Kurt Unger celebrates his fellowship at a luncheon in his honor with wife, Heather, and daughter, McKenzie. (Photo courtesy of Kate Kirkpatrick)

Sierra Pacific Fellowship winner sets his sights on Carson River

Kurt Unger was given a boost of energy for his research when he was awarded the Sierra Pacific Fellowship in November. The one-year award of $15,000 plus health insurance and most tuition costs will help Unger pursue his work to model the hydrologic characteristics of the Carson River system, while simultaneously working on an economic analysis of the costs and benefits of different uses of water from the river. With a law degree that focused on environmental and water law from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in environmental science from the University of Nevada, Reno already in hand, Unger is completing his Ph.D. in hydrology at UNR. He will be putting all his degrees and experience to work to accomplish his goals of creating a more healthy and sustainable ecosystem by combining economics and solid science with water- and land-use law and policies. The Sierra Pacific/DRI graduate fellowship is designed to further environmental research that benefits Nevada. The fellowship is funded through the Sierra Pacific Resources Charitable Foundation.