ResearchTopic: Watershed & Water Quality

The Influence of Freshwater Algal Blooms on the Fate of Anthropogenic Particulate Pollutants

Lake Erie, like many freshwater lentic ecosystems, is under threat from microplastics pollution and increasing prevalence of harmful algal blooms. Lake Erie has the highest concentrations of microplastic contaminants of all the Laurentian Great Lakes. In particular, very small microplastics (< 333 microns) have been under sampled and likely exist at higher concentrations than have […]

Flood Adaptation Co-benefits of Nutrient Management

Effectively managing nutrient pollution and flood risk are two decisive challenges for the sustainability and resiliency of the Susquehanna River Basin (SRB) and Chesapeake Bay. This project will advance an innovative strategy to simultaneously address these two challenges. The strategy integrates climate adaptation and hybrid green-blue-grey infrastructure to increase regional resilience, which is a focus […]

Ecosystem Services Assessment for Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Lancaster, PA

Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is growing in interest and implementation. Though it is primarily implemented as part of efforts to manage stormwater quantity or quality concerns in urban areas, there is also an interest in leveraging it as a place-making tool to provide additional ecosystem services or co-benefits to improve people’s quality of life. Rarely […]

Developing flash-flood resilience in areas with buried streams and shallow groundwater: Improving stormwater design guidance and community understanding through science and ethnography

High-intensity rain events are increasing, often exceeding the pipe capacity, and resulting in flooding of streets and houses. In older towns, this pipe capacity also may be reduced because streams were buried in pipes and land development created compaction layers in the soil. These compaction layers reduce deep infiltration, resulting in shallow groundwater movement laterally […]

Population and pollutant estimates for invasive snails in Presque Isle State Park

Invasive species can have direct and indirect negative impacts on native communities. Freshwater snails—because of their diet variety, association with water and sediment, rapid reproduction rates, and obscure life history—can significantly impact the communities they invade. Our preliminary work has shown that Presque Isle State Park (PISP), located along Lake Erie’s shores, is now home […]

Identification of Parasites and Bacteria and Their Role in Infections and Mortalities of Smallmouth Bass Micropterus Dolomieu in the Susquehanna River Basin and Neighboring Drainages

The objectives of this study were to determine the distribution of the myxozoan parasite Myxobolus inornatus identified in young-of-year (YOY) smallmouth bass, determine the role that this parasite is playing in infections/mortalities, identify the intermediate host(s) that may be mediating transmission of this parasite, and determine the distribution of intermediate host species to identify potential for threat […]

Nutrient Thresholds for Didymosphenia Geminata Blooms and Stalk Formation in the Delaware River

Observational surveys and experimental rock transplants were conducted within the Delaware River to document the phenology of Didymosphenia geminata blooms and to evaluate the effects of different nutrient regimes on stalk formation and bloom development. The observational surveys began in October 2012 and continued through May 2013. They showed no D.geminata colonies in the Lower Delaware River prior to […]

How Temperature and Phosphorus Loading Influence E. Coli Growth on Cladophora in Lake Erie Beach Waters of Presque Isle State Park

The 13 public Lake Erie beaches of Presque Isle State Park have been particularly affected by water pollution. In 1991, Presque Isle Bay was designated as the 43rd Great Lakes Area of Concern by the U.S. Department of State. While the bay has now been listed as an Area of Recovery, bacterial contamination of the […]

Developing Quantitative Models for the Removal of Quaternary Ammonium Ions as Representative Cationic Emerging Contaminants by Cation Exchange Resins

Understanding the sorption mechanism of organic contaminants on cation exchange resins (CXRs) will enable application of these resins for the removal of cationic organic compounds from contaminated water. In this study, sorption of a diverse set of 12 organic cations and 8 neutral aromatic solutes on two polystyrene CXRs, MN500 and Amberlite 200, was examined. […]

Occurrence Survey for Emerging Contaminants of Concern in Pennsylvania Tributaries of the Delaware River

The goal of this research project was to increase our understanding of the occurrence of emerging contaminants of concern (ECCs) in surface waters by collecting and analyzing ambient water samples from a targeted area of the Delaware River Basin. Concentrations of ECCs are generally higher in urbanized and industrialized areas as was found in a […]

ResearchTopic: Watershed & Water Quality

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