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The Alabama Water Resources Research Institute is a university-based interdisciplinary, problem-oriented research and technology center with support from the federal government that enables the program to address broad national needs and relevant industrial technology.
The Water Resources Research Institute coordinates research programs which are applicable to the solution of present and emerging water resources problems. In carrying out this mission, the Institute has developed a broadly based research, training, information transfer, and public service program involving personnel from many academic disciplines in the state's research universities.
The Alabama Water Resources Research Institute is one of 54 water resources institutes nationwide authorized by the federal Water Resources Research Act. The state-based Water Resources Research Institutes are located at land grant universities and promote research and information dissemination on the state's and nation's water resources problems.
News
EPA Releases Recovery Potential Screening Website to Assist Restoration Planners
EPA announced the release of a new technical assistance tool for surface water quality protection and restoration programs: the Recovery Potential Screening website. Recovery Potential Screening is a user-driven, flexible approach for comparing relative differences in restorability among impaired waters. The website provides step-by-step screening directions, time-saving tools for calculating indices and displaying results, summaries of over 120 ecological, stressor and social indicators, a recovery literature database, and several case studies.
New EPA PCB TMDL Handbook Released (PDF)
EPA has issued a technical document titled Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Handbook, which provides EPA regions, states, and other stakeholders with updated information for addressing Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) waters impaired by PCBs. PCBs rank sixth among the national causes of water quality impairment in the country, and of the 71,000 waterbody-pollutant combinations listed nationally, over 5,000 (eight percent) are PCB-related. This handbook identifies various approaches to developing PCB TMDLs and provides examples of TMDLs from around the country, complete with online references. It aims to help states complete more PCB TMDLs and ultimately restore those waters impaired by PCBs.
U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Water Program Posts New Web Pages
The U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Water Program has posted online revised web pages for the Cooperative Water Program. Learn about and directly access water data on streams, groundwater and water quality, as well as selected products released in 2011 on water availability, ecosystem health, water quality and drinking water, water hazards, energy, and climate.
EPA and Partners Release Climate Change Handbook for Regional Watershed Planning to Assist Water Managers Plan for Climate Change
Developed cooperatively by the U.S.EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Water Resources, and the Resources Legacy Fund, the “Climate Change Handbook for Regional Watershed Planning” provides a framework for considering climate change in water management planning. Key decision considerations, resources, tools, and decision options are presented that will guide resource managers and planners as they develop means of adapting their programs to a changing climate. The handbook uses the California Department of Water Resources’ Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) planning framework as a model into which analysis of climate change impacts and planning for adaptation and mitigation can be integrated. In addition, the handbook provides a checklist for identifying and prioritizing the vulnerability of local watersheds. The checklist includes questions about water demand and supply, wildlife and habitat, sea level rise, critical infrastructure, and hydropower.
EPA Extends Comment Period for the Proposed CAFO Rule
On October 21, 2011, EPA published a proposed rule that would require concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) to submit basic operational information to the Agency. EPA received requests from the public for additional time to submit comments, and is extending the public comment period to January 19, 2012. EPA proposed the rule in order to more effectively carry out its CAFO permitting programs on a national level and ensure that CAFOs are implementing practices to protect water quality and human health.
Virginia Low Impact Design Competition Now Open
Potomac Conservancy, the Friends of the Rappahannock, and The James River Association announced a competition to challenge teams of development professionals to demonstrate cost-effective approaches to replicating pre-development hydrology on several development sites across the state. First-place awards of $15,000 will be given for each of three design areas are open for competition: suburban, mixed-use development; urban redevelopment; and green roadways. Design submission period closes on February 17, 2012.
Position Announcement — Water Scientist
The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) seeks a highly qualified water scientist to serve as Chief Water Scientist for advancing research and extension programs responding to high-priority water management needs in Texas and the South-central US. The position requires a senior-level scientist dedicated to leading multi-disciplinary teams of faculty scientists and researchers.
Additional agency and position information is available at http://twri.tamu.edu/waterscientist
Information and inquiries should be directed to waterjobs@tamu.edu
Nominations and applications will be accepted through February 20, 2012.
AWRRI Awards FY-2012 AL Water Resources Grants
Alabama Water Resources Research Institute recently announced the award of three FY-2012 AL Water Resources Grants. The object of this program is to facilitate research faculty in the state in making significant advances, and increasing regional and national competitiveness, in the water resources arena. For the purpose of this competition, “water resources arena” is defined in the broadest possible terms. Proposals are invited from all permanent full time tenured, tenure-track and non-tenured faculty from any universities or colleges in Alabama.
Details about the awarded proposals are available at http://awrri.auburn.edu/grants.php
Nutrient Management Positions Available at the University of Delaware
Two Nutrient Management positions now available at the University of Delaware:
1) EXTENSION SPECIALIST AND ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR-NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT/ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. This is a tenure-track, faculty position with a 75% extension and 25% research responsibility for Nutrient Management, with an emphasis on Environmental Quality.
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2) STATE-WIDE EXTENSION AGENT /EXTENSION SPECIALIST IN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT. This is a non-tenure track Extension Agent/Extension Specialist position 100% Extension in an area related to Environmental Quality and Management.
read more…
New and Improved EPA Web site on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution
Over the last 50 years, the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution entering our waters has escalated dramatically, and is becoming one of America’s costliest and most challenging environmental problems. In many parts of the country, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution negatively impacts human health, aquatic ecosystems, the economy, and people?s quality of life. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a new and improved website about nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to provide the public with information about this type of pollution– where it comes from, its impacts on human health and aquatic ecosystems, and actions that people can take to help reduce it.
Sink or Source? A New Model to Measure Organic Carbon in Surface Waters
A new carbon model, developed by USGS in collaboration with researchers from Resources for the Future and Pennsylvania State University, contributes new information on the role of rivers as sources and sinks for organic carbon at regional and continental scales. Model estimates of sources and sinks help managers and researchers track carbon transport in streams, which is information that is ultimately needed to understand the fate of rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Access the USGS report and technical announcement online.
Selected Highlights:
- Findings show that in-stream photosynthesis by algae is a major contributor of organic carbon in large rivers of the United States. It is the largest source of organic carbon delivered to coastal waters from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin and the Pacific Northwest.
- Terrestrial sources of carbon, such as from forests and wetlands, are dominant in other coastal waters, including waters of the North Atlantic, the South Atlantic Gulf, California, the Texas Gulf, and the Great Lakes.
- Modeled estimates also show how much of the organic carbon transported in streams is permanently removed from the water column. Removed carbon is either sequestered in sediments over long time periods or oxidized and returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. The specific fate of the carbon is not quantified in the current model.
This study is supported by the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program, which has assessed the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of streams, rivers, and groundwater across the Nation since 1991. Hydrologic modeling and analysis tools are important components of NAWQA studies.
Last Updated: Jan 21, 2011