Water Law Fellow Andrew Teegarden, traveled to St. Louis to attend the annual Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) water conference. This year was extra special because it was the 60th anniversary of UCOWR! The conference discussed water issues from the prospectives of academia on a variety of exciting topics.
The first day of the conference began with a plenary session which talked about various threats to our water world. This theme was continued throughout the sessions later in the day which looked at nearly every aspect of water supply systems such as stormwater, flooding mitigation structures, water scarcity, drought, climate change, and management regimes.
A session by University of Wyoming College of Law Professor Jason Robison, talked about issues which deeply impact the management of the Colorado River like the inclusion of tribal voices, and the troubled history of the 鈥淟aw of the River鈥� which is based on improper flow estimates and limited opportunities for water conservation practices. Robison gave a shoutout to David Getches鈥� legacy because of the important work done to protect and advance water in the Western United States. Robison also gave a plug to Doug Kenney, Director of the Western Water Policy Program at the Getches-Wilkinson Center, for his decades of research aimed at addressing shortfalls within the Colorado River Basin.
Another inspiring session discussed the various ways states are adapting to manage groundwater withdrawals and new technology being used to map underground aquifers. The technology being used relies on arial electromagnets which acts as a form of radar to help map the contours and depth of aquifers across the country. Updating our understanding of underground water supplies will enable water managers to make better decisions about withdrawal and refill rates. In addition, this technology helps to reveal and quantify a source that has historically been hidden.
This conference provided a new viewpoint from academia and science which has helped me come away with a few tools for the fight against climate change. For instance, one talk discussed the importance of wetlands and specifically how we can rework those systems to add more of the ecological benefits through the use of floating wetlands. Essentially, a floating structure is placed into a pond or wetland area which has holes designed for plantings of water friendly plants. Over time, the plants begin to take over the structure and blossom with native grasses, flowers, and pollinators. This particular study also looked at plant type and their ability to grow in slightly brackish (salty) water which can help coastal communities with areas that are inundated with salt intrusion. Once these floating wetlands are in place, they provide multiple benefits for the waterbody in the form of increased habitat for species, water filtration, and community visual benefits.
Another talk discussed the importance of monitoring water to better understand how it moves through cities, towns, and rural areas as well as the various funding sources which can be used to help build out water infrastructure. Most communities do not have accurate data for both water quality and water quantity and monitoring can be the key. Just like with the underground sources, measurements are the key to designing sustainable turn-key water systems. In fact, some municipalities are looking at how to integrate AI with water management systems. AI could be used to automate the water allocation process and help systems with flood mitigation through controlled real-time changes to headgate levels and other flow control devices based on machine learning models that can predict the best outcome with the provided data. However, this solution requires gauges throughout the entire system which can be costly and time consuming for communities.
Overall, this conference provided multiple ways for the water community to come together and discuss how we navigate the plethora of water issues facing our country due to human impacts. Thank you to UCOWR, AWRA, and NIWR for hosting this conference and providing the space for all of us to discuss these important issues!