Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID MT_2023_Rickenbaugh

Assessment of Water Availability for Irrigation within the Elevational Gradient of a Mountainous Catchment in Southwestern Montana

Institute: Montana
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-03-01 End Date: 2023-10-31
Total Federal Funds: $2,414 Total Non-Federal Funds: $1,086

Principal Investigators: Eliza Rickenbaugh

Project Summary: This research will trace the source of irrigation water within a watershed throughout the growing season by analyzing stable water isotope ratios extracted from snow and water samples collected along an elevational gradient in the watershed. By integrating this in situ hydrologic data and remotely-sensed snowmelt data, this analysis will build understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics which control the contribution of mountainous snowpack to agricultural systems.