The utah geological survey, a division of utah department of natural resources, will make two existing soil water balance models compatible with google earth engine (GEE) to improve water budget…

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $274,145.41 Project Grant under the Applied Science Grants program (CFDA 15.557) to the Utah Geological Survey (UGS), a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. The purpose of this 2-year award is to integrate two existing soil water balance models with Google Earth Engine (GEE) to improve water budget estimates in several Utah valleys and the Great Salt Lake watershed. This integration will allow for rapid and updatable calculations of groundwater infiltration, runoff, evapotranspiration, consumptive use, irrigation needs, and water savings. The current models are time-consuming and take years to complete a full water budget. By integrating the models into GEE, water managers will have quick access to critical water budget information to support sustainable water resource management and react more effectively to water shortages. This project is supported by the Colorado River Authority of Utah, the Utah Division of Water Rights, and rural water users.

Activities

This integration will allow for rapid and updatable estimates of groundwater infiltration and calculations, runoff quantities, evapotranspiration, consumptive use, irrigation needs and water savings. The current models are time consuming and can take years to complete a water budget.expected deliverables or outcomes: by integrating into GEE, quick calculations of water budgets and information will be available to water managers and will reduce delays in reacting to water shortages.

Intended beneficiaries

This project is supported by the colorado river authority of utah, the utah division of water rights and rural water users.subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award): N a