Science Moab

Brian Davis, an associate professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, loves looking for small fossils. His research focuses on early mammals, particularly teeth, jaws, and skull parts. Brian’s most recent discovery is a mammal fossil quarry in Cisco, Utah, part of the Morrison Formation dating back to the Jurassic period. The site has yielded small animal fossils, including some potentially significant early mammals that correlate with a nearby site in Fruita, CO. We discuss the complexities of fossil excavation, preservation, and the analysis process as well as the importance of student education.

Across the Colorado Plateau, pinyon-juniper ecosystems are facing more and more stress due to increasing heat and aridity. Today we talk with Seth Munson, a plant and ecosystem ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. Seth’s research focuses on how dryland ecosystems respond to drought, wildfire, invasive species, and land-use to assist land management decision-making. He is currently working with the National Park Service to assess the areas of dieback of pinyon-juniper woodlands in the SE Utah Parks. The research involves both ground surveys and satellite imagery to create maps detailing the intensity and recovery of dieback over time.

Randy Irmis, a paleontologist and curator at the Natural History Museum of Utah, discusses his research on the Chinle Formation, (Triassic, ~201 to 230 million years ago) located in southern Utah. The Chinle Formation is characterized by river and stream deposits in a semi-arid environment, and is rich in fossils including vertebrates, plants, and trace fossils. Despite the historical lack of paleontological work in Utah compared to neighboring states, recent discoveries in the Chinle have significantly increased knowledge of life in the Triassic. We talk about the process of collecting and preparing these fossils for study and exhibits at the museum and Randy emphasizes the importance of public lands and the legal and ethical procedures for fossil collection and preservation.

Tony Mancuso is the Sovereign Lands Program Manager for the Green and Colorado Rivers at Utah’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). His management efforts focus on maintaining the health and navigability of waterways under state jurisdiction, including removing invasive species and restoring natural habitats. Tony talks about specific projects like the New Rapid and Gold Bar side channels aimed at enhancing fish habitats and wetland environments. He also emphasizes the importance of public education and engaging youth through programs like Science Moab. The discussion highlights the challenges, collaborative efforts, and long-term commitments required in resource conservation and management.

Ryan Barton emphasizes the importance of collaboration and negotiation in solving water issues and bringing resilient water systems to the Navajo Nation. As a hydrologist working for the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, Ryan has been involved in projects for over a decade including hydrographic surveys, lake capacity studies, and the San Juan River Basin Crop Inventory. Science Moab talks with Ryan about his most recent and ongoing efforts to successfully provide drinking water to the Westwater community west of Blanding, UT through extensive collaboration among various entities. Ryan’s path into hydrology has been influenced by family and childhood experiences of nature conservation.

This podcast concludes a 3-part series on Moab’s creek corridors. The series includes restoration processes on the creeks, stream water gauge science, and this episode, fire fuels mitigation along Mill and Pack creeks flowing from the west side of the La Sal Mountains. Fire risk is high in creek corridors and other overgrown areas. The dense corridors could spread fire quickly through Moab and Spanish Valley. We talked with Duncan Fuchise, the forest stewardship program manager with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, as he hopped between work sites along the Mill Creek Corridor one morning in March 2025.

It is the mission of the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor water resources across the country. We talk with Chris Wilkowske, a hydrologist with the USGS at the Utah Water Science Center, about the science and methodology of measuring stream flow. We talk about how stream gauges operate and the process of validating and adjusting data, particularly after events like floods. Local examples from the Moab area and the Colorado River highlight the dual purposes of stream gauges for flood monitoring and groundwater assessments.

Charlie Carpenter, a Braided Science Conservationist with IndigenousLed, discusses their work focused on reintroducing buffalo to Indigenous lands. The process of buffalo reintroduction includes land suitability assessments, political hurdles, and funding challenges. The initiative aims to restore buffalo, a keystone species, to their native habitats, benefiting both Indigenous cultures and ecosystems. Charlie highlights the importance of braided science, which integrates traditional ecological knowledge with Western science. We also talk about other upcoming projects including medicinal gardens and intertribal beaver councils.

Dr. Karletta Chief, Director of the Indigenous Resilience Center at the University of Arizona, leads initiatives for Tribal water security and community-driven climate solutions. Dr. Chief, a Diné hydrologist and professor, shares how growing up in Black Mesa on the Navajo Nation has influenced her current work. She emphasizes the importance of utilizing traditional knowledge alongside western science, and ensuring Indigenous communities’ central role in decision-making. We learn about the powerful mission of the Indigenous Resilience Center, and Dr. Chief shares her hopes for empowering the next generation of Indigenous youth to lead and innovate in their communities.

This is a special episode of Science Moab. "Dear Ovis” is taken from a live radio show during a recent Radiothon at KZMU Moab. Host Jordan Lister and local scientist Robin Reibold answer hypothetical science questions from the fourth-grade class at HMK Elementary School in Moab. Robin, a biogeochemist with diverse expertise, addresses interesting scenarios such as what would happen if the Earth were split in half, the consequences if all toilets in Moab were flushed simultaneously, and the impacts on humans if we had no pores. It’s a fun show that blends scientific facts and insights with humor.