Pilot Study to Evaluate Measurement of Evapotranspiration in a Phragmites Australis Stand in Farmington Bay, Utah (OFR-785)

By: Paul Inkenbrandt, Trevor Schlossnagle, Emily Jainarain, and Rachel Willmore

Phragmites (Phragmites australis ssp. australis) in wetlands surrounding Great Salt Lake consume substantial water through evapotranspiration. Previous studies estimate that it uses nearly double that of native wetland vegetation, though no direct measurements have been made. Therefore, the Utah Geological Survey in collaboration with the Utah Division of Water Resources, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and The Nature Conservancy established an eddy covariance flux tower in an extensive stand of dense Phragmites in northern Farmington Bay to directly measure water and energy exchange. The results of this study will help create more accurate water budget calculations and aid management decisions. The project was initiated in response to Utah’s Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan’s directive to quantify evaporative losses and the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan’s emphasis on science-based decision making

Other Information:
Published: 2026
Pages: 39
Location: Farmington, Utah
Media Type: Paper Publication