At the Watershed Scale: My Experience in Research from Mountain Headwaters to the Great Salt Lake
For most of my scientific career, I have worked in mountain environments, studying and protecting headwater ecosystems. My experience spans surveying threatened and endangered amphibians in alpine meadows, monitoring algal blooms in alpine lakes and streams, coring lake sediments to uncover environmental histories, and collecting thousands of water samples. I’m deeply invested in these vital headwater systems, which supply much of the freshwater across the American West and beyond. Although these places often appear relatively untouched, my work has focused on understanding and mitigating the far-reaching effects of human activity.
For example, atmospheric deposition of emissions from distant industrial, agricultural, and automobile sources has increased nutrient levels in these historically nutrient-limited systems, driving algal blooms and degrading water quality. Livestock grazing and fish stocking have also reshaped plant and animal communities, often reducing biodiversity. While my research aims to understand these challenges and contribute to solutions, the drivers of change, such as global climate warming, often cannot be directly addressed, only mitigated.
When I began as a fellow in the Natural Resources Workforce Development (NRWD) program, I was eager to explore how working within a highly managed and heavily impacted system would compare to my experience in more remote environments. In the Great Salt Lake basin, decisions about water use feel more immediate and, importantly, more actionable. While the challenges are complex, identifying pathways to deliver water to the lake feels within reach.
It’s been interesting to learn about the scope of efforts already underway to help raise water levels in the Great Salt Lake. I feel especially inspired by the range of research-informed solutions coming from collaborations between researchers, state and local government, and water users. These include efforts from altering irrigation timing and duration for agricultural producers to reduce water use to establishing community-led programs to encourage more water-wise landscaping.
Within this broader landscape, our cohort found a niche that pushed many of us outside our comfort zones. Instead of focusing on ecological processes, we decided to dive into the social sciences. Our project has centered on surveying water rights holders to better understand their willingness to participate in water leasing by identifying barriers that may prevent water rights holders from engaging in lease agreements and incentives for participation. This co-produced effort has taken patience and required learning new research methods and practices.
Equally meaningful has been the collaborative nature of this experience. Doctoral research can often feel solitary, but working alongside a cohort of very motivated and competent fellows has been inspiring and a welcome change of pace. Together, we are navigating a complex, time-sensitive problem, learning from one another, and contributing to a broader effort to support the Great Salt Lake and its communities.
I am looking forward to the coming months of this fellowship and the opportunity to eventually share our survey results. I hope to keep learning and continue participating in collaborative multidisciplinary research throughout my career.
This post was written by Anna Shampain, a 2025-26 NRWD Fellow from Utah State University (USU).