Awards: October 2010

Researchers Christopher Pennuto (pictured) and Charlotte Roehm received funding for two projects:

Christopher Pennuto -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- Lake Erie Nearshore and Offshore Nutrient Study -- $615, 813
This project will quantify all the major biotic and abiotic nutrient pools, flux rates, and trophic pathways in the nearshore and offshore regions of Lake Erie. Nutrient levels in these compartments and flux rates in the most rapidly cycling pools will be directly measured. The data collected will be coupled with hydrodynamic models of particle transport and phosphate source tracking to assess whether the pools of nutrients in the nearshore and offshore regions follow the predicted patterns of lake mixing models and the nearshore shunt hypothesis.

Charlotte Roehm -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- Observing Systems and Monitoring Nearshore Lake Erie -- $962, 583
The project supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Specifically, the project will increase the existing network of nearshore monitoring on Lake Erie with acquisition of three observational buoys to assess nutrients, energy and particulate fluxes between nearshore and open water zones at listed Great Lakes Areas of Concern, such as Ohio’s Ashtabula River and New York’s Buffalo River, including Cattaraugus Creek. An automated underwater vehicle will be used to monitor changes in water quality, hydrodynamic parameters and ice thickness. Results from this project will be used to validate work by the University of Michigan on a hydrodynamic forecasting model to predict impacts of environmental and climate change on Lake Erie. Real-time data will be available to Great Lakes stakeholders through a website.