Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Emma Wu

Investigating the Potential for Wastewater Effluent to Restore Coastal Stream Ecosystems in Southern California

Water conservation policies in Southern California are reducing the amount of recycled wastewater discharged into rivers, but this reduction may lead to streams drying out. Environmental managers in Southern California are working to balance water conservation with the health of stream ecosystems. This project focuses on analyzing the impact of these water conservation policies on the surrounding vegetation. I will be conducting data analysis on how these new policies have impacted vegetation diversity. I will also use Google Earth Engine to monitor changes in water levels in the Los Angeles and Santa Clara rivers. Through this data, we hope to inform recommendations for flow management.

Message To Sponsor

I had an amazing experience conducting research this summer. Thank you again for this amazing opportunity. I was able to make research my primary focus, and I learned so much about data analysis and remote sensing. I'm extremely grateful for support!