News Article

Utah State University researchers, including iUTAH researcher David Rosenberg, a professor in civil and environmental engineering, were recently featured in the news for contributions on the development of a model to improve arid-region wetlands.

The study was published in Water Resources Research on Sept. 1. Rosenberg, along with Omar Alminagorta, a former postdoctoral associate at the Utah Water Research Lab and USU Associate Professor Karin M. Kettenring, a wetland ecologist, co-authored the study. Findings show that if refuge managers implement the model's recommendations, they could nearly double the area of productive wetland habitat using existing resources." We found that more dynamically altering the water levels in wetland units at the refuge improves habitat for migratory birds," said Rosenberg.

In an excerpt from the EurekaAlert article “Rosenberg adds that adjusting water levels within wetland units more frequently also better corresponds to historical hydrologic conditions. The model also suggests focusing efforts to control invasive vegetation - particularly for phragmites, a widespread invasive grass - in late summer rather than early fall. These two changes, he explains, could significantly increase the habitat area for priority migratory bird species that use the refuge. ‘The model shows us how to better use scarce water, labor and financial resources to achieve the goals set by the refuge managers each year,’ said Rosenberg.”

Press: USU Today | EurekaAlert | ScienceDaily | Natural Science News | Utah Public Radio

USU researchers have created a computer model that can help wetland biologists increase the size of migratory bird habitat.
Photo credit: Chris Luecke.