Kassandra Lisenbee – Undergraduate – Geography
 Are Harmful Toxins Produced by Algal Blooms a Threat to California’s Ability to Use Desalination Plants as an Alternative Water Source?

​As climate change continues to pose a threat to water security in the west, a new source of water is becoming increasingly important in some places. Desalination plants have been proposed as a new source of water for California. Opportunities include, but are not limited to, supplementing both drinking water and agricultural irrigation it has also been proposed to help recharge depleted aquifers. As such, desalination facilities have the potential to improve water security along the Pacific coast. Harmful algal blooms (HAB) or “red tides” have always posed an issue for desalination plants. HAB’s produce toxic substances that can be harmful to human health and are high in biomass. These toxins and organic material can cause increased membrane fouling rates and can contaminate water and brine solutions with high levels of algal toxins. Research shows an increased frequency and intensity of algal blooms globally, both because of environmental factors and anthropogenic activities. In this poster, I examine some proposed strategies to address issues associated with large algal blooms. Strategies that could be used to protect desalination plants in California include: early detection of algal blooms, subsurface intake pipes (if geology allows), and the importance of pretreatment efforts. The purpose of this project is to identify and assess strategies that help reduce the impact of algal blooms on desalination facilities and to the water these facilities produce. 

Lisenbee References

Dominic Oehler – Undergraduate – Geography
Comparing Fog Drip in Oregon’s Bull Run Watershed and California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

​In certain watersheds, fog drip may be an important contribution to soil moisture, groundwater, or streamflow, although it is often overlooked and is rarely measured. Fog drip occurs naturally in places where there is lots of fog and where surfaces catch the fog, allowing the vapor to become liquid, such as parts of the coastal mountains and in the western Cascades. This poster examines where, when, and how fog drip impacts and influences streamflow within selected California and Oregon watersheds, more specifically, the Bull Run Watershed east of Portland, Oregon, and the Santa Cruz Mountain Watershed in central coastal California. In addition to focusing on how fog drip influences streamflow, I discuss the contribution of fog to soil moisture and how this influences streamflow.

Emily Paris – Undergraduate – Environmental Science 
Environmental and Economic Effects of Desalination in Israel

​In arid coastal countries, desalination can increase access to freshwater for citizens. However, desalination can come with major environmental and economical side effects. Israel, a country with an average annual precipitation of only 21 inches, relies heavily on the science of reverse osmosis desalination of seawater to provide up to 80% of its’ municipal water supply. While Israel’s desalination plants are ranked as some of the most energy-efficient in the world, they still have many negative side effects including (1) pollution in Mediterranean waters, (2) cost due to energy requirements, and (3) greenhouse gas emissions. There has been much progress in reducing these effects since the installment of desalination in Israel in 1997, however the current consensus among engineers is that efficiency in all three areas is unlikely to improve in the near future. Here, I compare and describe the environmental consequences of the 31 desalination plants across Israel. I will highlight the most efficient solutions in order to decrease the three main side effects associated with desalination. Continuing to progress the efficiency of desalination is essential for water-stressed countries that rely on alternative water sources. By understanding the best technologies for desalination, arid coastal regions around the world can follow in order to provide more freshwater for their citizens with less negative side effects. 

Thomas Tsunemoto – Undergraduate – Environmental Science 
Water Quality and Quantity Issues in Basra Iraq

​The Shatt Al-Arab river of Basra Iraq has a water quality issue that stems from human intervention domestically and abroad. Unfortunately, like many areas of the globe Basra is undergoing a water quality crisis that is negatively affecting the health of the environment and the human population in the region. This presentation will discuss how the issue of water quality is critical to this region by looking at the impact of dams, agricultural runoff, and salinization. The use of dams in neighboring countries along with issues of poor water management by the Iraq government has put the country in a vulnerable position regarding water quality and security. The drainage of biproducts from agriculture puts a stress on the quality of water that flows though the county towards the Persian Gulf. Saltwater advancement from the Persian Gulf has caused salinization which has put a burden on the local aquatic biome. Implementation of water negotiations with strong political will and sustainable water management practices can be the solution for the water issue that Iraq faces as well as help stabilize the region with access to clean potable fresh water. Furthermore, this presentation will look at how resolving this matter of water quality is essential for the restoration of the local ecosystem since these issues have been devastating to both the local environment and the people who depend on it. Sustainable water management practices in water scarce regions like Iraq need strong political will and international negotiations to be resolved.