Dr Steven Gorelick

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Fulbright Senior Scholar

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In Western Australia water resources are being exploited at rates that significantly reduce natural discharge to lakes, rivers, and the ocean, which can affect the ecohydrological balance.

Dr Steven Gorelick, professor in the Department of Environmental Earth System Science at Stanford University, has won a prestigious Fulbright Senior Scholarship from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission. Through his Fulbright, Dr Gorelick will undertake research at the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) Land and Water division in Western Australia. Dr Gorelick will commence his six months scholarship in April 2009.

Dr Gorelick’s project, Ecohydrological Constraints on Groundwater Development in Western Australia, will involve analysis of field data and development of groundwater simulation models to explore strategies that potentially mitigate damage and promote sustainable water use. The region studied will include Western Australia from Perth and northwest to the Ningaloo reef.

“My research activities will involve working with scientists at CSIRO in three efforts – these projects involve quantifying submarine groundwater discharge trends and signs of environmental stress,” Dr Gorelick explained.

The primary aim of the research is to study the effects of groundwater exploitation on reducing discharge to surface-water bodies that depend on this water as base flow and submarine groundwater discharge to maintain their ecological health. In his time at the CSIRO, Dr Gorelick plans to initiate collaborative research in three areas.

“All three areas are in the thematic area of the impact of groundwater exploitation on subsurface discharge to surface-water systems. One area of research is the impact of land-use change on recharge and consequent natural discharge associated with the Gnangara groundwater mound near Perth. The second research area is the study of submarine groundwater discharge in the region near Perth. Finally the third area of research collaboration is aimed at the study of submarine groundwater discharge in Northwestern Australia with special focus on the Ningaloo reef.”

Dr Gorelick has a number of professional accomplishments in his research area of environmental science, including being awarded the Cyrus F. Tolman Professorship of Earth Sciences at Stanford University (2005); a Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation (2005); the M. King Hubbert Award, National Groundwater Association (2004); the O.E. Meinzer Award, Geological Society of America (1994); and a Fellow with the American Geophysical Union (1990).