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Theron Miller, a Ph.D. scientist with the Division of Water Quality, was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Science and Technology Medal for his scientific work on Farmington Bay in understanding the impact of nutrients to the wetlands and the Great Salt Lake.
“We are pleased and proud of the employees who have been recognized for their outstanding achievements,” said Dianne Nielson, executive director of DEQ. “Miller’s research on Farmington Bay will not only determine whether the wetlands are currently impaired for waterfowl and shorebird support, but will provide important information as to the thresholds of nutrient concentrations and future management of Farmington Bay.”
Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. will honor Miller, along with seven other recipients for their achievements, at a ceremony on January 4 at the Utah Museum of Natural History on the University of Utah campus.
“I am honored to receive the award,” said Miller. “In the process, I have worked with a superb group of people who make up the Technical Advisory Committee dedicated to developing nutrient criteria that will protect the Great Salt Lake and its wetlands.”
Miller’s ability to bring stakeholders together impressed the judges.
“In combination with his scientific accomplishments, the effort in bringing various funding partners together in order to move projects forward was really the piece of Theron’s work that was very significant in him being awarded the medal,” said Dr. Greg Jones, state science advisor.
In 2002, Miller raised concerns about the lack of a water quality assessment for the Great Salt Lake. He worked to secure grants and research funds to study the problem of how much nutrients would support Farmington Bay. He organized and chairs a Technical Advisory Committee, consisting of scientists, technicians, and stakeholders from local agencies, Kennecott Utah Copper, conservation groups, academia and consulting companies. By 2004, detailed research began, aimed at understanding the link between water and sediment quality. More recently, Miller has begun to develop measurement parameters that link habitat and forage availability to the extremely valuable waterfowl and shorebird populations that nest and “refuel” in the Great Salt Lake and its wetlands.
Walt Baker, director of the Division of Water Quality, noted the significance of Miller’s work, which will help set the framework for important decisions ahead.
“There is great importance to Miller’s work,” Baker said. “A long-standing question has been whether nutrient loads being discharged into the Jordan River or directly into Farmington Bay are exceeding the assimilative capacity of the waters and causing degradation. Theron’s work will help answer that question and will drive the implementation of protective standards.”
This is the second consecutive year a Department of Environmental Quality employee has been recognized for outstanding scientific achievement in Government. Last year, Loren Morton, a section manager for the Division of Radiation Control, was awarded the science medal for his scientific work that led to the U.S. Department of Energy’s decision to move 13.5 million tons of uranium mill tailings from the banks of the Colorado River.
In addition, Helge Gabert, an environmental scientist for the Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste, was a finalist for the award. (See adjacent story)