Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Utah Water Research Laboratory
Utah State University
Bio:
Bethany Neilson is a Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Utah Water Research Laboratory. Her current research spans fundamental understanding of hydrologic responses and instream processes to applied water resources management projects. Her early work focused primarily on developing new data collection and modeling approaches to quantify groundwater/surface water interactions and the associated influences on instream water quality and temperature regimes. This research spanned desert rivers, arctic river systems, low gradient agricultural rivers, and high gradient mountain basins. More recently, her research group has focused on connecting landscape processes to river responses in diverse hydrologic settings and using the resulting knowledge and tools to assist in watershed management decisions.
Title: Great Salt Lake Strike Team Data Updates and Policy Summaries
Abstract: In 2023 and 2024, the Great Salt Lake Strike Team synthesized the current scientific understanding of the Great Salt Lake hydrology and water budget within the basin. The reports compiled the most current data about water inputs and losses, past and present, and laid out different scenarios for restoring the Lake to healthy levels. Furthermore, these reports also provide key information about the impacts of future changes in climate and what they mean for restoring and maintaining Great Salt Lake. We will cover the key take-home messages and updates from this data synthesis and provide brief summaries of some of the policy levers to help restore Great Salt Lake.