Scientific knowledge about aquatic ecosystems in Western North America is crucial for creating conservation plans and informing management decisions. The more we monitor restoration projects and how aquatic habitat conditions change over time, the better we can gauge how our efforts are working or if we need to take action. As climate change continues to make the Western Slope of Colorado hotter and drier, we are here to provide information about our local aquatic systems and their inhabitants, ready to collaborate with stakeholders of all kinds!
Current Research Projects:
- How restoring willows to an intermittent stream riparian area affects resources for native fish (Baca National Wildlife Refuge)
- How emerging canyon creek habitats in the former lakebed of Lake Powell compare to reference habitats (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area)
- How heavy metal mine runoff mitigation affects subalpine fens, using aquatic invertebrate communities as indicators (Bureau of Land Management area near the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests)
- Types of insect prey available in sagebrush wet meadows that have undergone erosion control treatment (UGRWCD, USFS, BLM and Sage Grouse Working Group)
- How BDAs affect aquatic invertebrate communities in streams, and differences between BDA impoundments that have been augmented by beavers and those that have not (Trail Creek, Gunnison National Forest)
- How does beaver pond age/succession affect aquatic invertebrate communities?
