Water quality in streams, lakes, and wetlands is closely tied with land use and management. Our research spans pollutant source identification, transport, storage, and delivery, hydrologic impacts of conservation developments, and performance of management practices.
Water Quality Mapping using Satellite Imagery and Machine Learning
In this study, we aim to use satellite data to develop machine learning models to map water quality parameters in the Upper Mississippi River, including dissolved oxygen and nitrate concentrations.
Securing Water for Agricultural and Food Sustainability in India
We are collaborating with researchers in India and Australia to use a transdisciplinary approach to understand the issues, challenges, and options for improving sustainability of groundwater use in India.
Green Lake Watershed
We are working on various projects in the agricultural Green Lake Watershed in central Wisconsin through a collaboration with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Green Lake Association. Green Lake, the deepest natural inland lake in the state, is a popular destination for tourism and recreation, but has poor water quality and degraded aquatic habitat because of excess sediment and phosphorous. Watershed managers have widely implemented agricultural best management practices (BMPs). Yet these practices might not be doping enough, especially considering historical land use and future climate conditions. Our research seeks to inform land management practices for improving lake water quality and ecosystem health. For data and publications related to Green Lake, please see the Green Lake Watershed Information System website.
Nutrients and Sediment in the Green Lake Marshes
Several of the lake's impaired tributaries flow through marshes on the east and west sides of the lake. We conducted a study to better understand the marshes' role in delivering phosphorous and sediment to Green Lake.
Watershed Legacy Phosphorus
We are currently working to quantify the build-up of phosphorus in watershed uplands, marshes, and lake sediments over time. This "legacy" phosphorus can act as a continuous source of pollution to the lake and delay improvements in water quality.
Effectiveness of Best Management Practices
We are using SWAT modeling to assess the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) on reducing total phosphorus, suspended solids, and nitrogen in the Green Lake watershed. These models are for both present day, and future scenarios.
