GCSP research stipend | Fall 2025

Building and Applying a Regional Streamflow Model to Assess Water Scarcity in the Western U.S.

Water scarcity is a growing challenge in the Western United States, particularly in the Colorado River, as population growth drives demand and aridification reduces supply. This research focuses on developing a regional streamflow model consistent with historical spatial and temporal patterns and projected climate changes to assess water supply reliability. Streamflow data from USGS and climate data from NOAA (1905-2017) have been analyzed to build and refine a statistical model for streamflow. Streamflow projections will be used by the research team to model reservoir operations and withdrawals in future scenarios to enable resilient water planning and improve water access.