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And The Winners Are…

Each year, the State of Washington Water Research Center awards “Seed Grants” for research that explores new ideas to advance scientific understanding of water resources or their management in Washington state. The Center is housed at WSU but collaborates with water researchers, colleges and Universities throughout the state, nation, and world to pursue its mission. The Center administers the Seed Grant program under Section 104(b) of the Water Resources Research Act.

Three awards were announced in December 2020 for the coming year. Jonathan Yoder, Center Director and Professor in the WSU School of Economic Sciences was pleased with the quality of the grant proposals saying, “As in most years, we had a strong slate of proposals. These three proposals were very well developed and represent important issues in watershed management and the valuable ecosystem services that river systems provide. This is especially important in the context of climate change, where stream temperature,  wildfires, and associated erosion are a growing concern. We look forward to seeing the results of these exciting projects.”

The winning proposals will receive about $30,000 each. The 2021 winning projects are:

For the full article and newsletter go to  Water Currents WINTER 2021 / ISSUE 5

 

This article was a joint newsletter from WSU Extension and the State of Washington Water Research Center featuring water quality projects and research.  Water Currents is a new, free, online publication of WSU Extension’s Water Resources Team.  Subscribe Today!

 

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: 2021 UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference

June 8-10, 2021

The conference planning committee is pleased to invite abstract submissions for the 2021 UCOWR/NIWR (Virtual) Water Resources Conference. Gaps in projected water supply and demand, declining water quality, increased food and energy needs, and a changing climate highlight the numerous water challenges facing society and water resources professionals. UCOWR and NIWR invite you to join leading researchers, educators, water managers, students, and other professionals from across the country and world to join the dialogue as we seek to develop solutions to complex water resources challenges and explore bridges between science and policy. We call your attention to a special focus on Water and Social-Environmental Justice and especially encourage abstracts on this timely and critical topic.

Update: Submission date changed to Feb 21.2021

For more information

Toxics in Puget Sound Workshop

9am-4:30pm on Friday, February 5th to hear updates about monitoring, research and emerging science from the Puget Sound.

The Stormwater Strategic Initiative Lead (SIL), part of the Puget Sound recovery community, is hosting this workshop.   Many thanks to our standing advisory team (SIAT) and planning team for their contributions.

The workshop is designed to identify red flag monitoring for action oriented solutions/strategies.

The February 5th Workshop day will focus on science only and will address PCBs, PAHs, PBDEs and CECs, among other toxics.  We will be emphasizing emerging science and the discussion will address sources, pathways and impacts.

The February 26th workshop- Part II- will address some of the pressing issues associated with our Toxics in Fish Implementation Strategy while providing broader context regarding prevention, human health and a wide range of contaminants and toxics.

Zoom link will be sent upon registration. The final agenda will be sent before the event.

Register here.

Thank you to our funder, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Call for Proposals: WSU Faculty opportunity for water research in Egypt

WSU Water Researchers,

The State of Washington Water Research Center and WSU are partners with the American University of Cairo, three other US Universities, and five Egyptian universities to develop the Egyptian Center of Excellence for Water (COE-W), funded by the USAID.  As part of this effort, the COE will be funding collaborative research grants (up to $250,000) to facilitate science and innovation through joint US and Egyptian led projects.  Attached is a call for proposals for this program, and you can check out the FAQ page for this RFP at: https://bit.ly/2Uvo149.  If you are interested in the possibility of carrying our water research for and in Egypt, you should check these resources out!

Download the full Call for Proposals here.

There are a few basic things to know.
(1) Only partner university faculty are eligible for participating, so if you are a WSU faculty member with water expertise, you are in a relatively small, select group eligible for this program.
(2) The deadline for proposals is May 15, about a month from now.
(3)  The research must be focused on water and related to Egypt, and must involve Egyptian partner university faculty.   All partner universities are listed in the RFP.

The third requirement could be a hurdle or an opportunity for those not currently working on Egyptian water issues or have Egyptian research connections.  We are currently working on a process to facilitate networking among partner university faculty.   In the meantime, if you are seeking help identifying research collaborators among partner university faculty or would like to know what potential research projects are being proposed by others to which you would like to contribute, please provide your contact information and expertise here:

Contact information form for WSU water researchers interested in connecting with Egyptian water projects

Enter your contact information ASAP because the deadline is coming up quickly!  We will pass on your information to the COE-W, and will be in touch with updates for you as soon as possible.  If you have any further questions, email WRC Director Yoder at yoder@wsu.edu.

NW CASC Funding Opportunity: 2020-21 Research Fellowship Program

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) invites proposals for its 2020-2021 Research Fellowship Program from graduate students at University of Washington (UW), Boise State University (BSU), Oregon State University (OSU), University of Montana (UM), Washington State University (WSU) and Western Washington University (WWU) and postdoctoral scholars at BSU, OSU, UM, WSU and WWU (this Fellowship cannot support postdocs at UW). » More …

Student Summer Research Opportunity- Deadline to apply Feb 15th, 2020

The NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program entitled Stakeholder Informed Modeling of Innovations in the Food-Energy-Water Nexus is now accepting applications for Summer 2020. To learn more about the program and apply, please visit: https://cereo.wsu.edu/reu-stakeholder-few-innovations/. (Note: acceptance into the program will be based on a pending NSF award for this project.)

WA AWRA graduate fellowships

Due date for this academic year’s WA AWRA graduate fellowships in February 14, 2020. As you know each year the Washington Section of the American Water Resources Association awards 2 – $2500 fellowships to graduate students at Washington institutions of higher education. One of these fellowships is reserved for a member of a recognized student chapter. Currently there are chapters at the University of Washington and Central Washington University. The other is available to any student in a graduate program in the state that is in a course of study related to water resources.
For more information and to apply

Dave Christensen Seminar: Sept 16 2:30pm PACCAR 202

“How a citizen activist stopped state government for an entire year: Water resource management and rural development”

Monday, Sept 16, 2019 | 2:30 pm | PACCAR 202

David Christensen
Program Development Manager, Water Resources Program
WA Dept. of Ecology

David Christensen six years’ experience as the Program Development Manager for the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Water Resources Program. He works with the legislature and elected officials, and leads a team that develops state policies and rules on water resource management in Washington. David has more than 20 years’ professional experience in water resource, public health and environmental management. David holds a B.S. degree from the University of Washington in Fisheries Biology and an M.S. in Limnology and Oceanography from the University of Wisconsin.

zoom meeting id: 108 986 800

Flyer

Ecosystem response to the removal of the Elwha River dams

Ecosystem response to the removal of the Elwha River dams
Dr. George Pess, NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center

 

Wed., Sept 18, 2019| 3:10 pm | PACCAR Clean Tech Bldg. , Room 202

Worldwide stream and watershed restoration efforts cost billions annually. Normally, these projects are typically local-scale activities that do not have a measurable effect on ecosystem function or services. We present results from the Elwha River, where the largest dam removal ever undertaken resulted in measureable ecosystem changes. The release and transport of tens of millions of metric tonnes of sediment from former reservoirs has resulted in the transformation and rebuilding of estuarine and riverine habitats. The resumption of free passage for aquatic organisms has re-established anadromous fishes to areas that have been void of such species for 100 years and altered the migration patterns and improved the fecundity of a song bird. Our results demonstrate the critical importance of maintaining longitudinal connectivity for watershed processes and ecosystem services.

George Pess has worked in the field of fisheries and geomorphology since 1989. His primary research interest during that time has been the examination of natural and land-use effects on salmon habitat and salmon production. George has an A.B. in Economics and Environmental Science (Bowdoin College 1987), an M.S. in Forest Science (Yale University 1992), and a Ph.D. in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (University of Washington, 2009). George is currently the program manager for the Watershed Program at NOAAs Northwest Fisheries Science Center and is Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences.

CEREO and WRC CO-Sponsor Seminar