Announcements
News & Events
Winds Of Change: A Talk With Geoffrey Dabelko
Interview with Tom Hodson, WOUB Public Media Jun 12, 2013
Wilson Center Environment Roundtable: Responding to Climate Change & Syria Update
(Geoff Dabelko participant)
Wilson Center Dialogue May 29, 2013
Shale Drilling in Ohio: A Case Study in Balancing Public and Private Interests
by CE3 Executive in Residence Mike Zimmer
Courtesy of the Washington Legal Foundation May 21, 2013
Ohio EPA Level II Credible Data - Chemical Water Quality Assessment Training
Ohio University Athens Campus & Waterloo Aquatic Education Center
Tue, Jul 9 9:00 AM
Water Quality Program
The CE3 Water Program works regularly with the Appalachian Watershed Research Group (AWRG), which was initiated over a decade ago by a group of Ohio University faculty and staff from the Voinovich School. The group provides interdisciplinary, high-quality, applications-based water research for the benefit of the region. These research projects are designed to provide undergraduate and graduate students with innovative learning opportunities while also solving real-world problems. The work of the AWRG benefits watershed groups, federal, state, and local governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, local residents, businesses, and industry.
The AWRG research areas of interest include chemical, biological, and physical water quality research, acid mine drainage reclamation, aquatic outreach and education, fish and invertebrate assessment, sediment toxicity, PCB and TCE contamination in surface and groundwater, chemical water quality trainings for watershed professionals, teachers, and students, and linking of data to decision-making tools through the use of online reports, charts, maps and graphs. Students are a part of the project teams thus providing them with experience that demonstrates teamwork, builds leadership skills, and integrates teaching and learning.
Points of Contact
Jennifer Bowman
Senior Environmental Project Manager
Ohio University Voinovich School
bowmanj2@ohio.edu
740-597-3101
Natalie Kruse, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
Ohio University Voinovich School
krusen@ohio.edu
740-593-3526
Example Projects
All ProjectsOhio Shale Gas Impact Assessment: Baseline Data Collection in Athens and Belmont County
In Eastern and Southern Ohio, oil and gas leases are rapidly being signed for drilling in the Utica Shale. In order to quantify impacts of shale gas exploration, baseline environmental conditions must first be measured. Start-up funding has been provided by Ohio University and the Sugarbush Foundation to meet this objective. A preliminary study will establish multimedia baseline conditions (groundwater, surface water, air and traffic) in Belmont County on the campus of Ohio University Eastern, in Athens County on the main campus of Ohio University, and on the properties of select private landowners in both counties with permission.
A life cycle assessment that examines the many and varied consequences of shale gas drilling will be useful and informative for a wide range of stakeholders. The results of this study will allow rural landowners, elected officials and regulators to learn more about the complex issues surrounding hydraulic fracturing, and have a local source of independent, unbiased information. The data collected during this project will be used to educate and inform communities about their water resources.
Modeling the Recovery of Streams
American Electric Power (AEP) has supported watershed programs for more than a decade at the Voinovich School, through a series of programs that focus on sound science and data collection to drive water restoration efforts. Currently, AEP funds provide for the AEP professorship award, as well as AWRG collaborative project titled “Modeling the Recovery of Streams.” This is a regionally-specific model that quantifies biological recovery potential after acid mine drainage reclamation. Hewett Fork, a major tributary to Raccoon Creek, is being used as a case study for this research.
The Nonpoint Source (NPS) Annual Monitoring Initiative
The Nonpoint Source (NPS) annual monitoring initiative and on-line reporting system for water quality was created for ODNR’s Division of Mineral Resources Management in 2005. Voinovich School staff, faculty and students continue to evaluate the success of the acid mine drainage reclamation projects throughout the coal-bearing region of Ohio in term of stream mile recovery, acid load reductions, and project costs annually. All reports, maps, water quality data, and stream health maps can be accessed at www.watersheddata.com.
Ohio University Contact Information:
Ohio University | 1 Ohio University | Athens OH 45701 | 740.593.1000
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