Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Modeling snow water equivalent in complex mountainous terrain(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2023) Beck, Madeline Makenzie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Eric A. Sproles; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.The water stored in seasonal mountain snowpacks is a vital resource that approximately 20% of the world's population relies on for freshwater availability. However, accurately quantifying the amount of water stored in a snowpack, known as snow water equivalent (SWE), is difficult. The longest employed technique to quantify SWE is manual measurements. However, manual measurements of SWE are time intensive. As a result, researchers can collect relatively few point-based measurements across spatially extensive and complex regions. Automated weather stations may provide additional measurements of SWE and meteorological conditions but are expensive and difficult to maintain. Thus, reliable measurements of snow characteristics like SWE are scarce across time and space. A lack of extensive measurements causes data from few points to be extrapolated across spatially heterogeneous environments which increases uncertainty in estimates of water availability. Recent advances in satellite remote sensing allow researchers to observe snowpack dynamics across spatially continuous scales instead of relying solely on point-based measurements. However, current satellite technologies are incapable of collecting high- resolution snow data at the hillslope scale. Previous work has shown the importance of high elevation, hillslope-scale water storage reservoirs. Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) address the limitations of satellite remote sensing on the hillslope scale and are used to create high accuracy (<5 cm) models of snow depth. However, these models of snow depth provide no information on the amount of water stored without a value for snow bulk density. Thus, to capture hillslope dynamics of SWE, researchers must pair high-resolution models of snow depth with either directly measured or modeled bulk density of snow. This master's thesis integrates UAV-derived measurements of snow depth with modeled snow bulk density values to create continuous representations of hillslope-scale SWE across 9 flight dates. We found that each density modeling approach consistently underestimated SWE for the field site for each flight date except one. Further, each method of modeling snow bulk density was statistically indiscernible from each other. These findings highlight the heterogeneity of snow in mountainous terrain. In future work, bulk density models can be further parameterized to better represent site-specific values of SWE.Item Understanding rancher's beliefs and behaviors regarding drought and natural water storage in southwest Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2018) Moore, Megan Alison; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jamie McEvoyDrought has the potential to impact both natural environments and human communities, with specific repercussions for agricultural communities. In the face of changes to the quality, quantity, and timing of water runoff, water storage for drought mitigation is one of the top concerns for many water managers and water users. Due to a growing recognition of negative social and environmental impacts of traditional infrastructure, such as dams, there is a need for alternative forms of water storage. The concept of nature-based solutions, specifically natural water storage systems, has gained traction as a potential strategy to slow spring runoff, store water, and raise water tables, often resulting in an increase in late season streamflows. This research examines the adoption of these new strategies, specifically flood irrigation and beaver mimicry projects in the context of a changing climate in Montana. This thesis uses the theory of planned behavior to better understand findings from twenty-two amenity and traditional ranchers in the Red Rock Watershed/Upper Beaverhead Watershed in southwestern Montana. Results show that ranchers' beliefs toward drought can impact their drought planning responses. In this watershed, it is impractical for ranchers to convert to flood irrigation due its high labor needs and low production outputs. There is potential for beaver mimicry projects to be adopted, but economic and regulatory hurdles must first be addressed. Results suggest that natural water storage practices will be more successful if organizations involved form better relationships with ranchers, remain flexible, and integrate local knowledge into decisions and policies.Item Naturalwater storage and climate change resiliency in Montana : a geospatial approach(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2016) Holmes, Danika Leah; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jamie McEvoy; Jamie McEvoy, Jean Dixon and Scott Payne Water were co-authors of the article, 'Natural water storage and climate change resiliency in Montana: a geospatial approach' submitted to the journal 'Water' which is contained within this thesis.Climate change is projected to affect the quantity, quality, and timing of water availability in Montana, including a shift toward earlier spring runoff and more winter precipitation as rain. Montana state agencies have expressed the need to mitigate drought and damage from extreme flood events by identifying new locations for more efficient water storage. In the 2015 Montana State Water Plan, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) identifies natural storage infrastructures (floodplains, wetlands, riparian areas) as valuable tools to increase drought resiliency and mitigate water shortage. Quantifying how much water can be stored through natural storage has been a key question for Montana water planners. This study addresses western state management needs for a cost- and time-effective method of estimating floodplain water storage potential and provides a GIS-based model that identifies potential natural storage sites using open-source data. The result is a range of storage capacities for a study site near Melstone, Montana, under eight natural water storage conditions. Storage potentials ranged from 934 m 3 for small flood extents to 321,252 m 3 for large floods. This model can be refined using additional hydraulic inputs, and re-scaled to address more complex questions probing the efficacy of natural infrastructure-based water storage in the western United States.