Grantee Research Project Results
Towards sustainable water resource management in Missouri through technology advancement, stakeholder engagement, and workforce development
EPA Grant Number: EM840651Title: Towards sustainable water resource management in Missouri through technology advancement, stakeholder engagement, and workforce development
Investigators: Deng, Baolin , Hall, Damon
Institution: University of Missouri - Columbia
EPA Project Officer: Cunniff, Sydney
Project Period: October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026
Project Amount: $5,000,000
RFA: Congressionally Directed Spending (2023)
Research Category: Water , Watersheds
Description:
Developing an integrated capability to understand and manage water resources is critical to the livelihood and economy of midwestern states like Missouri. Missouri is at the confluence of Missouri River and Mississippi River. These river systems provide nearly half of all Missouri residents with drinking water and account for a major portion of the state's economic activities. Conversely, severe weather can result in widespread damage and associated economic burden, such as flooded farmland and homes along the rivers and destroyed levees and transportation infrastructure. Missouri has experienced frequent severe flooding and drought in recent years.
Objective:
To address these challenges, this project aims to integrate biophysical, biogeochemical, engineering, and social science research to advance sustainable water resource management. Three objectives of the project are: (1) to enhance Missouri Water Center's (MWC) human and laboratory infrastructure that will become the home of water research in Missouri, (2) to conduct high-priority research that will fill the knowledge and technology gaps hindering sustainable water management, and (3) to implement a seed-grant program that will simulate multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary collaborations to grow our competitive research portfolio.
Expected Results:
Through this project, it is anticipated that the Missouri Water Center will grow to become (1) a center of excellence in research on water resources, water quality, and water policy, (2) a site to coordinate large collaborative grant proposals on water research topics across University of Missouri campuses and national and global universities, (3) the authority for Missouri's water knowledge needs essential for agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and industry to locate faculty expertise for water research and extension that benefits Missouri, (4) an asset to faculty and Extension specialists working on water, and (5) a partner and collaborator to other higher education institutions. The grant support through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a necessary component to elevate the MWC to the level envisioned so that it can accomplish its mission to serve Missouri and the nation through innovative research and education.
Supplemental Keywords:
watersheds, groundwater, soil, sediments, global climate, precipitation, leachate, adsorption, absorption, chemical transport, ecological effects, bioavailability, vulnerability, chemicals, toxics, particulates, CFCs, metals, organics, pathogens, discharge, dissolved solids, intermediates, ecosystem, aquatic, habitat, life-cycle analysis, innovative technology, remediation, restoration, public policy, decision making, community-based, cost benefit, survey, conservation, environmental assets, sociological, environmental chemistry, biology, social science, ecology, hydrology, geology, modeling, monitoring, analytical, measurement methods, Midwest, Missouri, EPA Regions 7, agriculture, transportationThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.