the location of cattle in a mixed-land-use rangeland watershed and microbial source tracking markers.” Water Research (121): 107110. doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107110
Kolok, A.S. 2021. “Public Health, Wicked Water Problems and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.” Water Resources IMPACT 23 (1): 13-14.
Topping, M and Kolok, A. 2021. “Assessing the Accuracy of Nitrate Concentration Data for Water Quality Monitoring Using Visual and Cell Phone Quantification Methods.” Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 6(1): 5, pp. 1–9. DOI: doi.org/10.5334/cstp.346
Langman, J., A. Jaabir Duunya, A.W. Child, F.M. Wilhelm & J. G. Moberly. 2020. “Sulfur Species, Bonding Environment, and Metal Mobilization in Mining-Impacted Lake Sediments: Column Experiments Replicating Seasonal.” Minerals. 10(10), 849
Langman, J.B., Behrens, D., Moberly, J.G., 2020. Seasonal formation and stability of dissolved metal particles in mining-impacted, lacustrine sediments. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 232, 103655. doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2020.103655
Zobott, H., Ralph Budwig, Christopher Caudill, Matthew Keefer & William Basham. 2020. “Development of Pacific lamprey fishways at a hydropower dam.” Journal of Ecohydraulics. 18(3): 190-200. doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2400.2010.00773.x
Puri, R., Maas, A. 2020. “Evaluating the sensitivity of residential water demand estimation to model specification and instrument choices.” Water Resources Research 56 (1): doi.org/10.1029/2019WR026156
Montory, Mónica, Evelyn Habit, Pilar Fernandez, Joan O. Grimalt, Alan S. Kolok, Ricardo O. Barra, Javier Ferrer, 2020. ” Biotransport of persistent organic pollutants in the southern Hemisphere by invasive Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the rivers of northern Chilean Patagonia, a UNESCO biosphere reserve.” Environment International, Sci Elo. 142: 105803. doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105803.
Basham, W., R. Budwig & D. Tonina. 2019. “Particle Seeded Grains to Identify Highly Irregular Solid Boundaries and Simplify PIV Measurements.” Frontier Earth Science 7 (195). doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00195
Kolok, A.S., A. Bean, S.L. Bartelt-Hunt, J.M. Ali. 2019. “Citizen science as a water quality monitoring tool.” Water Resources Impac 21 (2): 25-26.
Basham, William, Ralph Budwig, and Daniele Tonina. 2019. Particle seeded grains to identify highly irregular solid boundaries and simplify PIV measurements. Front. Earth Sci. 7:195 doi: 10.3389/feart.2019.00195
Langman, J., & J. Moberly. 2018. “Weathering of a mined quartz-carbonate, galena-sphalerite ore and release and transport of nanophase zinc carbonate in circumneutral drainage.” Journal of Geochemical Exploration 188: 185–193.
Rubol, S., D. Tonina, L. Vincent, J. A. Sohm, W. Basham, R. Budwig, P. Savalia, E. Kanso, D. G. Capone & K. H. Nealson. 2018. “Seeing through porous media: An experimental study for unveiling interstitial flows.” Hydrological Processes 32 (3): 402-407.
Langman, J., K. Torso & J. Moberly. 2018. “Seasonal and Basinal Influences on the Formation and Transport of Dissolved Trace Metal Forms in a Mining-Impacted Riverine Environment.” Hydrology 5 (3): 35. doi.org/10.3390/hydrology5030035
Norby, J., D. Strawn & E. Brooks. 2018. “Filter Membrane Effects on Water-Extractable Phosphorus Concentrations from Soil.” Journal of Environmental Quality. 47(2): 378-382. doi:10.2134/jeq2017.10.0412. PMID: 29634789
Engels, M., B. Miller, A. Squires, J. S. Jennewein & K. Eitel. 2017. “The Confluence Approach: Developing scientific literacy through project-based learning and place-based education in the context of NGSS.” Electronic Journal of Science Education 23 (3): 33-58.
Sowards, A. M. & B. M. Lacabanne,. 2017. “Instituting water research: the Water Resources Research Act (1964) and the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute.” Water History volume 9: 295–316.
Buxton, T., J. Bufferington, D. Tonina, A. Fremier & E. M. Yager. 2015. “Modeling the Influence of Salmon Spawning on Hyporheic Exchange of Marine-Derived Nutrients in Gravel Stream Beds.” Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 72 (8): 1146-1158.
Buxton, T., J. M. Buffington, E. M. Yager, M. A. Hassan & A. K. Fremier. 2015. “The Relative Stability of Salmon Redds and Unspawned Streambeds.” Water Resources 51 (8): 6074-6092.
Research Reports Map
The map below displays a historical compilation of IWRRI supported research stored in the Idaho Digital Water Library, as part of the University of Idaho Library Archives. Click a marker to learn more.