The Colorado River Basin provides water for communities across the West, from the Front Range of Colorado to the coast of California.  Increase in use, along with climate change, have resulted in extremely low water levels for the Colorado River Basin and its reservoirs.  We speak with Brian Richter about the hazards of such low water levels and what is being done to mitigate the risks.

Taking Action in the Colorado River Basin

The Little Colorado River (LCR) is a culturally and spiritually significant drainage for many people in the southwest.  The LCR also provides sediment load to the main stem of the Colorado River for the production of sandbars downstream AND it is an important spawning ground for and home to the largest population of Humpback Chub.  We talk with Phoebe Brown, river guide and researcher, about her studies that involve understanding the interactions of phosphorus and the growth rates of the Humpback Chub.

Studying Growth Rates of the Humpback Chub

Sagebrush once stretched across almost 500,000 square miles from the Dakotas to California. Each year, a million acres is lost to invasive species, catastrophic wildfire, development, improper grazing and climate change.  Matt Cahill is the director of the Sagebrush Sea program for The Nature Conservancy.  Matt advocates that scientific solutions and large-scale collaboration are needed to reverse the trend in sagebrush. We talk with Matt about what is being done to save this vital landscape.

The Space between the Mountains

Science Friday

Sacre Bleu! Some French Cheeses At Risk Of Extinction

A Year After Chemical Spill, Ohio Community Is Still Recovering

Climate Scientist Michael Mann Wins Defamation Case

Odysseus Lander Is On Its Way To The Moon

It is well known at this point that humans are using more water out of the Colorado River, then the river can support…for humans as well as other life forms that live along and within the river. Agriculture is using approximately 80% of that water.   We talk with Aaron Derwingson, Water Projects Director of the Colorado River Program for the Nature Conservancy.  Aaron and his team do freshwater conservation restoration projects across the whole Colorado River Basin, involving a combination of work from science and policy to direct project work on the grounds. By working to build relationships with the agricultural community, the team hopes to help ensure that there are sufficient water supplies for both people and nature.

Working Together for River Conservation

Rangelands are vast, natural grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and deserts that support grazing and browsing mammals and they are primarily natural ecosystems with native vegetation.These rangelands can become degraded by fire or improper grazing. We talk with Kari Veblen, professor of Rangeland Ecology at Utah State University about her research that focuses on the ecology and management of rangelands.  Her research emphasizes multi-use landscapes, public and private, that are managed simultaneously for wildlife conservation and sustainable livestock production.  The ultimate goal of her work is to inform sustainable management of rangeland ecosystems.

Restoration on the Range

A podcast exploring the science and learning about the scientists from southeast Utah and the Colorado Plateau. Produced by Science Moab, KZMU, and USU Extension

Taking Action in the Colorado River Basin

Science Moab

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