Two current research efforts are evaluating how climate is changing hydrology in Southeastern Ohio and how that impacts fate and transport of sediments and biofilms in streams. A combined approach allows us to evaluate climate impacts on watersheds in Southeastern Ohio by using ArcGIS to evaluate land use change and regional stream gauge data while also conducting field studies to measure sediment transport and changes in biofilm in a treated, mining influenced watershed during storm events.

Funded by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and in partnership with the Geological Sciences Department, we have used multivariate statistics to evaluate the relationship between water level and geologic, geographic, and mining variables for the post-SMCRA underground coal mines in Ohio. Using these relationships derived using artificial neural networking, we are building a tool in ArcGIS to predict post-mining water level at the permitting phase of a new mine. This can serve as a tool for Ohio mining companies and regulators and as a model method for other mining regions.

Dr. Kruse and her partners are implementing green infrastructure, including riparian plantings and rain gardens to manage stormwater runoff and improve water quality and resilience to flooding. This effort extends to evaluating the potential for prairie restoration in the constructed channel of the Hocking River to improve ecosystem function, but maintain flood control.

A mutlidisciplinary group of scientists is assisting the Wayne National Forest in assessing their 2006 Forest Plan to identify needs for an updated plan.