Volume 03 |March 2020
Ohio Water Resources Center Newsletter
From Our Directors
The 2020 Annual NIWR Meeting was an opportunity for all 54 Water Resource Research Institutes to get together and share success stories, discuss the program's 10-year vision, meet with state representatives on Capitol Hill, and work together to advance the vision and mission of NIWR. This meeting allows the Institutes to collaborate to ensure they continue to address the nation's most pressing water resources issues through research, shared information and technology, and developing a diverse workforce. During the meeting, Ohio WRC Co-Director Linda Weavers (left) visited Capitol Hill and met with our former GAA, Matt Young (right), now a Knauss Fellow in Congresswoman Kaptur's office. There she met with legislative aides for Senator Brown, as well as, Representatives Balderson, Stivers, and Joyce and discussed Ohio WRC research and the impact Ohio WRC activities have on Ohio's water stakeholders.
Spotlight
Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) Breakfast Program and Water Management Association of Ohio Spring Meeting
Exploring the Interactions between Water, Climate and Communication
Co-hosted by : Water Management Association of Ohio, Ohio Water Resources Center, and TerrAqua
Date : Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Time: 7:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location : The Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on The Ohio State University campus
The EPN is teaming up with the Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO), the Ohio Water Resources Center, and TerrAqua (a multi-disciplinary student organization at Ohio State) to host a breakfast and extended educational program focused on non-regional and regional climate change effects on water resources, as well as how to communicate about changing weather and climate to water resource managers.

Join this full morning program as we learn about the interactions between the water cycle, changing weather patterns, and how to understand and communicate these issues in natural resource management. This program is in alignment with the March 22, 2020 World Water Day theme, which is “about water and climate change – and how the two are inextricably linked.” (learn more at worldwaterday.org ). Agenda/speaker bios can be found here .
Research Highlight
The Ohio Water Resources Center (WRC) is the federally-authorized and state-designated Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) for the State of Ohio. Over the past decade, we have provided research funding for over 50 water related projects. The impact of the Ohio WRC spans the entire State, funding and managing research projects at many Ohio universities. With the assistance of the United State Geological Survey (USGS) and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA), we are happy to announce the funding of four new projects starting February 2020!

  • Dr. Soryong Chae, Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati, "Efficient removal of emerging per- and poly-fluoroalkyl contaminants from water using electrically heatable carbon nanotube hollow fiber membrane distillation".
  • Dr. James Hood, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University, "What role does nutrient cycling by zooplankton play in supporting HAB production in western Lake Erie?".
  • Dr. John Senko, Associate Professor, The University of Akron, "Electrochemical sensors for microbial activities in benthic sediments: a sentry for lacustrine P biogeochemistry".
  • Dr. Matthew Saxton, Assistant Professor, Miami University, "Microorganisms and enzymes driving glyphosate degradation is Lake Erie".

For more information about the new projects, please click HERE . Congratulations again to this year's recipients! Our new RFP for the annual National Competitive Grants (104g) program is released and due on March 6, 2020. Submissions will be to the Ohio WRC via email:  ohiowrc@osu.edu . The RFP can be found  HERE .
From Our USGS Partner
New USGS online tools for watershed managers
New online SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes) models and interactive mappers for the  Southwest ,  Pacific ,  Southeast ,  Midwest , and   Northeast  regions of the U.S. are now available from the U.S. Geological Survey. The watershed models estimate streamflow along with yields of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and suspended sediment in monitored and unmonitored stream reaches across the country. The five regional models describe nutrient- and sediment loading and sources of those loads at a resolution of about 2 square kilometers, which is much finer than that of earlier models which was about 132 square kilometers. This allows for improved identification of the sources of nutrients and sediment. The “base year” for the new model predictions has been updated from 2002 to 2012, meaning the models estimate the mean load that would have occurred in 2012 under average annual flow conditions. Learn more about  SPARROW   models and applications.
News Updates
Via The Associated Press, February 21, 2020

Via The Highland County Press , February 19, 2020

Via Ideastream, February 17, 2020

Via the Blade, February 17, 2020

Via Homeland Security Today, February 14, 2020

Via Eno Transportation Weekly , February 14, 2020

Via the Allegheny Front, February 13, 2020

Via the Hill, February 11, 202

Via limaohio.com, February 10, 2020

Via the Blade, February 5, 2020

Via the Blade, February 2, 2020
Have a news article you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at OhioWRC@osu.edu!
Opportunities
RFP - USGS/NIWR 104G National Competitive Grants 
The Ohio Water Resources Center invites applications for the annual National Competitive Grants (104g) program. 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 . 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.
Funding Opportunities with Baxter 
Baxter , a Fortune 500 healthcare and medical device company now has three opportunities available in water research, each offering $150,000 to $300,000 in funding. These RFPs are looking for research in one of the following fields:
  • Small, in-line sensor for detecting total chlorine in water
  • Small technology for removing total chlorine from water
  • Low-maintenance technology for removing water hardness
Review the opportunities at  halocures.com/research/water . Deadline for submission of a proposal is March 18, 2020 .
NRC Research Associateship Programs
The mission of the NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP) is to promote excellence in scientific and technological research conducted by the U. S. government through the administration of programs offering graduate, postdoctoral, and senior level research opportunities at sponsoring federal laboratories and affiliated institutions.
Research opportunities are available within Office of Research and Development directorates: Clean Air; Drinking Water; Ecosystem Services; Global Change; Human Health; Land; Pesticides; and Water Quality. Application deadline is May 1, 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.
Call for Abstracts: 2020 Ohio Section AWWA Annual Conference
The 2020 Ohio Section AWWA Annual Conference will be held from September 22 to 25, 2020 at Hilton Netherlands Plaza, Cincinnati, OH.
Deadline to submit is March 6, 2020 . Click  HERE  to submit your abstract!
WMAO Student Scholarship
The scholarship offers opportunities to student members and the relatives of members of the Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO). The deadline of application is April 27, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. EST. And award amount is $1000. More information on eligibility criteria.
To find more resources offered by Ohio WRC, please visit: https://wrc.osu.edu/resources
Policy Update
Ohio EPA - Southern Central Ohio River Tributaries Watershed Draft Loading Analysis Plan (2009)
The Southern Central Ohio River tributaries watershed was surveyed in 2009 and assessed for aquatic life and recreation beneficial uses. The results from this survey were used to develop a loading analysis plan for the impaired sites in this watershed. A loading analysis plan is the third step in the TMDL development process and lists actions to be taken by the Agency for sampling sites found to be impaired for a beneficial use designation. Please see the following link for a fact sheet describing this notice and the loading analysis plan:  https://epa.ohio.gov/dsw/wq .
Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. on  March 11, 2020 , to EPATMDL@epa.ohio.gov.
Ohio EPA - Draft 2020 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's  Draft 2020 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report  is available for review and comment. Please see the public notice and draft report available at the following link for additional information:  https://epa.ohio.gov/dsw/tmdl/OhioIntegratedReport .
Comments on the draft list can be submitted by email to  EPATMDL@epa.ohio.gov  or in writing to Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049 Attn:  303(d) Comments , by the close of business,  March 13, 2020.
Upcoming Events
National Stormwater Symposium 2020
WEF will host the National Stormwater Symposium on March 15, 2020 - March 17, 2020 at Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. 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. More information .
7th Annual Kent State Environmental Science & Design Research Symposium
The Environmental Science and Design Symposium is a multidisciplinary forum that promotes the exchange of ideas related to the resiliency of natural and built systems. This event will be held at Kent State University March 16 - 18, 2020. More information .
Ohio 2020 Rivers Symposium
The Ohio 2020 River Symposium will be held on Friday, March 20, 2020, 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM, at Ohio Department of Transportation, 1980 West Broad Street, Columbus, OH  43223. More information .
Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners - Professional Development workshop
Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners is hosting an Professional Development workshop to offer Engineers 2.0 PDH’s on March 24, 2020 at the Watershed Stewardship Center in Parma, Ohio.  More information .
2020 | Byrd Center Climate Symposium
Thursday, March 26, 2020. Reception and keynote speaker Richard Alley will kick off the symposium ~6:30p – 8:30p (his talk will begin ~7:00) at the  4H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH . The public is invited to attend. No registration is required.
Friday, March 27, 2020. The technical portion of the symposium will continue at 8:00 am at the  Byrd Center, 1090 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH .  Registration is required. More information .
Ohio EPA's 11th Compliance Assistance Conference
Ohio EPA’s 2020 Compliance Assistance Conference will be held on March 31 & April 1 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio. . The keynote session will feature Director Laurie A. Stevenson and mid-day plenary will feature U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Kurt Thiede. Register here. Register   here .
2020 Ohio Stormwater Conference
This conference will be held on May 6 - 8, 2020 at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center located in Sandusky, OH. Register here .
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