The Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) was established to provide more effective coordination of the United States’ water research by establishing Water Resources Research Institutes at universities in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia. The state water resources research institutes authorized by the Act are organized as the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR). These institutes provide vital support to stakeholders, states, and federal agencies for long-term water planning, policy development, and resource management. The Ohio Water Resources Center is one of these institutes.

The reauthorization of the WRRA program was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package recently passed by the Senate and House and signed into law by President Biden. The bill reauthorizes through FY2025 the WRRA program. Included in the reauthorization is an increase in the federal share of grant funding from 1 federal dollar for every 2 matched dollars (1:2) to 1:1. As locating matching funds is a challenge for our researchers, we expect this change in match to increase investigator access to our grants program. Reauthorization also includes evaluation studies every 5 years, and provides for the authorization of appropriations of $12 million for 104b and $3 million for 104g proposals for fiscal years 2022 through 2025. This reauthorization is exciting news for our center and countless others across the United States. We thank members of the Ohio delegation on Capitol Hill for their support look forward to providing improved services for Ohio.

Dr. John Senko, Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences and Biology at the University of Akron, and Dr. Chelsea Monty-Bromer, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Cleveland State University, are researching whether electrochemical signals associated with microbial activities in benthic sediments could indicate the microbiological processes that enhance or limit phosphate release from sediments. The researchers’ goal for their project is to develop a sensor system positioned in lake sediments that could serve as an early warning system for HABs severity resulting from internal phosphate loading. In their research, Senko and Monty-Bromer are using an electrochemical split-chamber zero resistance ammetry (SC-ZRA) sensing technique that allows them to detect varying microbiological activities in sediments, without influencing the native biology, based on electrochemical signatures. With the SC-ZRA technique, the researchers are particularly interested in looking at iron reduction. To read more about this project please visit our website!   

If you have questions, email OhioWRC@osu.edu.

Via E&E News, November 2, 2021

Via JD Supra, November 8, 2021

Via Ohio EPA - Ohio.gov, November 10, 2021

Via Reuters, November 15, 2021

Via The Hill, November 16, 2021

Via The Hill, November 18, 2021

Via Hometown Stations, November 20, 2021

Via Governor Mike DeWine - Ohio.gov, November 24, 2021

Via Daily Advocate, November 29, 2021

Have a news article you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at OhioWRC@osu.edu!

Request for Applications (RFA): National Estuarine Research Reserve Science Collaborative

The National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Science Collaborative is pleased to announce the Request for Science Transfer Proposals. This grant program supports the co-development and application of relevant and usable knowledge to address critical coastal management issues identified by the NERR System to improve the long-term stewardship of the nation’s estuaries. Proposals are due February 24, 2022.

Request for Applications (RFA): US EPA Development of Innovative Approaches to Assess the Toxicity of Chemical Mixtures

U.S EPA is seeking applications focused on improving the quantitative evaluation of risks posed by chemical mixtures in the environment. For more information please visit here. Proposals are due December 8, 2021.

Request for Applications (RFA): US EPA National Priorities Innovative Sampling Designs for Public Health Surveillance of Coronaviruses & Other Pathogens in Wastewater

EPA expects the research funded under this announcement will improve how wastewater surveillance systems are used for detection of pathogens in community populations. For information on eligibility, project specifications, or how to apply, please visit here. Applications are due December 15, 2021.

Request for Applications (RFA): DOE Earth System Modeling Development and Analysis

RFA for 1) Earth System Model Development (ESMD) and 2) Regional and Global Model Analysis (RGMA). Pre-applications are due January 5, 2022. For more information visit here.

Request for Applications (RFA): US EPA Life-Cycle Analysis to Support Cost-Effective Enhanced Aquifer Recharge

The U.S. EPA is seeking applications proposing research to develop cost-benefit tools to support the use of Enhanced Aquifer Recharge (EAR) as a viable, safe, and cost-effective water management strategy. For information on eligibility, project specifications, or how to apply, visit here. Applications are due January 13, 2022.

The U.S EPA is seeking applications for research that will address how measurable attributes of water quality improvements can be valued, either directly or through indicators. There will be an informational webinar about the RFA on December 15, 2021. Applications are due January 26, 2022. For more information visit here.

The University of Arizona WRRC will be hiring two post-doctoral research associates into 24-month positions beginning in early 2022. The first position is with the Water RAPIDS (Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems) program. The second position will contribute to multiple WRRC programs, particularly Diversifying Voices in Water Resources (DViWR) and activities related to the WRRC’s outreach to, and engagement in, Arizona’s rural and Tribal communities.

Research Associate Position: Tennessee Water Resources Center

Research Associate III position open at the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center. Doctoral level position. Job application and further information can be found here.

CIGLR is accepting proposals from Regional Consortium Partners for a suite of programs that aim to build collaborative partnerships through career development opportunities, visionary science, and impactful outreach. Please visit the full program announcements for descriptions, eligibility, and application information.

The Universities Council on Water Resources 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 February 15 to be considered for the August issue and June 15 for the December issue. More information about JCWRE, including author guidelines, can be found here.

To find more resources offered by Ohio WRC, please visit: https://wrc.osu.edu/resources

April 27-28, 2022 • I Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign, IL & Virtual

The 2022 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC22) will feature traditional presentations and a poster session on the latest in emerging contaminant research, policies, and outreach in the soil, water, and air. Abstracts are requested on all aspects of emerging contaminants in the environment, including research, public health, policy, management, outreach, and education. Find out more information on the ECEC22 Submit Abstract page. Abstracts are due February 7, 2022.

July 25-28, 2022 • Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, OH

OAWWA and OWEA are excited to announce that the Call for Abstracts for the 2022 One Water Technical Conference has now opened. The deadline to submit is January 15, 2022.

June 14-16, 2022 • Hyatt Regency in Greenville, SC

Universities Council on Water Resources and National Institutes of Water Resources are pleased to invite you to submit your abstracts for the 2022 Annual Conference. Special focus on Water Resilience, to encourage conversations about how watersheds, ecosystems, infrastructure systems, governance structures, and communities can adapt and transform in the face of current and future stressors. Abstracts due January 24, 2022.

December 10, 2021 • Virtual

The Urban Water Learning Network Equitable Development Collaborative is hosting a peer exchange with representatives from Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s (LISC) policy team to share emerging policy opportunities at the federal level to promote affordable housing, economic development, and workforce development. For more information or to register please visit here.

December 15, 2021 • Virtual

This presentation will cover how Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa are improving water through municipal - agricultural partnerships. Ohio has the opportunity to seize upon this concept as a part of the US EPA’s push to bring more NPDES permits into full compliance. This strategy would allow voluntary watershed work to count towards permit compliance. For more details and to register visit here.

January 6-7, 2022 • Virtual

The Algal Bloom Action Team is a collaboration of water professionals, researchers, and educators from twelve states in the North Central Region of the United States. This symposium will feature emergent harmful algal bloom (HAB) research and provide a venue for moderated discussions regarding HAB research, outreach, and how information dissemination can be improved. Visit here to register.

Have an event you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at OhioWRC@osu.edu!

The Maumee Watershed Nutrient Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Project has a goal to reduce harmful algal blooms in order to remove drinking water and recreational impairments to the Lake Erie Shoreline, Open Water and Islands of the Western Basin. Starting in December, Ohio EPA will begin holding monthly webinars to provide updates on the TMDL project development leading up to the release of the draft Preliminary Modeling Results by the end of March 2022. The first webinar will be held on December 14, 2021. Register here.