Volume 2|February 2021
Ohio Water Resources Center Newsletter
From Our Directors
Many of the most pressing concerns for Ohio’s water resources are caused by climate change. The year 2020 is tied with 2016 as the warmest year on record, based on analysis by NASA. Regular warm years have many implications on water resources across the globe.
Credits: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio/Lori Perkins/Kathryn Mersmann
Here in Ohio, Lake Erie set a new monthly record water level for the second year in a row. Cliffs are eroded and infrastructure across the coast are damaged as the record high water led to bigger waves. The Great Lakes are also facing record low ice coverage this winter, with only 1.8% covered by ice the week of January 17. The lack of ice coverage leads to both positive and negative impacts on different groups that rely on the lakes. While the lack of ice coverage allows for easier shipping across the Great Lakes, it is harmful to ice fishing and also exacerbates the damage caused by the higher water level. More ice could provide a barrier along the shoreline to buffer the damage from the higher waves before they reach the cliffs and infrastructure. Even further from Lake Erie, Ohioans are likely to see a warmer than average spring following this winter of low ice.

Warmer temperatures also contribute to intensifying harmful algal blooms (HABs) that threaten Ohio's water resources. The Ohio Water Resources Center (Ohio WRC) provides funding for many projects that aim to better understand HABs to help prepare Ohio for this impact of climate change. Dr. Jim Hood's current Ohio WRC funded research is examining the role of nutrient cycling by zooplankton in supporting HAB production in western Lake Erie. Visit here to find information on past Ohio WRC projects.
Spotlight
Join us for the Ohio WRC-WMAO Luncheon Seminar on February 17th
Funding initiatives Coordinated with the Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC)
Featuring: Lynn Garrity, Lake Erie Program Administrator, OLEC

Lynn Garrity has served as Lake Erie Program Administrator for the Ohio Lake Erie Commission since 2018 and has coordinated programs including Areas of Concern, Lake Erie Protection Fund, Life on Lake Erie Photo Outreach, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in Ohio, and the development of the 2020 Lake Erie Restoration and Protection Plan. Lynn has worked for over 25 years in local, state and federal government and nonprofit entities managing projects and programs in land conservation, water resources and recreation planning. She holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the Ohio State University and a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University. 

Established in 1990, the Ohio Lake Erie Commission is a state commission that coordinates state agency efforts to protect and restore Lake Erie, participates in federal and international Great Lakes policies and programs, and engages with local communities and other stakeholders for outreach about Lake Erie resources. An aspect of the work by the Commission is to coordinate funding and programs to achieve the protection and restoration of Lake Erie. Today, federal and state funding in coordination with local support continues to drive progress to meet goals for habitat, contaminated sediment, nutrients, and invasive species within the coastal counties of Ohio’s Lake Erie. These goals are set forth by the Lake Erie Protection and Restoration Plan. The federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the H2Ohio program and the Lake Erie Protection Fund are some of the primary funding programs that the Commission coordinates with state agencies to implement these goals. The Commission works with federal, state and local partners to track the successes of the funding, identify results from implementation, and plans for future investment priorities that protect and restore Lake Erie. 

Register for the webinar here. February 17, 2021, 12:00 to 1:00 PM
News Updates
Have a news article you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at OhioWRC@osu.edu!
Opportunities
OAWWA Undergraduate Advanced Degree/Continuing Education Scholarship
Click here for details.
OAWWA Graduate/Adult Continuing Education Degree Scholarship
Click here for details.

Application deadline: February 5, 2020.
Ohio WARN Secretary Vacancy
Ohio WARN is seeking an individual to fill the position of Secretary. The position will be filled by accepting nominations and conducting a voting process by all OH WARN voting members. If interested, please contact Tim Truman at tim.truman@daytonohio.gov.
EPA People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) National Student Design Competition - Request for Applications
EPA announces the release of the 18th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on P3 – Phase I Request for Applications (RFA). This collegiate design competition promotes the use of scientific and engineering principles to create innovative projects to address environmental challenges and develop real-world solutions. EPA is seeking applications in the research areas of Air Quality, Safe and Sustainable Water Resources, Sustainable and Healthy Communities, and Chemical Safety. The RFA Close Date is February 9, 2021.

Click Request for Applications for more information.
2021 Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program
The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) announces the 2021 Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL). The program exposes students to a broad range of disciplines and provides an exciting opportunity for students to conduct research in the Great Lakes region under the mentorship of a CIGLR or GLERL scientist. Visit here for more information & to access the online application. Deadline: 19 February 2021 at 11:59 PM EST.
Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship 2022
The Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship provides a unique educational and professional experience to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The fellowship matches highly qualified graduate students with hosts in the legislative and executive branches of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one-year paid fellowship. Ohio Sea Grant asks that all applicants contact their office prior to the application deadline. All application materials must be received by February 19, 2021.
To find more resources offered by Ohio WRC, please visit: https://wrc.osu.edu/resources
Policy Update
Draft 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) for the 2021 Reissuance and Modification of the Nationwide Permits (NWPs)
The Corps published the final version of the NWPs in the Federal Register (Volume 86, No. 8) on January 13, 2021. The revised NWPs will take effect on March 15, 2021.

A virtual public hearing on the draft 401 WQC is scheduled on February 4, 2021 at 3:30 PM. Interested parties must register for the hearing at: http://epa.ohio.gov/virtual. Comments on the draft 401 WQC should be submitted by email to epa.dswcomments@epa.ohio.gov by 5:00 PM on February 11, 2021.  
Final File - Water Quality Standards Beneficial Use Designation Wave 1 Rules
Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water (DSW) has adopted final revisions to four rules in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3745-1, Water Quality Standards. This rulemaking includes the following rules: 3745-1-11: Maumee river drainage basin; 3745-1-12: Sandusky river drainage basin; 3745-1-19: Huron river drainage basin; and 3745-1-23: Portage river drainage basin. The effective date of these rules is April 21, 2021. Visit www.epa.ohio.gov/dsw/dswrules.aspx for more information.
Upcoming Events
Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners - TCWP Webinar Series
February 10, 2021 • Webinar at 9:00 - 11:00 am EST
Michael J Cook, Regional Engineer (Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.)
Underground Storage, Infiltration, and Pretreatment: Navigating Ohio’s Requirements

TCWP will be hosting webinars the second Wednesday of each month through April. Each session earns 2 CEUs. All sessions include speakers/topics related to stormwater practices, restoration, and engineering. Visit here for registration (ends at 4 pm the day prior to each webinar). Each webinar has a $25 registration fee per person.
Spring 2021 SENR Seminar Series
February 25, 2021 • Virtual Seminar
Steven Scyphers, Assistant Professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences at Northeastern University will be presenting on nature-based coastal protection and the human dimensions of fisheries.

The SENR Seminar Series is held during the autumn and spring academic semesters. Speakers address a variety of topics that are relevant to the major environmental problems and natural resource management issues of our day. This semester's seminar series theme is Ecosystem and Community Health. The seminars are held on Thursdays, from 4:10 - 5:30 p.m. via Zoom (see schedule here).
FABE Seminar Presents: Dr. Elizabeth Myers Toman
March 2, 2021 • Virtual Seminar
Stream Water Quality & Rural Roads
Please join the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) Seminar Tuesday, March 2 from 1:50pm-2:40pm to hear from Dr. Myers Toman, an SENR faculty member, about stream water quality and rural roads. The FABE spring seminars are held on Tuesdays through April 27 via Zoom.
2021 P3 Water Summit
April 21-23, 2021 • Virtual Summit
The 2021 P3 Water Summit is a groundbreaking online event for water agencies and industry. The summit will deliver a virtual and interactive conference, exhibition and networking experience to over 600 delegates nationwide. Many public and industry leaders will be presenting this year, who'll be sharing their responses to challenges and strategies for recovering from Coronavirus-related disruption. Visit here to register.
University of Illinois Conference - Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference 2021
April 27-28, 2021 • Virtual Conference
Mark your calendars for ECEC21. As in past years, the conference will feature presentations and lightning talks on the latest research, policy, and outreach on emerging contaminants in soils, water, and air. There will be opportunities for attendees to interact with presenters and each other through planned virtual spaces. Visit here to register.
WEF Conference - Residuals and Biosolids Conference 2021
May 11-14, 2021 • Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH
Save the date for the 2021 Residuals and Biosolids Conference and plan to experience a robust program highlighting continued advances in the wastewater residuals and biosolids sector. Potential speakers are invited to submit an abstract for podium presentation, workshop, virtual presentation, or exhibitor mobile session.
River Rally 2021 Program
May 17-20, 2021 • Virtual Event
Join us for the second Virtual River Rally! Our engaging and fun virtual program will run for four empowering days. Featuring ‘live’ content including plenaries, workshops, discussions, and inspiring reflections from award recipients, along access to a huge library of recorded workshops, opportunities to connect with peers, and an innovative new community platform that will connect the network for years to come. Register here. We hope you’ll join us!
76th SWCS International Annual Conference
July 26-28, 2021 • Virtual Event
The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) invites submissions for the 76th SWCS International Annual Conference! You may submit your abstract here by February 17, 2021. The three-day event will provide the opportunity for attendees around the world to share their conservation stories and bring natural resource management solutions from far and wide into their homes and offices. This year’s conference theme, “One World, Connected through Conservation,” encompasses the shared resources on which all life depends while recognizing local-level issues and management.
Have an event you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at OhioWRC@osu.edu!
Email: OhioWRC@osu.edu
Phone: 614-292-2807
Website: https://wrc.osu.edu/
Address: 311 Hitchcock Hall
2070 Neil Avenue 
Columbus, OH 43210