Research & Development

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Knowledge Stream and Call for Proposals

This April 2013 issue of the Knowledge Stream (PDF, 3.3 MB) has the call for proposals for new Science and Technology Program and Desalination and Water Purification Program research projects, covers a wide range of updates on our research accomplishments, introduces researchers, and highlights innovation around Reclamation.

Checking on Neighboring Invasive Mussels

The golden mussel (Limnoperna fotunei) is an invasive mussel similar to zebra and quagga mussels. However, as this mussel tolerates a wider range of salinity, low pH values and higher temperatures than the zebra and quagga mussels do, golden mussels could invade a broader range of habitats. The species was introduced into Argentina from Asia the early 1990s, and by 2006 it had spread to Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil. The golden mussel is considered an invasive species in South America and is expected to spread further. Forecasting its spread and determining control methods are essential to protecting South America’s water management infrastructure and environment. Two visitors from Minas Gerais, one of Brazil's 26 states, came to Denver's Invasive Mussel lab to learn about our innovative detection and control methods for zebra and quagga mussels. Mônica Campos and Fabiano Silva from the Centro de Bioengenharia de Espécies Invasoras de Hidrelétricas (CBEIH) and the Fundação Centro Tecnológico de Minas Gerais (CETEC). The Brazilians are interested in developing an early detection lab similar to the one here at Reclamation. The Denver Invasive Mussel Lab had analyzed test samples from Brazil, using both microscopic and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (tests to sequence DNA). The Brazilian visitors spent two days in the labs, discussing the methods and procedures that we use for early detection of mussels. They also toured the hydraulics lab. This collaborative effort will result in developing a similar early detection lab in Brazil.

Reclamation Releases Updated Climate Data for Water Managers

Reclamation and collaborators developed new downscaled climate projections that allow water managers to incorporate the new Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5 data from the World Climate Research Program into their water management planning. The data, representing 234 contemporary climate projections for the contiguous United States, was downscaled to a 12 kilometer resolution in order to be more useful to water managers. CMIP5 includes more comprehensive global climate models, updated greenhouse gas emissions scenarios and a broader set of experiments to address a wider variety of science questions. Reclamation, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Santa Clara University, Climate Central, Climate Analytics Group, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed the new downscaled data collaboratively supported by funding from a WaterSMART Climate Analysis Tools Grant and Reclamation's Science and Technology Program. The new downscaled climate projections are available at: http://gdo-dcp.ucllnl.org/downscaled_cmip_projections/.

Program Priorities

	Mitigating the Impact of Invasive Mussels on Water and Power Operations
	Climate Change and Variability
	Using Advanced Water Treatment to Stretch Water Supplies
	Expanding the Generation of Renewable Energy

Science and Technology Research Categories

	Environmental Issues in Water Delivery and Management
	Water and Power Infrastructure Reliability
	Water Operations Decision Support
	Conserving or Expanding Water Supplies