School of Earth & Sustainability
Water Management, Policy, & Science
Humans are now one of, if not the most important, agent for processes at the surface of the Earth. We conduct comprehensive collaborative research to inform ecosystem management practices that affect hydrologic systems. Some of our research themes include an exploration of the role of upland forest management on hydrologic processes, the implications of dam and reservoir management on associated resources, and the stewardship of springs ecosystems.
Graduates of our programs work in the private, governmental, and non-governmental sectors doing land and resource science, management and planning. We focus on modern arid and semi-arid climate systems in Western North America, but include research and teaching from all modern and ancient climate systems.
Current projects
- Springs Ecohydrology
- Development of a guidebook for environmental flow needs assessment under a changing climate.
- Mobile field application for citizen science springs monitoring of 4FRI treatments
- Developing a geodatabase and geocollaborative tools to support springs and springs-dependent species management in the Southern Rockies LCC
- Linking forest landscape management and climate change to the conservation of riparian habitat in Grand Canyon
- Fast and slow recharge to deep karst aquifers
Who we are
Faculty and research staff Accordion Open
- Abe Springer, Professor (hydrogeology, ecohydrology, karst)
- Denielle Perry, Assistant Professor (water resources policy and management, geography, political ecology, Wild and Scenic Rivers Act)
- Julie Mueller, Associate Professor (environmental economics, non-market valuation)
- Rebecca Best, Assistant Professor (aquatic ecology and evolution)
- James Sample, Professor (Tectonics, geochemistry, geoscience education)
In the news
NAU News: Vital Springs Need Protection and Study
The Academic Minute: Abe Springer – Springs and Sustainability
KNAU, Arizona Public Radio: Flagstaff Research Conducts Largest-ever Study of Arid Landscape Springs
NAU News: Citizen Science Initiative to Monitor Area Springs
AZ Daily Sun: Groundwater in Flagstaff; a Precious Resource
For students
Degree programs Accordion Open
- Bachelor’s degree (BS) in Environmental Sciences or Geology
- Master’s Degree (MS) in Environmental Sciences and Policy or Geology
- PhD in Earth Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, with an emphasis in Earth Systems or Climate & Environmental Change
Graduate-level courses Accordion Closed
- GLG 451 Hydrogeology
- GLG 670 Advanced Hydrogeology (Springs Ecohydrology)
- GLG 575 Environmental Geochemistry
- ENV 525 Water Resources Policy
- ENV 555 Science Policy Interface
- FOR 560 Wetland Ecology and Management