Volume 05|May 2020
Ohio Water Resources Center Newsletter
From Our Directors
At the Ohio Water Resources Center, we constantly adapt and improve in order to best serve our researchers, stakeholders, and other public & private institutions. Over the last few months, we have been optimizing our web content and layout for clarity, user experience, and to address the needs of our visitors. If you visit our website, you may notice some changes in the way we present our research information. First, we created more graphical content to better convey the impact the Ohio Water Resources Center and our researchers have had in the state of Ohio. Next, we now highlight our currently funded researchers under the research tab . Last is the interactive project map .  we created in order to demonstrate the breadth of our projects and how they are distributed across the state. We believe these changes will better serve your needs and are receptive to feedback. If you have any questions or comments about these changes, please send us an email at  [email protected] . 
Spotlight
Maumee River Sediments as A Nitrogen Source or Sink To Lake Erie: The Competing Roles of Ammonium Recycling and Denitrification
Dr. Mark J. McCarthy , Research Scientist in Earth and Environmental Science at Wright State University, is completing an Ohio Water Resources Center funded project titled  “Maumee River Sediments as A Nitrogen Source or Sink To Lake Erie: The Competing Roles of Ammonium Recycling and Denitrification”.
The Maumee River has the largest drainage area into the western basin of Lake Erie and is most responsible for high N and P loads to Maumee Bay and the western basin. Many studies evaluating the amount and form of P and phytoplankton in the Maumee River relative to Lake Erie have been conducted, but N studies are comparatively rare. Dr. McCarthy’s team selected two up-river sampling locations, at Independence Dam and Mary Jane Thurston State Parks, and two down-river sampling locations, one in the river < 1 km from the discharge into Maumee Bay/Lake Erie, and one within Maumee Bay (MB18) within 5 km of the river discharge. MB18 is a location visited by several other investigators (e.g., NOAA GLERL’s nearby WE6, and U. Toledo). They partnered with colleagues at Bowling Green State University to help them conduct sampling in the down-river and Maumee Bay areas, which require boat access. During sampling, basic water quality parameters (e.g., dissolved oxygen, temperature, etc.) were measured using a multi-parameter sonde. Intact sediment cores, overlying water, and nutrient samples were collected. Intact sediment cores and overlying water were incubated in the lab. Samples from these incubations for dissolved gases have been analyzed and are currently being processed to determine denitrification, anammox, and sediment oxygen demand rates. Nutrient analyses are ongoing.
Dr. McCarthy will present his research at our WMAO/OWRC luncheon on October 14, 2020. More information will be available on our website and newsletters.
Figure 1. Megan Reed (L) and Emily Holliday (R) at Mary Jane Thurston State Park boat ramp (November 2018). 
Figure 2. Thomas Rayburn at Mary Jane Thurston State Park boat ramp (November 2018). 
Figure 3. (L-R) Thomas Rayburn, Justin Myers, and Shannon Collins processing samples from the Maumee River after field sampling (January 2019). 
To see other Ohio WRC research projects, visit:  https://wrc.osu.edu/past .
From Our USGS Partner
Dramatic Changes in River Water Quality in the U.S.
Human activities have markedly changed the water quality of rivers in the past few decades according to a  new study  by the U.S. Geological Survey—concentrations of some water- quality constituents have increased while others have decreased.
The study identified trends between 1992 and 2012 in concentrations of nutrients, sulfate, and salinity at 633 river and stream sites in the conterminous U.S. and related them to land use in the context of water-treatment practices and regulatory actions.
Upgrades to wastewater treatment systems are likely responsible for the significant decrease in concentrations of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus in urban streams. Reductions in these nutrients are promising because nutrients contribute to algal blooms and impair drinking-water quality. In contrast, changes in nitrogen concentrations in agricultural areas were small and inconsistent, and in agricultural areas more sites had increases in phosphorus concentration than decreases. These results suggest that efforts to reduce nutrients in agricultural areas have not been as successful as in urban areas. The nitrogen species ammonium, however, decreased broadly across all land uses. Ammonium can be highly toxic to aquatic organisms and is associated with wastewater, manure, and atmospheric deposition. The broad reduction in ammonium concentrations indicate that efforts to reduce these sources of ammonium have largely been successful. 
News Updates
Via Toledo Blade, April 28, 2020

Via Chicago Tribune, April 21, 2020

Via Bloomberg Environment, April 20, 2020

Via The Hill, April 16, 2020

Via The Associated Press, April 9, 2020

Via Cleveland.com, April 8, 2020

Via EHS Daily Advisor, April 7, 2020

Via WNEM.com, April 2, 2020

Via Bloomberg Environment, April 2, 2020
Have a news article you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at [email protected]!
Opportunities
Ohio EPA Scholarship
These merit based, nonrenewable, scholarships will be given to undergraduate students admitted to Ohio state or private colleges and universities who can demonstrate their knowledge and commitment to careers in environmental sciences or environmental engineering. Students must be entering the final year of the program. Awardees will be selected by the Academy appointed panel. Scholarships may be used for tuition, fees, books, personal protection equipment, tools, instruments and field equipment but not housing. The application deadline has been extended until June 1, 2020 . More information.
Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program 2020 Request For Proposals
The Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program will award grants to restore and sustain healthy forests, rivers and streams that provide habitat for diverse native bird and aquatic populations. The Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program will award grants in portions of the Appalachian region of Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. Approximately $2 million is available this year.
Full Proposal Due Date: Thursday, June 25, 2020 by 11:59 PM ET
Applicant Webinar: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 1:30 - 3 PM, ET
Great Lakes Sediment Surveillance Program
The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking applications for a project to complete chemical analysis in support of the Great Lakes Sediment Surveillance Program (GLSSP). Under this competition, approximately $3 million may be awarded for one cooperative agreement over a five-year period, consisting of incremental funding of about $600,000 per year. The deadline is June 27, 2020 . More information .
Conservation Innovation Grants--National Competition
NRCS is announcing the availability of up to $15.0 million in CIG funding to stimulate the
development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications will be accepted from all U.S.-based non-Federal entities (NFE) and individuals, with the sole exception of Federal agencies. Projects may be between 1 and 3 years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2020 is $2.0 million. The deadline is June 29, 2020 . More information .
ROSES 2020: New (Early Career) Investigator Program in Earth Science
The New (Early Career) Investigator Program (NIP) in Earth science is designed to support outstanding scientific research and career development of scientists and engineers at the early stage of their professional careers. The program welcomes innovative research initiatives and seeks to cultivate diverse scientific leadership in Earth system science. The Earth Science Division (ESD) places particular emphasis on the investigators' ability to promote and increase the use of space-based remote sensing through the proposed research. Proposals with objectives connected to needs identified in most recent Decadal Survey Thriving on our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space are welcomed. Notices of Intent are requested by August 18, 2020 and proposals are due by September 15, 2020 . More information .
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 has been extended to  September 1, 2020  at 5:00 p.m. EST. And award amount is $1000.  More information on eligibility criteria.
Stockholm Water Prize
The Stockholm Water Prize honors individuals, organizations and institutions whose work contributes to the conservation and protection of water resources, and to the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants. All who have made extraordinary water-related achievements are eligible. Call for nominations for the 2021 Stockholm Water Prize will be open March 24 until September 30, 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.
To find more resources offered by Ohio WRC, please visit: https://wrc.osu.edu/resources
Policy Update
The Trump administration has published a final Navigable Waters Protection Rule that defines the scope of "waters of the United States" regulated under the Clean Water Act. The rule, which takes effect June 22, defines such waters as "territorial seas and traditional navigable waters; perennial and intermittent tributaries that contribute surface water flow to such waters; certain lakes, ponds, and impoundments of jurisdictional waters; and wetlands adjacent to other jurisdictional waters."  More information .
Upcoming Events
The Current Webinar - Emerging Contaminants
As drinking water week, May 3rd-9th, quickly approaches we are reminded of the critical role water plays in our lives. Tune in to this month's edition of The Current Webinar series with its focus on emerging contaminants. You'll hear how contaminants such as microplastics and PFAs play a role in contaminating water as well as how contaminants affect soils. The webinar will be on Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 at 2 pm CT. Register .
OSWA Workshop- MS4 Boot Camp Training
Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Kalahari Indoor Waterpark
7000 Kalahari Drive
Sandusky, OH
This training will provide all the information and tools your Community needs to manage a successful MS4 program compliant with the latest Ohio stormwater general permit. Ohio EPA will provide insight on the NPDES program and existing successful MS4 communities will share their perspectives on the “must know” and “what’s new” program elements. The session will culminate with a panel question and answer session, where you may ask all your program questions and receive program-experienced answers.
For more registration info, click  here .
OSWA Annual Meeting- Ohio 2020 Stormwater Conference
The 2020 Conference is the 13th Annual Ohio Stormwater Conference and is being held at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center located in Sandusky, Ohio on August 26, 2020. The conference will provide updates on environmental issues, new technologies, regulatory information and pollution prevention. More information .
Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the Science Conference
The 5th 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. This conference will be held on September 2, 2020 at the Stranahan Theater Great Hall, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd, Toledo, OH. Registration will open on June 15, 2020. More information .
Ohio Rivers 2020 Symposium
Friday, September 11, 2020, 9:30 am
ODOT Central Auditorium
1980 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH
Presented by ODNR Division of Natural Areas & Preserves Scenic Rivers Program, Ohio Scenic Rivers Association and the Water Management Association of Ohio, this event brings together people who share an interest in Ohio’s rivers. Watershed professionals, naturalists, community members and all others who would like to learn and connect with other river advocates should attend. For more registration info, click  here .
49th Annual WMAO Conference and Symposium
Save the Date: 49th Annual WMAO Conference and Symposium will be held on November 4 & 5, 2020 at Crowne Plaza Hotel Columbus North. More information .
Have an event you'd like us to feature in our Newsletter? Email us at [email protected]!
Phone : 614-292-2807
Website : https://wrc.osu.edu/
Address : 311 Hitchcock Hall
2070 Neil Avenue 
Columbus, OH 43210