The University of Montana Western Environmental Sciences Department is proud to host Brian Wheeler as part of the “On the Rocks” lecture series. Wheeler will present “Beneath the Surface: Water Quality Monitoring on the Big Hole” on Wednesday, February 19, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in UMW’s Lucy Carson Library.
Since 2019, Brian Wheeler has served as the Executive Director of the Big Hole River Foundation (BHRF), working to develop and refine its Water Quality Monitoring Program. As the only consistent annual monitoring program on the Big Hole, BHRF is addressing a critical data gap and providing state water managers with valuable information on the health of this important resource.
Brian has worked as a fishing and whitewater guide for 20 years and has organized numerous river cleanups as a volunteer. With a deep appreciation for freestone rivers and an understanding of the Big Hole River’s importance to both ranching and recreation, he believes water quality is a fundamental concern. Brian holds a B.S. in Anthropology and lives in Dillon with his wife and their four dogs. When he’s not rowing or collecting water quality data, he’s following his bird dogs across the prairie.
The Big Hole River Foundation’s Water Quality Monitoring Project is the only program of its kind in southwest Montana. Focused on monitoring nutrients and aquatic life in the Big Hole, BHRF provides important data annually to the Department of Environmental Quality.
Join us to learn more about this crucial effort to fill a significant data gap in a special watershed.
Prior to the lecture, students in the Environmental Remote Sensing and GIS (ENSC 384) course will showcase their final project poster presentations from 3:30-4:00 p.m. in the library. These projects explore a range of environmental topics, including:
Changing Water Levels of Lake Mead, NV
Urban Development and Land Use Changes in Montrose, CO
Irrigation, Vegetation, and Climate in Beaverhead County
Quake Up Call! Alaska’s Shifting Plates
Secondary Education and Voting Trends in Montana
The Future of the Keystone Pipeline in Montana
2 Major Disasters, One Flourishing National Park – How Yellowstone has Changed with the Fires of ’88 and the ’22 Flood
Spatial and Temporal Tornado Patterns in Florida
Monitoring Beaver Dam Analogs Efficacy with Remote Sensing
Algal Blooms and Climate in Puget Sound, WA
Vegetation Changes in Colorado Mountain Towns
Heat Islands in the Stream: How Bozeman, MT is Affected by the Heat Island Effect
For more information on UMW’s “On the Rocks” series, please contact UMW Associate Professor of Environmental Sustainability, Dr. Arica Crootof, at arica.crootof@umwestern.edu.
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