Volume 02 |February 2020
Ohio Water Resources Center Newsletter
From Our Directors
February 2 nd was World Wetlands Day, a reminder of the important role that wetlands play in flood protection, water purification, groundwater replenishment and maintaining biodiversity. Wetlands are the most biodiverse of all ecosystems. Latest estimates show a global decline in biodiversity, perhaps reflecting the fact that wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests and upwards of 50% of the Earth’s wetlands have been lost. This year's theme “ Wetlands and Biodiversity” provides a unique opportunity to highlight why wetland biodiversity matters and to promote actions to reverse their loss. The Ohio WRC has funded several projects in recent years related to wetlands. Our researchers have evaluated wetland heterogeneity and how it affects microbial processes ( Mouser ), methane emissions ( Bohrer ), and carbon cycling (Villa). They have also mapped and evaluated Ohio peatlands in order to assess their restoration potential ( Davies ). Wetlands are a central component of Gov. DeWine’s H2Ohio water quality plan, recognizing their importance in protecting water quality in Ohio. This, and other initiatives, demonstrate that despite the overall decline in wetland numbers due to development, there is renewed interest in wetland restoration due to their multitude of benefits.
Spotlight
RFP - USGS/NIWR 104G National Competitive Grants 
The Ohio Water Resources Center invites applications for the annual National Competitive Grants (104g) program. The program will consider projects that address one of the following high priority research areas:
  • Expand and enhance the use of hydrologic monitoring data monitoring to support advanced modeling tools to provide state-of-the-art flood and drought forecasts, drive emergency- and water-management decision support systems.
  • Research to help society deal with water scarcity or water availability challenges such as drought, snow pack, and/or changes in runoff regimes.
  • Development and evaluation of processes and governance mechanisms that advance the science of ecological flows.
  • Exploration and advancement of our understanding of harmful algae blooms (HABs). Proposals are sought that focus on innovations in monitoring the occurrence of HABs and algal toxins, research on factors that result in algal toxin production, and improvements in near-real time modeling and forecasting of toxin-producing blooms.
Projects may request up to $250,000 in federal funds for projects up to a three year duration, with a 1:1 matching requirement of non-federal to federal funds. Collaboration with USGS scientists is encouraged. The Request for Proposals is available here .
Any investigator at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States is eligible to apply, but must do so through their state water resources research institute. Note the closing date on the RFP is for the state institutes and not individual research projects. The Ohio deadline for proposal submission will be March 6, 2020, 4 PM . Please submit your proposal as a pdf via ohiowrc@osu.edu.
News Updates
Have a news article you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at OhioWRC@osu.edu!
Opportunities
RFP - Sustain Our Great Lakes Program
The Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) program is soliciting proposals to benefit fish, wildlife, habitat and water quality in the Great Lakes basin. The program will award grants in 2020 to improve and enhance: 1) stream and riparian habitat; 2) coastal wetland habitat; and 3) water quality in the Great Lakes and its tributaries, including a new focal area within Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan Watershed.  More information.
Pre-Proposal Due Date:  Tuesday, February 11, 2020 
Full Proposal Due Date:  Thursday, April 16, 2020 
RFP - Resilient Communities 2020
Wells Fargo and NFWF have partnered to create the Resilient Communities program. This $3 million per year program aims to help communities in the United States and territories, prepare, strengthen and bounce back more quickly after a disaster. Pre-Proposal due date is February 18, 2020 . More information.
RFP - 2020 Aquaculture Funding Opportunity: Addressing Economic and Market Needs of the U.S. Aquaculture Industry
Subject to the availability of funding, Sea Grant anticipates approximately $5,000,000 will be available for research projects and programs that will significantly advance the understanding of the economics of aquaculture businesses in the U.S. and address gaps regarding important market information. All proposals to this competition must be submitted by a Sea Grant program. Other interested entities must submit proposals in partnership with and through a relevant Sea Grant Program. Full proposals due April 22, 2020 . More information .
John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program
Ohio Sea Grant is now accepting applications for the   2021 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship , a federal program sponsored by NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program. The program offers a unique fellowship experience to graduate students interested in marine, ocean and Great Lakes resources and the national policy decisions affecting them. The deadline to apply is February 21, 2020 . More information .
Stone Lab Job Applications
Students in four- and six-week Stone Lab courses can apply for part-time positions to cover housing and meals during their stay. These student lab assistants may work with researchers, help run the Stone Lab shop, help in the dining hall, or assist with programming at the Aquatic Visitors Center and South Bass Island Lighthouse. The deadline to apply is February 23, 2020 . More information .
Coastal Program - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
The Coastal Program‐Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is a voluntary, community‐based program that provides technical and financial assistance through cooperative agreements to coastal communities, conservation partners, and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on public and private lands within the Great Lakes watershed. Awards range in size from $40,000 - $200,000. The Closing Date for Applications is September 30, 2020 . More information.
September 22-25, 2020 — Hilton Netherlands Plaza, Cincinnati, OH
Deadline to submit is March 6, 2020
Click   HERE   to submit your abstract!
To find more resources offered by Ohio WRC, please visit: https://wrc.osu.edu/resources
Policy Update
Ohio EPA - Storm Water Utility Survey
Many cities, villages, counties, townships and storm water districts have asked that Ohio EPA survey communities regarding storm water utilities in Ohio so they can use this information to make their own local decisions. For about 30 years, Ohio EPA has gathered and published similar data regarding water/sanitary sewer rates. Now, the following survey is being circulated to collect and publish information on existing storm water utilities in Ohio.
Please click  here  to complete the survey by  February 14, 2020 . If you are not the correct individual to complete, please forward this email to your community's storm water or storm water utility contact.
Ohio EPA - Public Notice: Proposed Rulemaking Governing Primary Drinking Water Standards Rules
Notice is hereby given that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Drinking and Ground Waters (DDAGW) has proposed revisions to various rules in Chapter 3745-81 of the Ohio Administrative Code. These rules have been reviewed to satisfy the five-year rule review requirements of section 106.03 and 106.031 of the Ohio Revised Code.
A public hearing will be conducted on February 26 th , 2020 beginning at 10:30 am in Conference Room B at the Ohio EPA, Lazarus Government Center, 50 West Town Street, Columbus, Ohio. All interested persons are entitled to attend or be represented and give their written or oral comments on this proposed rule-making. A presiding officer will be present until all interested persons have been heard.
The proposed rules will be available on the Agency web page until their adoption or withdrawal. They can be found at this web page  on the "Proposed Rule" tab.
Comments can be submitted in hard copy to the following address: "Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, DDAGW, P.O. Box 1049, Lazarus Government Center, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049, Attn: Kamalpreet Kawatra" or by email to ddagw_rulecomments@epa.ohio.gov. Comments should be received at the above address by close of business, February 26, 2020.
Upcoming Events
Webinar - Results from a Regional Youth Water Education Needs Assessment
With the increasing demand of agriculture, urban growth, and climate change on water quality, effective water management is critical. However, before water can be effectively managed individuals need a solid knowledge of water resources, natural and anthropogenic influences, changing and emerging threats to water, and how local water issues affect world water supply. Evidence suggests that many Americans lack these foundational components.
Tune in on Wednesday, February 12th for the next edition of the  The Current , where we will hear from Dr. Bohrerova (Ohio WRC), Dr.Lekies (OSU) and Dr. Hougham (UW-Madison) who will summarize the results of their recently conducted needs assessment. The team will overview their findings on the water curriculum currently being used throughout the region, aspects of youth water education that effectively engage youth, and the barriers educators both in and out of Extension face when conducting youth water education. Sign-in link .
4th Annual Ohio Marina Conference
The Ohio Marina Conference provides marina owners and operators with updates on environmental regulations and best practices, as well as training for professional development. It will be held on February 27, 2020 at the Catawba Island Club, 4235 East Beach Club Rd, Port Clinton, OH 43452. More information .
National Stormwater Symposium 2020
This symposium is crafted to deepen the technical knowledge of professionals involved with stormwater management and provide forums where leading issues in the sector are discussed. It will be held on March 15-17 at Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio USA. More information .
Ohio Rivers Symposium
This event brings together people who share an interest in Ohio's rivers. Dan Rice, retired Chief Zoologist with the Division of Natural Areas and Preser ves and co-author of “A Naturalist’s Guide to the Fishes of Ohio” will be the keynote speaker at the first Ohio Rivers Symposium. Other topics include mussels, hellbenders, dragonflies, Scioto Brush Creek and more! The symposium will be held on Friday, March 20, 2020 ; 9:00 – 3:00 p.m. ODOT Central Auditorium - 1980 West Broad Street, Columbus. More information.
2020 | Byrd Center Climate Symposium - Save the Dates
Reception and keynote speaker Richard Alley will kick off the symposium on Thursday, March 26 ~6:30p – 8:30p at the  4H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH . The public is invited to attend. The technical portion of the symposium will continue on Friday, March 27 at the  Byrd Center, 1090 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH . More information.
Farm 4R Future - first campaign will run through March 31st, 2020
Farm 4R Future promotes the use of 4R certified crop advisers and the application of the 4Rs: Right fertilizer source in the Right place at the Right rate and the Right time when farmers apply fertilizers to their fields. This message is integral in protecting our waterways from algal blooms, and to the efficiency and long-term sustainability of Ohio’s agricultural production. This first campaign will run through March 31st, 2020. More information.
Ohio EPA's 11th Compliance Assistance Conference March 31 - April 1, 2020, Columbus, OH
Ohio EPA recognizes that it can be challenging to keep up with all the environmental regulations that apply to your business. To help you achieve compliance, on March 31 – April 1, 2020 , Ohio EPA will host its 11th Compliance Assistance Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Through the conference, you will gain valuable information and contacts to help you with your environmental compliance responsibilities.
Registration is filling up for the 2020 Compliance Assistance Conference. Reserve your seat today! Register  here .
The 20th Annual Meeting of the American Ecological Engineering Society
Save the date for the 20th Annual Meeting of the American Ecological Engineering Society, June 9 through June 11, 2020, in Columbus, OH. Details of abstract submission, registration, events, accommodations, and student travel awards will be coming in the next few weeks. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Celebrating 20 years: Ecologically Engineering the Future”. Please keep an eye out for more information on that front. Please also consult the meeting web page for sponsorship opportunities, and other conference information. 
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