Ohio Water Resources Center Newsletter |
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We hope this resource will be useful to scientists, stakeholders, and government representatives to better understand the impact of our research across the state.
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RFP - USGS/NIWR 104G National Competitive Grants |
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The Request for Proposals are available at the links below:
The National Competitive Grants will consider projects that address one of the following high priority research areas:
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Socioeconomics & water use – includes the development of water use models that require understanding of what drives the timing and location of water being withdrawn and used and how those relations change when climate impacts the use or conservation/management strategies (culture/societal/economics) are implemented.
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Water related hazards & public health – exploration of the intersections of land/water use, disease vector mechanisms, and water hazards, climate change, and/or irrigation practices. Research may include advancing our understand of these connections as they affect the development rates of pathogens impacting public health.
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Exploration & 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.
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 is June 10, 2021. Please submit your proposal as a pdf via ohiowrc@osu.edu.
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Conversion of agricultural lands to wetland and native prairie greatly enhanced the quality of water resources, increased groundwater recharge and decreased floodwaters in the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota, according to a U.S. Geological Survey study.
Starting in 2000, The Nature Conservancy acquired and restored approximately 25,000 acres at Glacial Ridge, returning nearly all of the land to native wetland and prairie. Scientists with the USGS, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Minnesota, compared the hydrology of the area before and after restoration. They found substantial improvements in groundwater flow, water runoff rates and water quality as a result of land restoration, especially in areas with shallow groundwater or where drained wetlands were restored.
The study found a number of hydrological improvements at Glacial Ridge due to the restoration:
- The rate of water runoff decreased by 33%;
- The rate of groundwater recharge increased by 14%;
- Ditch flow decreased by 23%;
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Concentrations of nitrate, a type of nutrient, decreased by 79% in groundwater and 53% in ditch water.
The study also found that the benefits of restoration were not distributed evenly across the study area. Areas that experienced the greatest improvements in hydrology were those where an aquifer exposed at the land surface. Areas where wetlands that had been drained for agricultural purposes were then restored also benefited significantly. These findings can help resource managers focus future restoration efforts on areas with similar landscape features, where maximum restoration benefits will most likely occur. For more information about water studies in the region, please visit the USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center website.
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Via cleveland.com, April 21, 2021
Via Water Online, April 28, 2021
Via NBC 4, April 29, 2021
Via Ohio EPA, April 30, 2021
Via Water Finance & Management, May 3, 2021
Via Municipal Sewer & Water, May 2021
Via Water Finance & Management, May 3, 2021
Via Great Lakes Now, May 4, 2021
Via Ohio EPA, May 5, 2021
Via Farm and Dairy, May 6, 2021
Via 19 News, May 6, 2021
Via The New York Times, May 7, 2021
Via NCCOS, May 11, 2021
Via NRDC, May 13, 2021
Via Dayton Daily News, May 16, 2021
Via Sandusky Register, May 17, 2021
Via Great Lakes Now, May 18, 2021
Via Springfield News-Sun, May 19, 2021
Via Ohio County Journal, May 21, 2021
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Have a news article you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at OhioWRC@osu.edu! |
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UCOWR Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education |
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Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) is interested in publishing research resulting from 104b and 104g grants in the Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education (JCWRE). JCWRE is published three times per year (April, August & December) and is available on Wiley Online Library. Manuscripts may be submitted at any time, but should be submitted by October 15 to be considered for the April issue; February 15 for August; and June 15 for December. More information about JCWRE, including author guidelines, can be found here.
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WMAO 50th Annual Meeting - Call for Abstracts |
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Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) is celebrating their 50th anniversary with "Engaging Water Professionals Through the Decades" their 50th Annual Meeting and Symposium from November 3-4. For full abstract submittal information, click here. To directly access the online submittal form, click here. Deadline is June 15, 2021.
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Second NAWI Request for Proposals (RFP) |
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Today, the National Alliance for Water Innovation is excited to announce the release of its second Request for Proposals (RFP). The official announcement was made by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and can be found here. Concept papers are due June 15, 2021, at 5:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time. To apply to this RFP, applicants must register with and submit application materials through the online application portal NAWI Exchange. Please reach out with any questions to nawi-info@lbl.gov.
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Earth Science Applications: Water Resources |
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NASA is currently seeking (in-person) reviewers for Earth Science Applications: Water Resources. Signing up does not commit you to serve, nor will NASA be obligated to invite you to serve on a review panel. If you are a funded team member on proposal to a given panel you will not be able to serve on that review panel, but you may be able to serve on another in the future. SMD recognizes and supports the benefits of having diverse and inclusive scientific, engineering, and technology communities and fully expects that will be reflected in the composition of peer review panels. Fill out the application form here, where you may identify whether you work or study at a minority-serving institution.
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National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure Programs
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For those at Ohio State, the Research Development Office is offering an information session about the National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure (1 & 2) programs on Thursday, June 3, 2021, from 12:30-2:00 pm via Zoom. The session will feature an overview of the funding opportunities, perspectives and best practices from previous submission efforts, and an opportunity for potential applicants to learn more about the application process and upcoming deadlines for the internal limited competition process used to select proposals Ohio State. Register to attend here. If you have questions, please contact Nadeane Howard at howard.1149@osu.edu or Samantha Grevas at Grevas.3@osu.edu.
Proposals for the next NSF MRI competition will be due on or before noon on July 15.
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Apply Now: Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge |
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with NOAA, USGS, US Army, the Greater Cincinnati Water Works, and the Water Research Foundation, recently launched a Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge to develop a water sensor that can detect toxicity in water. The deadline for the challenge is July 26, 2021
Please visit here for the Water Toxicity Sensor Challenge webpage. Register here for the Informational Webinar on June 8 at 2 p.m. ET
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Lower Great Miami River - Biological and Water Quality Special Study Planning, 2021 |
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The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Division of Surface Water (DSW) will be conducting a specialized biological and water quality study of the Lower Great Miami River watershed in 2021. DSW has compiled a proposed list of sampling sites for this survey. At this time, Ohio EPA is accepting comments on the proposed selection of sites. Please see the study plan at the following link for additional information here.
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Draft Program Year 2022 DWAF PMP |
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Ohio EPA is pleased to announce that the Draft Program Year 2022 Drinking Water Assistance Fund (DWAF) Program Management Plan (PMP) is available for review and comment. The Draft PMP is available online here.
Two virtual public hearings will be held on June 16, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. During the virtual hearings, the public can submit written comments that will be read into the record by the hearing host. Registration is required in advance of the hearings here. Written comments may be submitted via email during the public notice period to defamail@epa.ohio.gov. All comments on the Draft Plan must be received by Ohio EPA no later than close of business on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.
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Interested Party Review - Biocriteria Rules (OAC 3745-1-07, 3745-2-03) |
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This rulemaking includes two rules in OAC, Chapter 3745-1 contains Ohio's standards for water quality and Chapter 3745-2 contains procedures for ensuring that water quality standards are achieved through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit system, and the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program. Comments on the rules are due by 5:00 p.m. on June 18, 2021. Comments should be sent to dsw_rulecomments@epa.ohio.gov. For more information, please go here. |
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Early Stakeholder Outreach - WQS Rules (OAC 3745-1-02, -03, -31) |
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This rulemaking includes three water quality standards program rules in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3745-1. Amendments under consideration include potential formatting revisions and updates to citations, references and definitions. The fact sheet for the early stakeholder outreach process can be found here. The early stakeholder outreach phase is an opportunity to shape the direction of rules before staff begin drafting rule language. By sharing your comments early in the process, Ohio EPA can consider different concepts and ensure our rule development takes into account the effects the rules will have. Comments are due by 5:00 PM, June 25, 2021 to dsw_rulecomments@epa.ohio.gov. Click here for more information.
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2021 Virtual UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference |
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June 8-10, 2021 • Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL & Virtual
Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) and The National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) are hosting their Annual Water Resources Conference. The conference will include live-streamed plenaries, panels, and workshops as well as recorded oral and poster presentations followed by live Q&A. Click here for more information and for registration.
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TCWP Webinar Series - June |
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June 9, 2021 • Virtual Webinar
Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners is hosting webinars the second Wednesday of each month through August including speakers/topics related to stormwater practices, restoration, and engineering. There are two events in June. 9 AM - 11 AM: Dustin Doherty on Engineering Ethic and Kimberly Strong on Diversity and Inclusion Begins With You. 1 PM - 3 PM: Jason Mclean on Engineering ethics, laws, and rules. Register here.
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University Research & Technology Roundtable – Water/Wastewater
Spotlighting Breakthrough Innovations Around the Great Lakes Region
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June 14-15, 2021 • Virtual Roundtable
Mazarine Labs is hosting an annual roundtable, conducted in 2 sessions, focused on research and technology development being undertaken at universities around the Great Lakes region. The roundtables will take place from 4 PM - 5:30 PM each day. Each day’s 90-minute program will offer invited universities 15-minutes each to introduce their water and wastewater-related research and technology development activities. Highlighted research and technology development will span biomimicry, chemistry, computer engineering, data science, materials science, microbiology, and advances in process engineering. For Day 1 information and registration, click here. For Day 2, click here.
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Ohio WRC-WMAO Luncheon Seminar |
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June 16, 2021 • Virtual Webinar
12:00 - 1:00 p.m
The Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) and Ohio Water Resources Center (Ohio WRC) are hosting their June water luncheon seminar, presented by Ohio Floodplain Management Association. The seminar will focus on Machine Learning Insight for Rapid Flood Inundation Screening and will feature Mark Bartlett and Mark Seidelmann. For full abstract and to register, click here.
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2021 WEF Stormwater Summit
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June 21-23, 2021 • Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
The Water Environment Federation is hosting the Stormwater Summit in cooperation with the Central States Water Environment Association. This Summit is crafted to deepen the technical knowledge of professionals involved in stormwater and provide forums where leading issues in the sector are discussed. The conference will include oral presentations, interactive discussions, pre-conference workshops, exhibits, mobile sessions, opportunities for networking in dynamic settings, as well as virtual components.
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2021 AEESP Research and Education Conference Appetizer
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July 13-14, 2021 • Virtual "Appetizer"
The Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors is holding a virtual event "appetizer" with the AEESP Research and Education Conference being postponed to 2022. The conference theme is Environmental Engineering and Science at the Confluence: Convergence in Education and Research.
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2021 One Water Technical Conference |
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July 26-29, 2021 • Duke Energy Convention Center Cincinnati, OH
OAWWA and OWEA are excited to announce the 2021 One Water Technical Conference. The water and wastewater industries both face similar challenges with new and current regulatory requirements and development of emerging technologies as well as industry maintenance of our aging infrastructure being at a premium for our water and wastewater providers. We are looking to provide our members and conference attendees with a unique opportunity to gain professional development and educational opportunities for both industries at the same time.
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76th SWCS International Annual Conference |
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July 26-28, 2021 • Virtual Event
The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) invites submissions for the 76th SWCS International Annual Conference! 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.
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Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the Science Conference |
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September 8, 2021 • Stranahan Theater Great Hall, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd, Toledo, OH
The 6th annual Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the Science conference will highlight current scientific knowledge related to algal blooms. Research and outreach leaders will present findings from recent studies and identify important areas of uncertainty.
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October 16-20, 2021 • McCormick Place, Chicago, IL & Virtual
The 94th Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition & Conference is planned for 2021! The WEFTEC Program Committee is planning for an in-person event if conditions allow. WEF will continue to monitor the situation. What we do know about WEFTEC 21 is that it will not be exactly like previous events and will be incorporating a limited virtual component.
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Have an event you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at OhioWRC@osu.edu! |
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Email: OhioWRC@osu.edu
Phone: 614-292-2807
Website: https://wrc.osu.edu/
Address: 311 Hitchcock Hall
2070 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
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