AWRC Scientists Present Research at UCOWR Conference

Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC) director Dr. Brian Haggard and program manager Erin Grantz presented research on watersheds, water quality, and harmful algal blooms at the University Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) 2022 Annual Water Resources Conference in Greenville, S.C. last month.

The organizational focus of UCOWR is to invest in water resources research, education and outreach through member academic institutions and affiliates, including the National Institutes for Water Research, which the AWRC represents in Arkansas.

Grantz presented a poster outlining the process that the AWRC followed, in partnership with the Arkansas Natural Resources Division and Arkansas Nutrient Reduction Strategy (ANRS) Coordination Team, to update the ANRS watershed prioritization.

“We analyzed statewide ambient monitoring data […] to build a framework for watershed prioritization […] that was based on measured in-stream data.” said Grantz.

Grantz also gave talks on two other recent AWRC projects, including results of analysis on data collected by the H2Ozarks Stream Smart volunteer monitoring program and the Buffalo National River long-term water quality monitoring database.

Haggard gave an oral presentation on predictor variables for harmful algal blooms in Lake Fayetteville and was a co-author on presentations by Grantz Haggard and Grantz found sessions relating to working with the local communities around water resources centers to be the most interesting. For example, both highlighted a session titled “Watershed Based Planning to Reduce Pollution and Protect Surface Water Quality,” which was specifically tied to South Carolina communities, but with implications that are applicable anywhere.

“These cities […] and extension agents who work with the landowners try to educate and implement the best management practices […] was interesting” said Haggard “That’s the hard[est] part of managing water quality.”

“[The session] brought together research scientists, consultants, and government officials to give different perspectives, approaches, and case studies on the topic of watershed-based planning.” said Grantz “All of the topics covered were highly relevant to the collaborations and projects that I am involved in with AWRC, and I felt like I learned a lot from other’s experiences.”

Haggard and Grantz will put their experiences attending UCOWR to work in the AWRC’s partnerships with local watershed organizations, government entities, and academic institutions to take on water resources challenges and to benefit the community of Northwest Arkansas.

Attending the conference also opens opportunities for universities across the country to work with each other.

“The [AWRC] is collaborating with a group affiliated with the water center in South Carolina” said Haggard “It opened a door to collaborate with Clemson University.”

Image Caption: University Council on Water Resources logo, by UCOWR