Science Moab

Mike and Jenny Fiebig traveled for 183 days over 1800 miles from the source of the Green River in the Wind River Range to where the Colorado River enters the Sea of Cortez. Using canoe, packraft, and a dory, the couple traversed the length of the river system with all its rapids, dams, and reservoirs. Science Moab talks with Jenny and Mike about the Colorado River Basin health, stewardship, and connectivity that they experienced along their journey.

When puffy white clouds appear in the sky above a hot arid landscape, one may wonder “where is that moisture coming from?”. The desert southwest is unique in many ways and the weather patterns are no exception. We talk about weather with Tony Merriman, meteorologist and outreach coordinator from the National Weather Service office in Flagstaff, AZ. We discuss the large and small scale factors that contribute to the aridity and the (hopefully) moisture we have here on the Colorado Plateau.

The humpback chub have been swimming in the wild and turbulent waters of the Colorado River Basin for 3 million years. They have been endangered since 1967 following the building of dams along the Colorado River and its tributaries and the introduction of non-native predatory fish. We talk with Brian Healy, the Native Fish Ecology and Conservation Program manager at Grand Canyon National Park, and a PhD candidate in Ecology at Utah State University. In addition to studying the ecology of the humpback chub and other native fish in the Grand Canyon, Brian works to restore habitat and populations of these native fish.

To understand geologic time, you have to stretch your mind across knowledge sets and time scales. That’s exactly what geologist and paleontologist Kevin Madalena has done as he’s worked to understand and defend the fossil record and cultural sites on Ancestral lands. Here, we speak with him about how he has crossed scientific disciples and knowledges to understand the deep past and help safeguard the future. We cover the recent defacement of cultural sites in the Moab region and how those acts are an extension of looting, ecological destruction, and missing and murdered Indigenous women.

The Willow Flycatcher’s song is innate... it is not a learned song but something ingrained in its DNA. Because of this and the fact that the songs are unique among subspecies, the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher is protected under the Endangered Species Act. We talk with Dr. Sean Mahoney who studies the ecology of plants, birds, and insects. His work with the Willow Flycatcher and its song is important for protecting the birds and the riparian habitats they live in.

Educating visitors about the Colorado Plateau landscape is necessary to keeping it intact. It's something that storyteller and guidebook author Morgan Sjogren has been trying to do as she's told stories and written books about the region. Here, we speak with Morgan about what she sees as the role of storytellers on Plateau and the need for diverse voices when educating about and conserving this place. photo courtsey Morgan Sjogren

Behind the management and policies of the Colorado River System is a computer model...The Colorado River Simulation System (CRSS) is a continuously evolving model that has been revised and modified over a 40-year period. We talk with Dr. Kevin Wheeler who is an important interpreter and translator of the model for stakeholders. We discuss how using the model to explore alternative management strategies for the Colorado River will benefit water supply users and river ecosystems and empower more stakeholders to participate in planning the future of the river system.

Potholes on the Colorado Plateau are depressions primarily in the sandstone, unassociated with any drainage, that are home to ephemeral pools of water. These potholes provide shelter for life in a hostile environment and many species have survived to the modern day only because these rain filled pools are available. We speak with biologist/ecologist Tim Graham about the types of organisms that have adapted to live in these ephemeral pools and why humans should try to avoid these fragile ecosystems.

Science and conservation in the United States is made up of primarily white scientists and Western ways of thinking. This is something that Sergio Avila saw clearly when he first came to the US from Mexico to study mountain lions and jaguars along the border. Here, we speak with Sergio about his experiences in conservation and the need to incorporate diverse ways of thinking into science that includes, respects, and learns from Indigenous communities and people of color. Sergio challenges conservationists to expand their role models away from authors like Ed Abbey and John Muir and look towards the written, spoken, and on the ground knowledge that is held within Indigenous communities and within communities of color.

The Bears Ears region is a place held sacred to Native people across the Colorado Plateau. It’s also a place that has a complicated history with Western archaeologists, who at times harmed cultural sites that hold tremendous significance to Native communities. Here, we speak with Ralph Burrillo, whose pen name is R.E. Burrillo, about the scientific and natural history of the Bears Ears region and what he sees as the role of Western scientists today in supporting Indigenous-led efforts in Bears Ears.

Arches are always vibrating. The unique size and shape of each arch produces a unique wave frequency that it vibrates at. We talk with Jeff Moore and Paul Geimer from the University of Utah Geohazards Research Group who study the seismology or movement of natural rock spans.

In Moab, climate change has greatly reduced the size of the wetlands and many of the mosquitoes’ natural predators that used to live there have also disappeared. Now when the floodwaters do come and fill up the wetlands, mosquitoes reproduce relentlessly. We speak with Shannon Amsberry, manager of Moab Mosquito Abatement, about how he and his team are keeping the mosquito population under control.

The Colorado River Basin provides water for communities across the West, from the Front Range of Colorado to the coast of California. Increase in use, along with climate change, have resulted in extremely low water levels for the Colorado River Basin and its reservoirs. We speak with Brian Richter about the hazards of such low water levels and what is being done to mitigate the risks.

Biological soil crusts—mosses, lichens, and bacteria that live on the surface of dryland soils—perform crucial functions in desert ecosystems. Some species make nitrogen available for nearby plants. Others are huge carbon sinks. In this episode, Michala Phillips, a postdoctoral researcher at the Southwest Biological Science Center, explains how drought, temperature increases, and physical disturbances threaten the survival of these organisms.

When it comes to arid climates, junipers are some of the toughest trees around. But in the past two years, southeastern Utah has seen huge swathes of them die off. In this episode, Steven Kannenberg, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah, explains why so many junipers are struggling to survive.

A unique combination of events came together at the end of Permian time (250 million years ago)that resulted in the extinction of more the 90% of living species. We talk with Dr. Benjamin Burger about what earth looked like during this period and what led to such a drastic change in environment and life.

Join scientists Chris Benson and Terry Dial on a geology tour of Moab, Utah! This 50-mile scenic driving loop includes information on the spectacular geology surrounding Moab. This 50-mile scenic driving loop includes six stops with audio by local geologist - 4-wheel drive recommended - 2-wheel drive option - Plan 3-4 hours - Join caravan Friday, 18 September 2-6p Download map at www.moab-scifest.org

Extreme heat can be dangerous and is often called the "silent killer". We talk with Kirsten Goldstein, a grad student at Utah State University in Climate Adaptation Science, who studies how people perceive the risk of heat to their health. A person’s perception can influence their behavior and the we discuss the methods Kirsten uses to try and understand perceptions relating to how hot people feel.

Sixty years after its creation, Lake Powell faces an uncertain future with increasing drought and limited runoff into the Colorado River Basin. Here we speak with Jack Schmidt and Eric Kuhn about the policies and politics of reservoirs along the Colorado River. Jack Schmidt is a professor at Utah State University’s Center for Colorado River studies and Eric Kuhn is an engineer and was general manager for the Colorado River Water Conservation District for 37 years. We discuss the role Lake Powell plays in the Colorado River Basin and how climate change, politics, and water-use policies affect the reservoir’s future.

There is a lot of Western science happening here on the Colorado Plateau but there is also long-held Indigenous knowledge that is centered on knowing this place. Here, we speak with Jim Enote about these two different knowledge systems. Jim is a Zuni writer, farmer and CEO of the Colorado Plateau Foundation. Jim is also a trained scientist and we talk with him about the different ways that Western scientists and Indigenous communities both understand the world and maintain knowledge. Jim explains how we can begin to speak across those understandings to make the world better for both people and the natural environment.