Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The Competitive Water Availability for Agriculture, Wetlands, and Dust Mitigation in the Salton Sea Area project engages a broad and interconnected audience of students, researchers, agency partners, and conservation organizations. Its primary goal is to integrate research, education, and community engagement to address the environmental and water management challenges of the Salton Sea region. The project unites faculty and students from Cal State LA and Sacramento State in a coordinated effort to advance understanding of water availability and wetland function in arid environments. Collaborative studies with the California Department of Water Resources and California Audobon have led to the collection and isotopic analysis of water samples and the development of new conceptual hydrogeologic models. These findings have been disseminated through conference presentations, virtual meetings with partner agencies, and a peer-reviewed publication. This momentum will continue through expanded outreach, additional publications, and deeper collaboration with regional stakeholders in the coming year. Across participating campuses, students have been directly involved through formal course modules, research projects, and field experiences. Instructional materials emphasizing remote sensing, GIS applications, groundwater modeling, and data analytics have been integrated into lower- and upper-division courses, reaching more than 150 students. These efforts have introduced a new generation of diverse learners to key concepts of water competition, wetland function, and ecosystem resilience in the Salton Sea basin. Students gain hands-on experience in spatial analysis, machine learning, and terrain-based modeling, translating classroom learning into applied environmental problem-solving. The research and data products generated by this project benefit a wide range of users, including scientists, planners, and policymakers who require integrated spatial and hydrologic information. A nested drone-satellite monitoring framework provides cost-effective tools for tracking vegetation change, terrain influence, and hydrologic inputs, supporting wetland restoration, dust control, and water management efforts. Advanced groundwater flow and hydrodynamic models are starting to be developed to simulate subsurface and surface processes within the Salton Sea basin. These models serve as critical planning instruments for evaluating the feasibility of groundwater extraction, dust mitigation, and wetland enhancement projects, informing the decisions of resource managers and agencies working to stabilize and restore this fragile ecosystem. The public stakeholders, particularly communities in the Coachella and Imperial Valleys, are key beneficiaries of this work. These populations are directly affected by dust emissions, declining air quality, and the ecological degradation surrounding the Salton Sea. By linking student-driven research with agency and community needs, the project enhances regional resilience and supports sustainable environmental management. The integrated educational and research approach ensures that data collected by students contribute directly to local problem-solving and the development of mitigation strategies with real-world application. By fostering collaboration among the two academic campuses, government agencies, and community organizations, the initiative has created a shared framework for science, management, and policy. This structure supports long-term environmental stewardship while strengthening educational pathways that prepare students for careers in environmental management, resource planning, and conservation science. In Year 2, the project aims to further integrate research and educational activities across participating universities and partners. Planned efforts include joint publications, data sharing, collaborative modeling projects, and expanded outreach to local community and conservation groups. On a limited basis, the team also intends to explore K-16 educational partnerships in the Coachella and Imperial Valleys to connect classroom learning with field-based inquiry and public engagement. These initiatives will extend the project's impact beyond university campuses, cultivating a broader network of students, educators, and residents engaged in sustainable management of the Salton Sea ecosystem. Through this integrated, multi-campus collaboration, the project exemplifies how higher education, applied science, and community partnership can converge to address urgent water and environmental challenges. Its combined educational, technical, and stakeholder-focused efforts represent a scalable model for advancing both regional sustainability and workforce development across California's arid landscapes. Changes/Problems:Our original plan was to include the 2025 Conference and Symposium as part of the 2025 NIFA-REEU Post-Summer Symposium. However, due to the REEU grant being paused until June 2025, we were unable to operate the summer program as originally intended. In addition, one of the Co-PDs is on family leave during the late summer and fall of 2025, and the extremely high temperatures in the Coachella and Imperial Valleys during August present significant logistical and safety challenges. Taking these factors into consideration, we have rescheduled our annual symposium for January 2026. During this event, our colleagues from Sacramento, along with their students, will join us on campus to participate in the symposium and a coordinated field trip activity. Looking ahead, with our 2026 REEU Summer Program expected to proceed, we have revisited our original plan to hold a summer symposium and field trip. However, given that extreme heat conditions are expected to persist, we are considering a permanent adjustment to schedule this component during cooler months. This modification would better support program safety, participation, and overall success while maintaining the symposium and field trip as an integral and required element of the grant program. No other changes or problems to report. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has offered students a wide range of opportunities for practical training and professional development that extend far beyond traditional coursework, preparing them for advanced study and professional careers in FANH-related fields. On May 9, 2025, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) hosted a shoreline drilling workshop at the Salton Sea. This event provided students with rare, hands-on exposure to test-hole and water-well drilling methods. DWR experts not only demonstrated the technical aspects of drilling but also explained how exploratory wells inform restoration strategies, including the search for suitable water to support the temporary irrigation of salt-tolerant vegetation on exposed playa surfaces. Students gained a clear understanding of how engineering methods are directly connected to ecological restoration and public health outcomes, particularly efforts to reduce windblown dust and improve air quality for nearby communities. At Sacramento State, students received hands-on training in hydrological and groundwater modeling, essential tools for understanding and managing complex water systems such as the Salton Sea. These skills not only strengthen their analytical and technical capabilities but also prepare them to apply modeling approaches to address real-world challenges in their future careers. Beyond field-based and software training, students have developed professional communication and networking skills. Several students have presented, or co-authored presentations, at regional and national conferences, gaining valuable experience in disseminating research results to diverse audiences (contained in Products Section). These conferences also provided opportunities for students to engage directly with agency scientists, NGO leaders, and academic peers, strengthening their professional networks. Project-related publications, listed in the Products section, demonstrate the tangible scholarly output of these student contributions and mark an important early step in their research careers. The project has also emphasized stakeholder engagement as a professional skill. Students participated in a series of Zoom-based outreach meetings where faculty and project teams shared preliminary research findings with local, state, and nonprofit partners. In these settings, students observed and practiced the translation of technical data into actionable insights for decision-makers. In some cases, they directly contributed to presentation content and discussion, gaining firsthand experience in the intersection of science, policy, and management. Together, these opportunities, ranging from field workshops to scholarly dissemination to stakeholder engagement, have created solid professional development experience in year 1 of the grant. Students are not only building technical expertise but also developing the communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills essential for leadership in research, water management, agriculture, and natural resource sciences. Looking ahead, the project intends to expand these opportunities in Year 2, with additional agency partnerships, larger-scale classroom integration, and further involvement in stakeholder-driven research. These efforts will deepen student preparation and continue to build a pipeline of future professionals equipped to address the challenges of water availability, ecosystem resilience, and community health in the Salton Sea region and beyond. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In Year 1, research findings were disseminated to both academic audiences and stakeholder groups through a combination of conference presentations, a peer-reviewed publication, and targeted outreach. Results were shared at professional meetings, including studies on hydrochemistry and isotope hydrology of the Niland Wister Unit wetlands, identification of groundwater origins in the Salton Sea using environmental isotopes, source waters and selenium dynamics in the Salton Sea wildlife area, and changes in salinity, nutrients, and arsenic in drainage channels feeding into Bombay Beach wetlands. Importantly, students were active contributors, serving as co-authors and, in some cases, lead authors on several of these presentations, gaining valuable experience in professional research dissemination. Beyond academic conferences, findings were communicated directly to stakeholders. A focused presentation on isotope and environmental water sampling in the Salton Sea area was delivered to the California Department of Water Resources, ensuring that emerging results could inform ongoing management and planning efforts. Research was also advanced through peer-reviewed publication, including a journal article presenting a conceptual model of the Niland moving mud spring, which highlights the processes driving this unique geohazard in the eastern Salton Sea region. Together, these dissemination activities ensured that project outcomes reached both the scientific community and stakeholders actively engaged in managing water, ecosystems, and community health in the Salton Sea basin, while also providing students with direct authorship experience that strengthens their academic and professional development. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are pleased with the progress achieved in Year 1. The project has successfully launched new course modules, built cross-campus collaborations, engaged stakeholders, and involved students in meaningful research and dissemination. Building on this foundation, we will host our first annual Salton Sea Symposium in Winter 2025 or early 2026. This event will bring together students, faculty, and stakeholders to share findings, discuss restoration strategies, and highlight faculty and student-led research. In addition, we will coordinate a summer seminar series in conjunction with our NIFA-REEU grant, which was paused by the federal government and reactivated in June 2025, unfortunately too late to implement its Year 2 REEU activities. With the program back on track, we will integrate REEU-supported activities into future training and outreach in the Salton Sea, for those students choosing Salton Sea research as their summer topic. We look forward to the expanded engagement of Sacramento State University in both research and stakeholder partnerships. Their involvement will strengthen basin-wide collaborations and enhance the integration of civil engineering, hydrology, and ecological science, supporting agriculture, wetlands protection, and vulnerable populations, into the Salton Sea research program. These partnerships are already taking root and will continue to deepen as the project moves forward. Our strategy for Year 2 is to build on what worked well in Year 1; expanding the number of students in large lecture-based courses, continuing field-based data collection, growing stakeholder-relevant research, and strengthening the pipeline into FANH undergraduate and graduate programs. We will continue to align classroom instruction, mentored research, and professional development with real-world water and ecosystem challenges in the Salton Sea region. Assessment remains a key element of our approach. Course evaluations have already shown positive learning outcomes, and our external evaluator, Dr. Rick Shope, has provided thorough and thoughtful feedback. Despite the modest annual compensation of $3,000, Dr. Shope has devoted many hours to ensuring rigorous evaluation of our progress. His ongoing assessments will continue to inform improvements in both instructional design and stakeholder engagement. Overall, the project is on track. With strengthened faculty collaborations, student participation across multiple levels, active stakeholder partnerships, and a clear evaluation framework, we are confident that the next phases will continue to make meaningful contributions to both student development and solutions for the Salton Sea's pressing water and environmental challenges.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? For each major goal, accomplishments in year 1 are listed. 1) Strengthening faculty collaborations The Project Directors at participating campuses have been active in curriculum development and research within their own institutions, but sustained cross-campus collaboration had been limited. This initiative created a unifying framework that integrates expertise in hydrology, biogeography, modeling, remote sensing, agriculture, and natural resources to collectively address the urgent challenge of competitive water availability in the Salton Sea region, where agricultural demands, ecological needs, and community health intersect. Faculty teams conducted joint Zoom lectures in reciprocal classrooms, allowing students to benefit from shared expertise and perspectives, while aligning ongoing scientific research with curriculum development. These steps laid the foundation for a cross-campus instructional and research consortium linking education with real-world water management. The consortium ensures graduates are not only technically skilled but also trained to work collaboratively across disciplines to address one of California's most pressing water crises. 2) Providing students with enriching course modules and research experiences In Year 1, new and revised courses at lower-division, upper-division, and graduate levels integrated Salton Sea modules, linking classroom learning with hands-on research. Geology 1500: Earth Revealed Laboratory (Fall 2024, CSULA) introduced students to the Salton Sea's history, geology, and health issues, leading to substantial learning gains. Geography 4620: GIS Applications in Environmental Science (Spring 2025, CSULA) trained students in remote sensing, GIS terrain analysis, machine learning, and resilience strategies for arid wetlands. Civil Engineering 132: Groundwater Engineering (Spring 2025, CSU Sacramento) introduced students to the Salton Sea's history and environmental issues and engaged student teams in conceptual groundwater modeling and water management planning for five groundwater basins connected to the Sea as part of a class project. Civil Engineering 131: Hydrology (Spring 2025, CSU Sacramento) strengthened student mastery of hydrological processes, with evaluations showing marked improvement in knowledge of evaporation, water balance modeling, and isotopic methods. Research productivity has been strong, with four conference presentations and one peer-reviewed journal paper to date, many with students as first authors or co-authors. Students also conducted five Salton Sea field trips, collecting groundwater, hydrologic, GIS, drone, and ecological data. These experiences tied classroom instruction to real-world applications and built technical and scholarly skills essential for FANH-related careers. Integrated Outcome: Collectively, these innovations gave students comprehensive exposure to the scientific, engineering, and ecological dimensions of the Salton Sea, while advancing both technical proficiency and awareness of environmental justice and sustainable resource management. 3) Increasing the number of students pursuing advanced degrees in FANH fields A core project goal is to strengthen the pipeline into FANH graduate programs and careers. While long-term impacts will take time, early indicators are positive. Full-time master's students are already engaged in thesis research with stakeholder partners, while undergraduates are contributing to data collection, analysis, and professional presentations. This creates a tiered training model: early exposure at the lower-division level, advanced skills in hydrology, GIS, and groundwater engineering, and mentored thesis research. The structure aligns academic training with stakeholder needs, ensuring student participation today translates into tomorrow's leadership in FANH fields. With Year 2 courses and research expansion, the number of students advancing into FANH pathways is expected to grow measurably. 4) Exposing a large number of students to research and educational activities The project aims to reach 200 students annually in classrooms and ~10 through mentor-based research. In Year 1, faculty sabbaticals and parental leave reduced direct classroom reach to ~150 students, though many more engaged through research, Zoom stakeholder sessions, and conferences. In terms of research, at Sacramento State, two master's students have begun their thesis projects focused on hydrodynamic simulations of the emergent wetlands forming on the exposed playa of the Salton Sea under the mentorship of Dr. Poindexter. Additionally, one master's student, mentored by Dr. Dokou, is developing a groundwater model to evaluate the feasibility of groundwater extraction for dust suppression purposes. Year 1 courses averaged 10-24 students. To expand reach, Year 2 will integrate Salton Sea modules into large lecture courses such as Geology 1500: Earth Revealed Lecture (capacity ~150), enabling us to exceed the 200-student target. 5) Developing stakeholder-relevant research and knowledge transfer The project has emphasized stakeholder collaboration to ensure research relevance. Regular meetings with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) included data exchange and joint Zoom presentations. DWR also shared hydrogeologic data and water samples from exploratory drilling on the western Salton Sea shoreline, part of efforts to identify water for irrigating salt-tolerant vegetation to reduce windblown dust. Two DWR scientists (James Walker and Scarlet Tovar) co-authored a project-related conference presentation. Partnership with California Audubon provided access to protected wetlands for drone surveys and hydrologic investigations requiring permits. This access allowed students to conduct applied research in sensitive ecosystems while contributing to real-world restoration and conservation planning. Through these collaborations, the project has embedded research within active management initiatives, ensuring findings support public agencies, NGOs, and local communities confronting the challenges of the Salton Sea.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Hibbs, B., Milton, H., Gibbs, B., Tovar, S., and Walker, J., 2025, Identification of ground water origins in the Salton Sea area using environmental isotopes: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 4, doi: 10.1130/abs/2025CD-409429
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Milton, H., Hibbs, B., Gibbs, B., and Sunda, A. 2024. Investigating the source waters, salinity, nutrients, and selenium in the Salton Sea wildlife area: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 56, No. 5, 2024. doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-402205
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Hibbs, B., September 17, 2024. Update on Isotope and Environmental Water Sampling in Salton Sea Area, presented to California Department of Water Resources via ZOOM.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Miramontes, J., Sunda, A., Peralta, M., Hibbs, B., and Milton, H., 2025, Hydrochemistry and Isotope Hydrology of the Niland Wister Unit Wetlands: Season Variations in Salinity, Selenium, and Water Inputs: Southern California Academy of Sciences 117th Annual Meeting Abstracts with Program, Abs #91, p. 59 - 60.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Hibbs, B., Gibbs, B., and Milton, H. 2024. Synoptic change of salinity, nutrients, and arsenic in drainage channels feeding into Bombay Beach wetlands, Salton Sea area, California: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 56, No. 5, 2024 doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-402756
• Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Hibbs, B. 2025. Driving Processes of the Niland Moving Mud Spring: A Conceptual Model of a Unique Geohazard in Californias Eastern Salton Sea Region. GeoHazards 6, 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/ geohazards6040059