Inform. Engage. Educate. Entertain. Delight

90.1FM106.7FM90.7FM
Now Playing: Loading...
Listen Live!

Creating Water Resiliency on the Navajo Nation

July 1, 2025 | By Peggy Hodgkins

Ryan Barton emphasizes the importance of collaboration and negotiation in solving water issues and bringing resilient water systems to the Navajo Nation.  As a hydrologist working for the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources,  Ryan has been involved in projects for over a decade including hydrographic surveys, lake capacity studies, and the San Juan River Basin Crop Inventory.  Science Moab talks with Ryan about his most recent and ongoing efforts to successfully provide drinking water to the Westwater community west of Blanding, UT through extensive collaboration among various entities.  Ryan’s path into hydrology has been influenced by family and childhood experiences of nature conservation.

 

Science Moab · Creating Water Resiliency on the Navajo Nation

Monitoring Stream Flow

May 6, 2025 | By Peggy Hodgkins

It is the mission of the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor water resources across the country.   We talk with Chris Wilkowske, a hydrologist with the USGS at the Utah Water Science Center, about the science and methodology of measuring stream flow. We talk about how stream gauges operate and the process of validating and adjusting data, particularly after events like floods. Local examples from the Moab area and the Colorado River highlight the dual purposes of stream gauges for flood monitoring and groundwater assessments. 

Science Moab · Monitoring Stream Flow

Water, Land, and Identity

March 4, 2025 | By Admin

Dr. Karletta Chief, Director of the Indigenous Resilience Center at the University of Arizona, leads initiatives for Tribal water security and community-driven climate solutions. Dr. Chief, a Diné hydrologist and professor, shares how growing up in Black Mesa on the Navajo Nation has influenced her current work. She emphasizes the importance of utilizing traditional knowledge alongside western science, and ensuring Indigenous communities’ central role in decision-making. We learn about the powerful mission of the Indigenous Resilience Center, and Dr. Chief shares her hopes for empowering the next generation of Indigenous youth to lead and innovate in their communities.

Science Moab · Water, Land, and Identity

Water Sustainability on the Navajo Nation

January 7, 2022 | By Admin

With about 30% of homes lacking pipe water, and a little over 30% without electricity, it is critical to understand the precipitation network on the Navajo Nation in order to provide sustainable water sources. We talk with principal hydrologist Crystal Tulley-Cordova about her work with the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources and her knowledge around the precipitation, recharge sources, and opportunities for water storage on the Navajo Nation.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1191840007?secret_token=s-KxbZWw4snPW” params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Science Moab · Water Sustainability on the Navajo Nation

Paleoflood Hydrology

February 13, 2020 | By Admin

The Colorado River Basin has experienced incredibly large flood events in the past. Present-day river deposits can be used to understand the size and timing of floods that have happened within the region. Here, we speak with Dr. Vic Baker who studies what he calls Paleoflood Hydrology. We talk about the ways he and his team determine how big floods were and how we can understand floods into the future.