Career: tracing hydrologic and biogeochemical consequences of multiple disturbances in mountain watersheds

The National Science Foundation Division of Earth Sciences awarded Boise State University $714,878 on January 1, 2027, under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to investigate hydrologic and biogeochemical consequences of multiple disturbances in mountain watersheds, including wildfires and debris flows.

The research will characterize how disturbances affect nutrient processing, propagation, and water chemistry in mountain streams and downstream water supplies. Work will employ field experiments, continuous monitoring, and numerical modeling to quantify spatial and temporal variability of nutrient loading, uptake, and export across gradients of disturbance history in the South Fork of the Payette River watershed in Idaho. Results will inform improved management of water quality and aquatic habitat in mountain watersheds. Concurrently, the project will develop standardized field safety training materials for students, faculty, and research teams to make field experiences safer and more accessible for the future STEM workforce.

Performance takes place in Boise, Idaho, with a period of performance from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2031. No subawards are planned for this award.

Abstract

Wildfires, debris flows, and other related disturbances can threaten water quality in mountain watersheds. This project will investigate how these multiple disturbances affect the chemistry of mountain streams and downstream water supplies. The research will take place in idaho's payette river watershed, which has experienced recent wildfire and debris flow events. Standardized field safety training materials for students, faculty, and research teams will be developed in tandem with research and education activities. This training will make field experiences safer and more accessible for the future stem workforce. This project will investigate how multiple disturbances influence nutrient processing and propagation across mountain watersheds. The research will employ field experiments, continuous monitoring, and numerical modeling. These methods will be used to characterize nutrient availability, uptake, and transport throughout the south fork of the payette river. The work will quantify spatial and temporal variability of nutrient loading, uptake, and export across gradients of disturbance history. Results will inform improved management of water quality and aquatic habitat in mountain watersheds. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.