Chelsy Salas
A virtual coffee hour with Chelsy will take place on February 24th, 2025 at 1 pm EST. If you’re interested in joining us, please fill out this registration form:(https://forms.gle/sH1SoK94RySmWkUK9) with your preferred email and any topics you’d like to discuss with Chelsy and other members of the community. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Tell us about yourself:
My name is Chelsy Salas, and I am a PhD candidate in the Geography and GIS department at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. I am interested in fluvial geomorphology, and I aim to better understand how rivers and their floodplains evolve over time in response to natural and artificial disturbances. I am also a Student Trainee (Hydrology) at the USGS Central Midwest Water Science Center in Urbana, where I assist with invasive carp and Great Lakes research.
What is your research about?
My dissertation research examines how suspended sediment dynamics vary over different spatial and temporal scales. At the watershed scale, I focus on how sediment dynamics vary over time between different upstream and downstream locations within the watershed. At the reach scale, I examine connectivity of sediment dynamics between the main river channel and floodplain during discrete flood events of different magnitudes and explore spatial variations in sediment dynamics within different geomorphic environments comprising the floodplain.
What excites you about your research?
I really enjoy that my research has included a combination of data collection and laboratory methods because I appreciate the change up. However, I love wading through lowland rivers and working outdoors more. I am most excited when deploying new equipment or looking at data for the first time.
What broader importance does your research have for society?
My research examines suspended sediment dynamics over space and time in intensively managed landscapes. The EPA has classified sediment as a major pollutant of rivers and streams because it degrades water quality, harms fish habitats and populations, reduces water capacity, impairs channel navigability, and limits recreational use. These problems can be caused or exacerbated by agriculture activities due to the erosion and delivery of sediment as well as nutrients from these landscapes to the river.
What inspired you to pursue a career in Earth Science?
Inspiration came from my life experiences and the people I shared those with. I am a first generation college student and was originally a business major at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I took an introductory geology course to fulfill a general education science requirement. That same semester, my best friend and I changed our majors to geology! I really loved the idea of working outdoors and learning about our planet in a way I had never before. After my B.S., I was hired as a stormwater technician contracted by the Clark County Reclamation District in Las Vegas, NV – this fueled my passion for river and water science and also inspired me to pursue higher education. During my M.S., I had an incredible mentor at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and he really inspired me to keep moving and paying it forward.
What are you looking to do after you complete your PhD or postdoc?
After my PhD, I hope to transition to a full time employee for the USGS and continue with river and water science research. I also plan to seek mentorship opportunities and participate in outreach.
Given unlimited funding and access to resources, what is your dream project that you would pursue?
Understandably, it is not the easiest task to get landowners to agree to you using their land for research purposes, nor is it easy to collect event-based data under those circumstances. Therefore, I would jump at the opportunity to examine lowland river suspended sediment dynamics and channel-floodplain connectivity between a farmed and undisturbed floodplain for an unlimited amount of time to capture consecutive but discrete events. Some of my current research involves collecting rising limb floodplain suspended sediment data and velocity measurements; I would like to implement that within the study as well. I am interested in this because, despite our progress in understanding sediment as a pollutant, the delivery and transport of sediment to and within rivers influenced by agriculture remains poorly understood.
What else do you do? Any hobbies or interests outside of work?
My partner and I bought a home which sparked my DIY hobby. During school, the projects are small, but eventually I would like to tackle larger projects such as a built in bookcase because I love to read. When I am not working, I like to spend time with my partner, our fur babies, friends, and family.
If you would like, please provide a link to your personal website.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsy-rae-salas/