At the September meeting Dr. Wesley Kitlasten of the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) will be presenting the USGS’s Water for the Seasons Project and also the Sierra Wide Meadow Vulnerability Assessment. This presentation should be of particular importance to those interested in the future water supply in Alpine County and the effectiveness of meadow restoration.
Water for the Seasons (WftS) is a four year study funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. WftS uses the Truckee-Carson River System (TCRS) as a pilot study to learn how to best link science with decision-making in snow-fed arid-land river systems. By working collaboratively with stakeholders, WftS aims to create a model for improving community climate resiliency, or ability to adapt to extreme climatic conditions. Go here for more details on this project.
The Sierra Wide Meadow Vulnerability Assessment involves looking at ~8,100 meadows from 1985 to present to analyze meadow vegetation responses (i.e., their sensitivity) to contemporary variation in climate. A decision framework will be developed that provides guidance on where to focus restoration and conservation actions based on meadow vulnerability assessment results. This framework can then be incorporated into existing meadow prioritizations to allow practitioners to more rigorously consider climate impacts and adaptation options. More details are available here.
Dr. Kitlasten has a B.S. and M.S. in Geology from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. He worked for the Riverside Fire Lab (US Forest Service) as a hydrologist where he studied post-fire soil erosion, vegetation recovery, and evaluated cumulative watershed impacts. His Ph.D. research addressed the importance of groundwater for sustaining peatlands in montane watersheds. Dr. Kitlasten currently holds a post-doctoral position at the USGS Nevada Water Science Center in Carson City, Nevada, where his research evaluates the potential impacts of climate variability on water availability and use in the Carson Valley as part of the Water for the Seasons project.
The Alpine Biomass Collaborative (ABC) has received recognition from the Internal Revenue Service of its status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. This means donations to the ABC are charitable contributions under the tax code.
The September meeting is scheduled for Tuesday September 4th at 6:00 pm at Turtle Rock Park.
Alpine Biomass Collaborative 