Abstract: The Great Salt Lake, located in the Western USA, is an invaluable economic and environmental resource with significant hydrologic and hydraulic challenges for adaptive and sustainable management practices. This presentation provides an overview of the importantce of the lake and key threatening issues. With this context, an overview of the basin and principal components is provided, including a hydraulic structure with bidirectional flow patterns. Efforts quantify a structure rating curve are summarized where multiple techniques were utilzed including CFD and DNN. A new mass balance model of the lake is then presented that tracks lake salinities and water surface elevations, along with data limitations, challenges and uncertainties. Finally, pathways forward are discussed to inform adaptive management practices.
Short Bio: Dr. Crookston is an Associate Professor at Utah State University where he teaches courses in fluid mechanics, hydraulics, open channel flows, modeling, and sedimentation. He conducts research at the Utah Water Research Laboratory with a focus on both projects and fundamental studies in the areas of water infrastructure sustainability, fluvial hydraulics, public safety, flooding, and modeling and technology. Prior to joining USU he worked as a water resources consultant on over 300 domestic and international projects, primarily on floods, dam rehabilitations, and spillway design.