Science Moab

Aquatic insects can be used as bio-indicators of how a river’s ecosystem is doing. In the case of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, these insects are being severely affected by the Glen Canyon Dam. We talk with ecologist and bug lover Anya Metcalfe about her research with aquatic invertebrates in the Grand Canyon and how this might help sustain the weakening food web within this river corridor.

While dinosaur remains can be fragmented and hard to find, several reptile remains from the Cretaceous period (65-75 million years ago) are extremely abundant. These include freshwater turtles and a marine lizard known as a Mosasaur. We talk with Josh Lively, curator of Paleontology at USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum in Price, UT, about his work with these ancient reptiles and what his goals are with his new position.

Ambient water includes water from sources such as lakes, streams and springs. While ambient water may relate to groundwater or drinking water, it is not the same. Arne Hultquist is responsible for testing the ambient water quality in Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah. This includes the drainages of Mill and Pack Creek. As far as desert communities go, Moab and Spanish Valley have excellent ambient water quality.

The Navajo Nation is the size of West Virginia. Throughout the Nation, the topography, precipitation patterns, and water recharge are extremely diverse, but not well understood. Here we talk with principal hydrologist Crystal Tulley-Cordova about her work with the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources and her research around the precipitation, recharge sources, and opportunities for sustainable water use on the Navajo Nation. This episode was made possible by a Stem Action Grant from the Society for Science

The Grabens is an area in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park along the Colorado River that is constantly changing. The earth in these grabens is slowly moving up and down along faults and has resulted in a series of upthrown and downthrown blocks that results in long valleys between high areas. We talk with geophysicist Alba Rodriguez Padilla about the movement along these faults and how the information helps understand earth movements elsewhere.

Wildlife conservationist Joel Berger has come full circle with his observations of Bighorn Sheep. After studying Bighorn during his graduate studies, Joel took a 30 year hiatus from the species only to return recently by undertaking a Desert Bighorn Sheep study in southeast Utah. We talk with Joel about the logistics of monitoring the sheep and the possible impacts from the increase in human recreation in the area.

Reading a snowpack can be as much art as it is science. We talk with Eric Trenbeath, avalanche forecaster for the USFS Utah Avalanche Center for the La Sal and Abajo Mountains, about reading patterns in the snow and how that fits into an avalanche forecast. Each snow or wind event change the story and ultimately change the daily forecast.

Traditional knowledge that addresses the environmental, cultural, nutritional and spiritual health of the land and the people is at the heart of Cynthia Wilson’s work. As a tribal member of the Navajo Nation, Cynthia was born and raised in Monument Valley, UT. We talk with Cynthia about her work with traditional foods and the founding of the Women of Bears Ears who seek to restore Indigenous women’s matrilineal roles and the rematriation of the Earth.

Colleen Cooley grew up in Shą́ą́ʼtóhí, a small community located on the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona. She guides on the San Juan and Green Rivers and advocates for the landscapes, waters, and cultures that surround her. Here, we speak with her about her experience as a Diné river guide, the importance of water, and what she wants to see moving forward for Native and Indigenous guides and Native communities in the region.

Many animals rely on sound for communication, especially birds. Human generated noise can have a large impact on bird numbers and productivity. Science Moab talks with Skip Ambrose, a wildlife biologist who specializes in the bioacoustics of birds. We talk about the specialized methods of recording the sound of birds and how this data helps define how much the birds are affected by human noise.

Tribal communities are working on their own terms and with their own knowledge system to address and create resiliency to the coming changes. We talk with Nikki Cooley, the Interim Assistant Director for the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) with their tribes and Climate Change Program. While her master's degree is in forestry from Northern Arizona University, she has now found her dream job where she can combine all of her interests and passions, and feel like she’s making a difference.

The Colorado Plateau is host to many environmental contaminants, both natural and man-made. These substances can find their way into waterways and eventually to ecosystems. We talk with Jonathan Credo and Amy Chandos about their research on the relationship between human activity and the environment. We talk about how mining and agriculture impact tribal and non-native communities and the ecology of this region.

The majority of Rock Art in southern Utah has not been documented. Jonathan Bailey is working on changing that. Hiking many miles into the backcountry, Jonathan is seeking out and photographing rock art in order to protect and preserve its heritage and to conserve the cultural landscapes that surround it. We talk with Jonathan about his work in photography and conservation in Utah and the special places it takes him to.

Traditional knowledge systems that contain regenerative relationships with the land have been in place for generations on the Colorado Plateau. With Talia Boyd, we talk about these relationships and the necessity of Native peoples leading the region through issues like the climate crisis and environmental contamination. Talia calls for those with power, including non-Native scientists, to step back and give power back to this land's First Peoples. This episode is sponsored by the Colorado Plateau Foundation

Biogeography is the distribution of life within and around landforms. In a large deep canyon, that distribution is influenced by the elevation and the aspect of a slope which also controls the sunlight received. We talk with Larry Stevens of the Museum of Northern Arizona about his decades long investigation of biogeography within the Grand Canyon. More than 70% of the species found in the Grand Canyon are genetically affected by the landform itself and many can live nowhere else.

In the red rock deserts of the southwest, there is little soil to absorb rainfall. It usually runs off the rock to the lowest point which is commonly a narrow incised canyon. These canyons can fill with flood waters very quickly. We talk with hydrologist Brian McInerney about the conditions that come together to form these flash floods and how dangerous they can be.

The beautiful red rock desert surrounding Moab is host to more than 10 geohazards that can affect the structural integrity of buildings, bridges, or roads. We talk with Taylor Hall who is a geotechnical engineer studying the physics of soils and rocks in order to understand their mechanical properties and how they may affect such structures. Taylor has recently started his own business in Moab where he finds the unique environment curious and fun to work in.

Join scientists Chris Benson and Terry Dial on a geology tour of Arches National Park! Learn about rock layers, ancient environments and arch formation. The drive takes you along the main Arches NP road, highlighting the amazing geology seen at six different and incredibly scenic stops. Download the Arches National Park GeoTour now and take an epic educational drive through this sandstone wonderland!

To Indigenous archaeologist Lyle Balenquah, archaeological sites are places that are connected to a living culture. As a Hopi archaeologist working on Ancestral Lands on the Colorado Plateau, Lyle's experience in archaeology is different from his non-Native colleagues.  We speak with him about his journey into archaeology and what it means for him to be preserving Hopi culture within Ancestral Lands.  This episode of Science Moab was sponsored by the STEM Action Grant from the Society for Science.

“Leave No Trace” is not a new concept for most outdoor enthusiasts but the LNT recommendations for engaging with the outdoors are always updating as new learnings evolve. We talk with Ben Lawhon, the head of LNT’s research team about the science behind the curriculum of LNT. For this episode, we’ve partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in advance of the upcoming Arches Leave No Trace Hotspot Sep 24-27th. An event that is working to help address the mountain recreation problems in Arches National Park.