The purpose of this data collection is for use in running the USU Great Salt Lake Mass Balance Model (USUMBM) documented in:
Dunn, D. G., Crookston, B. M., Dutta, S., & Neilson, B. T. (2025). Modeling Great Salt Lake water levels and salinities to capture current adaptive management actions. 
	Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102768
 
Methods used to compile and create the model forcing data and testing data are also documented in: Dunn (2024)

# GSL MODEL SCRIPT 
script file: "USUMBM_2025.py"

# GSL MODEL INSTRUCTION FILE
file: "Dunn2025_USUMBM Compiling Instructions"

####
## Each of the following data tables are read into the model script ##

WSE/A/V DATA
# north section
data file: "USGS_GSL_NORTH_SECTION_wse_vol_area_tbl.csv"
# south section
data file: "USGS_GSL_SOUTH_SECTION_wse_vol_area_tbl.csv"
this dataset was originally developed by Root (2023) and relates lake elvation to volume and surface area; required to run the model code
original dataset is available at: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9DGG75W

WATER ACTIVITY COEFFICIENT TABLE
data file: "water_activity_coefficient_tbl.csv"
This data was developed for use in a GSL elevation model study and shared by the authors, documented in: Mohammed (2006), Mohammed and Tarboton (2012)

NEW BREACH GEOMETRY FILE
data file: "GSL_UPRR_causeway_breach_geometry.xlsx"
This data was taken from a study that developed a computational fluid dynamics model of the New Breach documented in: Rasmussen et al. (2021)

MINERAL WITHDRAWAL DATA
data file: "mineral_extraction_data.csv"
This data file includes yearly withdrawal from Great Salt Lake mineral extraction companies
compiled from: Tarboton (2024) 

FORCING DATA
data file: "FORCING_DATA_Dunn2025_USUMBM.csv"
This data file includes the data prepared for compiling the model.
Variables include: discharge and concentration of key GSL inflows, climate data included in evaporation calculations, precipitation, groundwater contribution

TESTING DATA
data file: "TESTING_DATA_Dunn2025_USUMBM.csv"
Includes historical time series for the north section, upper brine layer, and deep brine layer
Varibales include: salinity, density, elevation, volume, surface area
#####

CITATIONS
Dunn, D. G. (2024). A Mass Balance Model for the Great Salt Lake, UT with Adaptive Management Applications. Utah State University.
Dunn, D.G., Crookston, B. M., Phillips, C., Neilson, B.T. (2025). Seasonal Water and Salt Cycling in the Great Salt Lake after Opening the New Causeway Breach. 
	Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. 
Mohammed, I. N. (2006). Modeling the Great Salt Lake. Utah State University.
Mohammed, I. N., and Tarboton, D. G. (2012). An examination of the sensitivity of the Great Salt Lake to changes in inputs: GREAT SALT LAKE SENSITIVITY INDEX. Water Resources Research, 48(11). https://doi.org/10.1029/2012WR011908
Rasmussen, M., Dutta, S., Neilson, B. T., & Crookston, B. M. (2021). CFD model of the density-driven bidirectional flows through the West Crack breach in the Great Salt Lake causeway. Water, 13(17), 2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13172423
Root, J.C. (2023). Half-meter topo bathymetric elevation model and elevation-area-volume tables for Great Salt Lake, Utah, 2002-2016: U.S. Geological Survey data release. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9DGG75W.
Tarboton, D. (2024). Collection of Great Salt Lake Data, HydroShare, http://www.hydroshare.org/resource/b6c4fcad40c64c4cb4dd7d4a25d0db6e