AWRC Continues to Support Water Quality Initiatives in Arkansas Along with Announcing New Funded Projects
Dr. Halvor Halvorson, a researcher in water quality studies, has been taking significant steps to understand the health of Brewer Lake in Conway, Arkansas.
His study, supported by funding from the Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC), focuses on monitoring cyanobacteria and their impact on the lake’s water quality.
Over the past year, the center has supported Halvorson’s research, granting funds and graduate assistance to aid his research. This project continues exploring cyanobacterial growth in Brewer Lake and the toxins potentially linked to bad taste and odor.
The long-term goal is to determine why more toxins were found in some years and better understand preventative water treatment that can lead to sustainable, high-quality drinking water supply for the citizens of Conway, Arkansas.
In addition to the research at Brewer Lake, Halvorson’s team includes dedicated graduate students Haley Racioppo and Tate Hill from the University of Central Arkansas who are playing a critical role in data collection and analysis.
Racioppo coordinates sediment sampling and analysis to understand internal nutrient loading dynamics in the lake. Hill coordinates stormwater sampling and analysis to understand external nutrient and sediment loading into the lake.
The involvement of the graduate students has not only advanced the study but has also provided valuable learning opportunities through their research efforts.
Along with Halvorson’s team, the AWRC continues to support innovative water-related research across the state, with the center adding several new projects under its funding this year.
The new projects began their work on Monday, September 1, and focus on various issues in water management and sustainability:
- Evaluating combinations of cyanobacteria remediation solutions and their impact on zooplankton species, by Dr. Sarah Webb, Research Associate, Arkansas State University
- A comparison of internal and external nutrient loading in Brewer Lake, Arkansas, by Dr. Halvor Halvorson, Assistant Professor, University of Central Arkansas
- Occurrence, Fate, and Transport of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Northwest Arkansas Region, by Dr. Lei Guo, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas Fayetteville
- Development of diffusive gradients in thin-films passive sampling methodology for PFAS quantitation at trace concentrations, by Brianna Harris and Dr. Julian Fairey, Associate Professor, University of Arkansas Fayetteville
- Effects of whole reservoir draining on nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in Lake Conway, Arkansas, by Dr. Shannon Speir, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas Fayetteville
- Why and When does Microcystin Exceed Recreational Guidelines at Lake Fayetteville? by Dr. Brian Haggard, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
The AWRC is excited to contribute to these projects, each moving toward improving water quality in the state.
By addressing community water challenges, such as the impact of cyanobacteria that Dr. Halvorson and his team are working with, ongoing research will help protect the health of local communities while contributing to broader water quality initiatives in the Northwest and Central regions of Arkansas.
