Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can present health risks to humans, animals, or ecosystems. Communicating with the public about HABs risks can be challenging because symptoms vary in type and severity across different individuals. However, people with underlying health conditions are often particularly vulnerable to exposure, and they may experience negative health outcomes if they lack awareness of the risks that HABs pose. Literature on risk communication suggests that the way messages are framed influences the impact on risk perception and behavioral intentions. To provide insight into how agencies and practitioners can more effectively communicate health risks from HABs, we designed and experimentally evaluated the efficacy of cognitive and emotional message frames of this HABs risk communication effort. We conducted an online survey to test our hypothesis that the use of emotional message frames enhanced awareness of HABs risks, especially among people with underlying health conditions. Our results demonstrated that while both cognitive and emotional frames are effective, the emotional frame yielded greater results at enhancing risk perceptions, especially for the respondents with underlying health conditions. This research provides insight into how to expand science communication approaches by including emotional frames and increasing the efficacy for populations with underlying health conditions, the people most vulnerable to impacts from HABs exposure.
Undergraduate education in water resources is crucial, involving faculty from diverse disciplines and providing meaningful learning and mentoring experiences. In 2022, the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) launched a national survey and organized a virtual collaborative session with respondents to better understand: 1) What are the primary needs faced by faculty members who teach and mentor water science to undergraduate students? and 2) How can academic institutions and external organizations effectively support faculty members in meeting the needs associated with teaching and mentoring water science to undergraduate students? We collected data from N = 95 survey respondents, and n = 13 collaborative session participants. We employed both quantitative and qualitative analyses of instructors' perceived needs. Quantitative analyses focused on comparative assessment of reported needs and differences between respondent subgroups. Qualitative analysis involved open coding of open-ended survey responses and transcribed collaborative sessions. Results indicate that instructors require support to identify and implement student-centered instructional strategies, help students use evidence to formulate claims about water-related phenomena, connect classroom learning to real-life experiences, design summative assessments, use computer-based tools, and improve students' computational and quantitative skills. Additionally, the need forsummerstipends, access to external funding, and support for early-career instructors and graduate students to enhance teaching and mentoring skills in water research is highlighted. Improving students' research capabilities, technical proficiency, and soft skills are also crucial. These findings provide insights for enhancing undergraduate water education to support student success.
This article describes one state water center's 14-year experience in producing a short, audio-based information product and poses key questions for water centers and institutes considering audio technologies to tell their states' water stories. From 2010 to 2024, Virginia Water Radio (VWR), produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, sought to use a short audio show to inform Virginia residents about the abundance, complexity, and use of the state's water resources. Originally designed to be carried by radio stations, VWR evolved into a primarily podcasted show that was accompanied by a blog providing supporting material. The show produced 674 episodes, running weekly from January 2010 through April 2022 and then biweekly until February 2024. Typically between three and six minutes long, the episodes featured sounds and music to introduce and frame the water-related content. Episode subject areas included organisms, geography, weather and climate, organizations, management, history, and water connections in language and music. Achievements included the show's longevity, consistency, breadth of topics, online information accompanying each audio episode, and collaborations with musicians and guest voices. Challenges included finding radio station partners, acquiring permission to use music, finding sounds, describing complexsubjects concisely, expanding the show's reach, and balancing staff time among show production, promotion, and evaluation. Questions for water centers or institutes considering an audio product focus on a product's potential value to an organization's programs, staff requirements, evaluation, episode frequency and duration, potential use of sounds and music, role of collaborators, equipment, and technology capacity.
The West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) has been monitoring water quality in the Monongahela River basin since 2009 through its Three Rivers QUEST (3RQ) initiative. This study examined 3RQ data for trends in the water quality of the Monongahela River basin. Water quality was monitored at 18 sampling locations in the Monongahela River basin with six locations on the main stem and 12 locations on main tributaries. Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved alkalinity, dissolved sulfate (SO4), and dissolved analyte concentrations (aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and sodium (Na)) were measured during 2009 to February 2023. Total dissolved solids (TDS) and acidity were also estimated. Mean daily discharge at the time of water quality sampling was recorded from a United States Geological Survey (USGS) gage when available and calculated when needed. Four nonparametric statistical tests were performed to determine if there were significant monotonic trends overtime: i) Mann-Kendall trend test, ii) Mann-Kendall trend test adjusted for discharge, iii) Seasonal Kendall test, and iv) Seasonal Kendall test adjusted for discharge. Slopes of significant relationships (alpha = 0.1) were estimated by the Theil-Sen estimator. Of the six mainstem sampling locations, widespread decreasing trends in TDS, SO4, Cl, and Na were observed, regardless of adjusting for discharge or season; similarly, increasing trends or no trends in pH were observed at all sampling sites. Many of water quality gains are likely related to the voluntary management plan that was implemented by the coal industry. This independent monitoring through 3RQ is important to communicate the impacts as well as plan for future water management.
This study analyzes survey data from three eastern Lake Michigan watersheds to understand how rural homeowners engage in onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) maintenance. Responses about awareness and use of best management practices (BMPs), knowledge of system age, and barriers to recommended maintenance were used to develop a behavioral typology of homeowner engagement, with profiles ranging from proactive maintenance to passive noncompliance. This typology was then used to examine how management styles vary across geographic context, sociodemographic factors, and support for policy tools to promote proactive system care. While many homeowners report following recommended OWTS practices-even when facing substantial barriers-the findings suggest that uncertainty and knowledge gaps contribute to inconsistent adherence to BMPs. Although most respondents support policy tools that encourage responsible OWTS management, some ambivalence exists toward measures involving direct oversight by state and local officials, such as health department reminders and cost share programs. This study contributes original empirical evidence and a novel behavioral typology to the literature on decentralized wastewater governance, nonpoint source pollution, and rural sanitation equity in the Great Lakes region. The findings offer actionable insights for targeted outreach, financing, and policy strategies that can strengthen septic system stewardship across diverse watershed contexts.
Previous research on flood damage risk is updated using expected annual damage estimates from a recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) feasibility study in the Papillion Creek Watershed, Omaha, Nebraska. Across the 500-year floodplain study area encompassing all of the stream reaches in the Watershed, only 25% of 3,587 buildings were risk free. Commercial buildings represent 44% of inventory yet generate 92% of risk, which is double the previously estimated commercial risk based on simplistic modelling. Risk varies by building type, with office and recreation/entertainment buildings generating the highest amount (17% each) followed by industrial (12%), retail and warehouses (both at 11%), and apartments (6%). Mean annual risk values for buildings range from $160 (mobile homes) to $90,152 (recreation/entertainment). Only 11% of buildings in the study area were constructed over the 2005 to 2019 period (after the use of accurate floodplain maps and active floodplain planning), but they generate half of total flood risk. Omaha Area floodplain managers should focus more on commercial building flood risk to reduce the need for costly flood mitigation efforts funded by taxpayers. This research should be replicated elsewhere using either similar USACE feasibility study data, the National Structure Inventory dataset in conjunction with HAZUS-MH flood risk modelling, and/or private sector data from the First Street Foundation.
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as "forever chemicals," are widely used due to their unique properties. The adverse health impacts of PFAS have been available for the last two decades, but the persistence of inadequate and poorly enforced regulations has led to pervasive environmental contamination. Recent regulatory changes by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency address PFAS in drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act and address PFAS in contaminated sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. However, regulatory gaps persist, particularly regarding acceptable risks from sites contaminated with thousands of PFAS. This paper contextualizes PFAS contamination as a "wicked problem," a multifaceted challenge with no straightforward or obvious solution. In the context of PFAS, we explore failures in current regulatory frameworks and identify strategies for addressing these shortcomings. Based on interviews with experts and our own policy analysis, we conclude that there is an implicit need for policies that account for the diverse and interconnected pathways of PFAS contamination, including groundwater, soil, and food products. A holistic approach to PFAS regulation must emphasize the importance of federal leadership, accountability, and robust research and innovation. This will mitigate the long-term risks to human health and the environment by allowing policymakers to develop more inclusive strategies for remediation and prevention.
The scope of literature related to septic system maintenance from an educational and behavioral perspective, rather than a quantitative water quality approach, is limited. The water resources management community needs improved insight into the human factors related to septic system maintenance decisions and identification of effective intervention strategies. Using a modified Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen 1991) framework, the purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict homeowners' intention to have their systems inspected and pumped within the next three years. As part of a small-scale educational program, a survey was sent to 1,374 homeowners with septic systems in Jackson and Matagorda counties, Texas. A Boruta feature-selection algorithm was applied under the structure of random forests classification to four models with the following variable domains: 1) demographic variables only, 2) septic system variables only, 3) past behavior variables only, and 4) perceptions of septic system maintenance (TPB) variables only. A fifth comprehensive model with all variables was also tested to compare the influence of all variables in a saturated model. Application of the machine-learning algorithm revealed that the most important factors predicting positive intentions of septic system maintenance were length of time since last inspection, inspection frequency, service contract enrollment, cost of annual maintenance, and the TPB attitude statement "I think maintaining my septic system is helpful for the environment." Though less influential, septic system age and type were also reliable predictors of intentions to participate in septic system maintenance. This study provides new information for educational initiatives addressing the human dimensions of septic system management and could be a stepping-stone for future research to expand this approach to broader, generalizable studies and other water resource topics.
The ability of small to medium-sized manufacturing, processing, and agricultural industries to become more sustainable revolves around dedicated technical and financial resources to investigate opportunities for increased efficiency and implementation. With extension-based funding, university experiential learning programs provide no-cost sustainability assessments utilizing students and faculty to promote more sustainable practices, cost savings, and expansion for industrial partners. These place-based initiatives allow students in these programs to enhance their communication skills, design practical solutions to solve persistent problems, and expand their network for future workforce opportunities. The assessments focus on short-term solutions that can build large capital projects. Assessment teams work with partnering industries to identify persistent issues in water usage including reclamation, conservation, treatment, and disposal, while providing pathways for implementation through educating stakeholders about target federal grant programs. By working with the university, industrial partners have a wealth of knowledge and means for analysis on a variety of projects. This leads to increased resources for projects tailored directly to everyday needs at individual sites. Thus, university experiential learning programs play a critical role in increasing the resources available for small to medium-sized industrial facilities and promoting sustainable practices in industrial settings.
Global freshwater resources are increasingly strained in many regions, driven by agricultural expansion, population growth, energy production, and climate change. Research in water science and management seeks to address challenges that industrialized societies face to ensure water of sufficient quality and quantity. What themes have been prominent in water research in past decades and how have these themes changed overtime? While the field of water management has often relied on expertjudgement to identify research needs, recent analytical tools provide novel opportunities to evaluate the evolution of research priorities in water management. This paper presents a thematic analysis of water research projects in California using keyword analysis with Natural Language Processing models and a database of fifty years of funded research. Results indicate that some themes, such as groundwater management, have remained consistent over time, while others, including aquatic ecosystem management, have emerged more recently with recognized environmental degradation. Research has appeared to respond to changes in water policy priorities and climate variability, with drought-related research projects corresponding to periods of significant drought in California. The analysis demonstrates a replicable methodology for evaluating research themes and outcomes in water research using inductive thematic analysis, which can be applied to more examples from Water Resources Research Act funded projects and other water research initiatives.
This research note explores the significance of natural souvenirs in tourism, emphasizing their contribution to cultural and environmental sustainability. Through a mixed-methods approach including a literature review and oral histories, the study examines how natural souvenirs, particularly water-based ones, foster souvenir-person-place bonding, enhance destination branding, and promote sustainable tourism practices. The findings highlight the unique and authentic nature of water souvenirs, which serve as powerful reminders of travel experiences and strengthen emotional connection to destinations. Additionally, the study discusses the role of natural souvenirs in differentiating destinations, leveraging unique attributes for branding, and stimulating interest through word-of-mouth marketing. Also addressed are concerns about environmental impact, advocating for responsible collection practices that support conservation and local economies. Overall, this study underscores the ability of water souvenirs to enhance the tourism experience while promoting the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
In the Great Lakes region, harmful algal blooms (HABs) are known cyanobacterial blooms that pose significant public health, environmental, and socio-economic risks. Risk information related to HABs is primarily communicated through state and local government agencies; however, the effectiveness of these communication strategies and how local stakeholders are learning about such risks remains unclear. The objective of this study is to examine how to effectively communicate HABs risks and understand public risk perceptions of HABs-related risks during recreational lake use in Michigan. Guided by the social amplification of risk framework, this qualitative study conducted fieldwork in 2021, including 27 semi-structured interviews with individuals from vulnerable populations. Interviews explored participants' awareness, experiences, and communication preferences related to HABs. Results showed that while respondents were familiar with general algal ecology, they lacked knowledge about HABs-related health effects. Vulnerable populations reported greater trust in local networks, community leaders, and peers than in state or federal agencies, revealing a gap between trusted information sources and where official information is provided. Findings indicate that effective HAB communication must combine not only accurate scientific information but also include communication approaches that build trust, account for social context and audience characteristics, and actively involve communities in engaging with risk information.
Bioretention practices have become a common way to protect natural waterways in urban and suburban landscapes across the United States. However, optimal design, implementation, operation, and maintenance are still in need of study. A field survey of 52 bioretention practices was conducted in Davidson County, Tennessee, to address research questions related to operation and maintenance. A suite of site conditions were documented, such as size, signs of erosion, and dominant surface cover. Samples were collected from the surface of the engineered media layer and analyzed for organic matter content and bulk density. Vegetation was described in terms of dominant species and canopy cover. On average, the organic matter content of media under plant-based mulch cover was significantly greater than that under rock cover (p = 0.002). Bulk density of the surface media is strongly and inversely correlated to organic matter content; bulk density did not generally vary with bioretention area age and was highly variable within treatments. On average, the bulk density of the media under the plant-based mulch cover was significantly less than that under the rock cover. Media under the composite treatments had similar bulk density to both the plant-based mulch (p = 0.233) and the rock covers (p = 0.132). Plant canopy did not surpass 70% in practices with bulk density values above 1.55 g/cm3. These results suggest that consideration should be made regarding the tradeoffs between utilizing rock coverings and potential for plant establishment impacts.
The use and the share of water applied from several irrigation water sources correlate with the irrigation practices in use by the peers of Arkansan farmers. From a sample of producers from an irrigation survey in Arkansas, a bivariate sample selection model accounts for how peer use of numerous irrigation practices affects the use and the share of irrigation that comes from a water source. The bivariate sample selection model controls for the bias in the statistical estimates that occur because producers who volunteer for an irrigation survey are likely to know about and use irrigation more than the population. We find that peer influence operates through multiple irrigation practices, and peer influence through an irrigation practice depends on an irrigator's location and current farm practices. For example, peer use of a tail-water recovery system and peer use of alternate wetting and drying both increase the probability of surface water use alone.
In developing countries in Africa and Asia, meeting challenges of water scarcity and pollution has often been hampered by shortcomings in higher education, including insufficient research productivity and funding, lack of opportunity for university graduates, and a mismatch between university activities and societal needs. To address these issues, we developed novel programs integrating technical instruction and preparation for professional practice in hydrology for cohorts of graduate students from Morocco and Egypt (2012-2013) and from T & uuml;rkiye and Indonesia (2013-2014). Students participated in an initial online course and a follow-up workshop featuring geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and hydrologic modeling with internet-based data sets. Field activities in the USA (first cohort) and in the students' home countries (second cohort) included stream gauging, measurement of water levels in wells, water sampling, and measurement of hydrochemical parameters. A subsequent online course focused on research ethics, preparing proposals and publications, and presenting findings to technical audiences and the public, culminating in presentations at conferences in the USA. Participants mentored other students at their home institutions and at K-12 schools in T & uuml;rkiye and Indonesia. Participant feedback during and after the programs tended to be strongly positive, and participants have continued to engage with project leaders and mentor students in their home countries and the USA. Our modular, hybrid approach offers a template for students in hydrology and related fields to develop relevant skills and engage internationally.
Algae, an important foundation of aquatic ecosystems, can become a nuisance or harmful when it grows in excess. Many government agencies have a role in monitoring, responding to, and confirming a harmful algal bloom (HAB). HAB scientists have important information to share, however, given the complexities of HABs, which often involve decoupled drivers from observed impacts, presents challenges to outreach and engagement. Understanding key audience information needs can help scientists prioritize key science communication and engagement opportunities to maximize the impact of such efforts. Scientists may need additional science communication training or support for scientist-community partnerships. This will be evermore important into the future with the likely range expansion of HABs due to climate change.
