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The Utah Water Research Lab celebrates 50 years

The Utah Water Research Lab (UWRL) at Utah State University celebrated its 50-year anniversary with an open house last Thursday. The UWRL is a 113,000 square foot facility located at the mouth of Logan Canyon dedicated to all things water research. It is globally recognized, and is the oldest and largest university-based water research facility in the United States.

This lab has given engineering undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity for hands-on experience with water resource development and global water support.

“This research lab benefits students because it is giving them guaranteed real-world experience, and connections to businesses that exclusively want students from this lab,” said Jared Justensen, a hydraulics graduate student who works in the Water Lab.

The open house welcomed students and Cache Valley community members to take a tour of their facilities and to showcase some of the projects they have recently been working on.

“We are a well-guarded secret, for whatever reason, here in the state and I would just like for people here locally and across the states to know a little bit more about what we do here and why it’s important,” said Mac McKee, Director of the UWRL.

Hydraulic modeling, erosion control and environment quality testing are just a few things this laboratory boasts.

A hydraulic model on display was a spillway constructed for the Isabella Dam in Kern County, California. It was a 1/45 scale model and researchers can divert the Logan River to run through their facility to test the material and structure of the spillway against actual flowing water.

In hydraulic modeling they also scale down models of dams or other man-made water structures that have a problem, and the engineers will figure out a solution which can then be implemented on the real model.

“We’re making it rain,” said Blake Tullis, an engineering professor at USU, in regards to the rainfall simulator in the lab. It is used for erosion control, and can tell how materials for roads or other infrastructures will react when they are rained on.

Among numerous other projects, the lab can have anywhere from 250 to 300 active contracts and grants at any given time. “I was just curious” said Cache Valley community member C.J Smith said, in regards to why she attended the open house.

The 50th year anniversary for the Utah Water Research Laboratory engaged USU in dedicating 2015 as the Year of Water. The campaign and the open house hoped to get students and community members aware of water quality, sustainability, and the nation’s water needs.

New and emerging challenges in the future of water are no match for the water research experts at USU. Utah, being the second driest state in the nation, should be concerned about water. The students, employees and researchers at the labs are helping to put the community’s concerns at ease.

“Working in the lab has given me an outside perspective, because you don’t realize that people have to come up with these things. Water comes out of your tap and its all fine, but what went on behind the scenes to get it there?” said Caitlyn Ericson, an employee of the water lab and a civil engineering junior.

The faculty and staff at the Utah Water Research Lab are leading innovators in the technology and logistics of water resource management. Here’s to 50 years.

— lilywachtor3@hotmail.com