April 2025 Newsletter
the power of PLACE
Voices of RMBL - Curtis Buetler and Austin Shirley
Even though the road to Gothic is closed in the wintertime, research and discovery happens all year long. Spend a few minutes learning about the hydrology of mountainous systems with Curtis Beutler and Austin Shirley, scientific research associates for a RMBL-Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory project.
The Watershed Function Scientific Focus Area project focuses on understanding how mountainous systems retain and release water, nutrients, carbon, and metals in response to climate perturbations, such as drought and early snowmelt. Curtis and Austin have been studying changes to snowpack, surface/groundwater variability, snow density and temperature, and ecosystem dynamics in the East River Watershed.
Immerse yourself in the winter landscapes on Snodgrass Mountain as we follow along with Curtis and Austin to better understand water availability in the snowpack and predict how water will move through the East River valley this spring and summer. Watch the video below!
Ian Billick | PhD
Executive Director, RMBL
sciencestories
Trees of knowledge - and benefit
While Curtis Beutler and Austin Shirley dig snow pits measuring the snow’s density and temperature to predict how much water it will deliver to streams and soil in the East River basin, they’re also active in another study in the Taylor River basin. There, scientists and land managers are looking at how to help forests adapt to climate change. RMBL researchers led by Ken Williams, PhD, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, are working alongside the forest-focused group but training their sights on preserving water resources.