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Show Dr. Doyle Stephens of USGS has been contracted to conduct field sampling of sites in the south arm of GSL and conduct laboratory analysis of these samples. This information will become an input to the management population dynamics model developed by Dr. Belovsky. In addition to this work, DWR and DFFSL have joined with other cooperators in funding data collection by USGS necessary to refine an existing water and salt balance model which predicts the transport of salts between the north and south arms of the lake. ( See Appendix H.) During the GSL planning effort, USGS was contracted to conduct a bathymetric study of the lake bottom topography near the northern railroad causeway culverts. Dr. Susan Kilham, a noted diatom researcher from Drexel University, Pennsylvania, will be conducting a one- year sabbatical study on diatoms in GSL. It is hoped that this research will provide insights into the factors controlling algal community shifts within the lake. GSLEP personnel are also conducting research that will assist with management directly or enable future inputs to the brine shrimp model. Some of the objectives of project research include: • Determining waterbird counts and seasonal use. • Understanding the role of brine shrimp cysts in the diet of wintering ducks. • Developing sampling techniques to quantify floating cyst streaks. • Learning more of the biology of shrimp in the lake. • Understanding the relevance of salinity to cyst characteristics. • Understanding brine shrimp and algal population changes as they relate to salinity. • Understanding cyst mortality in the lake over time. An avian census program has been conducted for two years with the assistance of many volunteers. The objective of this research is to quantify timing and magnitude of bird use in various habitats around the south arm of the lake, Bear River Bay and Farmington Bay. This information will be critical input to the brine shrimp population model in understanding the needs of birds as they relate to brine shrimp. Other bird conservation needs will also be addressed. Additional work is underway with bird banding, specific grebe research and conservation planning. A Snowy plover research effort was partially supported by DWR in 1997. Study results indicate that Snowy plover population numbers were relatively unchanged from the initial study. Existing Division of Wildlife Resources Management Programs Functions of Division of Wildlife Resources and Wildlife Board DWR has jurisdictional responsibility for all wildlife in the state pursuant to Section 23- 15- 2 of the Utah Code, which provides; " All wildlife within this state, including but not limited to wildlife on public or private land or in public or private waters within this state, shall fall within the jurisdiction of the Division of Wildlife Resources." 83 |