University of Idaho experts available as statewide drought emergency declared

MOSCOW, Idaho — Following a statewide drought emergency declaration issued April 13, University of Idaho experts are available to help explain what the conditions mean for water supply, agriculture, wildfire risk and communities across the state. The order cites record-low snowpack, unusually warm winter and early spring temperatures and widespread drought conditions across nearly all Idaho basins, with many areas already facing reduced streamflow and potential irrigation shortages this season.

Media members may reach out directly to the experts, whose contact information is listed below. Media members who are searching for an interview in an expertise area not listed may request assistance from Danae Lenz at dlenz@uidaho.edu.

Drought conditions and water outlook

Russell Qualls, associate professor and Idaho state climatologist, UI Extension; member of the Idaho Drought Committee and Pacific Northwest Drought Early Warning System

• Expertise: Drought monitoring, snowpack, precipitation, evaporation and climate trends
• Contact: 208-885-6184 | rqualls@uidaho.edu

Kendra Kaiser, assistant professor, Extension specialist and director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute

• Expertise: Watershed hydrology, ecohydrology and hydrologic modeling
• Contact: 919-724-9731 | kkaiser@uidaho.edu

Timothy Link, professor of hydrology and director of the water resources graduate program

• Expertise: Snow, forest and mountain hydrology and impacts of weather and climate variations on water resources
• Contact: 208-885-9465 | tlink@uidaho.edu

Meetpal Kukal, assistant professor of hydrologic science and water management

• Expertise: Agricultural water management, water budgeting and weather and climate impacts on water use and sustainability of irrigated agriculture
• Contact: 402-219-3969 | mkukal@uidaho.edu

Emily Bedwell, assistant professor and Extension specialist in irrigation

• Expertise: Irrigation management, water use efficiency and soil moisture monitoring for decision-making during limited water supply
• Contact: 208-423-6620 | ebedwell@uidaho.edu

Water management, irrigation and air quality impacts

Jim Ekins, area Extension educator

• Expertise: Stormwater management, surface water quality and community resilience
• Contact: 208-292-1287 | jekins@uidaho.edu

Erin Brooks, professor of soil and water systems

• Expertise: Landscape hydrology, water quality, nutrient transport and watershed management
• Contact: 208-885-6562 | ebrooks@uidaho.edu

Xi Liang, associate professor and Extension specialist in agronomy

• Expertise: Irrigation management and water use efficiency
• Contact: 208-844-6319 | xliang@uidaho.edu

Leda Kobziar, professor of wildland fire science

• Expertise: Smoke, fire microbiology, prescribed burning and human health impacts
• Contact: 208-292-2683 | lkobziar@uidaho.edu

Agriculture and economic impacts

Alex Maas, associate professor of agricultural economics

• Expertise: Resource allocation, water issues and economic impacts of resource policy
• Contact: 208-885-5786 | alexmaas@uidaho.edu

Patrick Hatzenbuehler, associate professor and Extension specialist in crop economics

• Expertise: Agricultural markets, supply and demand, policy and commodity pricing
• Contact: 208-736-3607 | phatzenbuehler@uidaho.edu

Katherine Lee, associate professor of agricultural economics

• Expertise: Land use change and drought impacts on livestock production
• Contact: 208-885-5527 | katherinelee@uidaho.edu

Juliet Marshall, professor, Extension specialist and associate director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station

• Expertise: Cereals and plant pathology; impacts of mild winters and drought on pests and crop diseases
• Contact: 208-529-8376, Ext. 115 | jmarshall@uidaho.edu

Climate and long-term trends

Grant Harley, associate dean and associate professor of geography

• Expertise: Drought history, tree-ring science, paleoclimate, wildfire and climate change
• Contact: 208-885-0950 | gharley@uidaho.edu

Jeff Hicke, professor of earth and spatial sciences

• Expertise: Climate change, forest disturbance and global environmental change
• Contact: 208-885-6240 | jhicke@uidaho.edu

Karen Humes, professor of earth and spatial sciences

• Expertise: Water-energy systems, food systems, remote sensing and GIS
• Contact: 208-885-6506 | khumes@uidaho.edu

Meng Zhao, assistant professor of earth and spatial sciences

• Expertise: Hydrology, ecology, remote sensing and Earth system modeling
• Contact: 208-885-7969 | mengz@uidaho.edu

Policy and legal perspectives

Dylan Hedden-Nicely, professor of law

• Expertise: Water law, Native American natural resources law, tribal treaty rights and jurisdiction
• Contact: 208-885-0860 | dhedden@uidaho.edu

Dennis Becker, dean of the College of Natural Resources and professor of natural resource policy

• Expertise: Wildfire policy, economics and landowner programs
• Contact: 208-885-8981 | drbecker@uidaho.edu

Media contact

Danae Lenz
External communications coordinator
208-885-1605
dlenz@uidaho.edu