Water Resources Institute

Who is producing cyanotoxins? When do they produce them? And why?

These three questions are guiding Katelynn Warner’s work as a postdoctoral researcher at UVM. She is sampling four bloom-prone areas of the lake— Alburgh, Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay, and Burlington Bay—every two weeks to determine which cyanobacteria are present, which are producing toxins, and under what environmental conditions.

Read more about her work at the link in our bio.

Yesterday, we were paid a visit by the Hawai’i Mesonet! Dr. Thomas Giambelluca, a climatologist from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and project lead from the Hawai’i Mesonet, gave a talk on his work on the network and corresponding Hawai’i Climate Data Portal.

Afterwards, the WRI team took Tom and Abby Frazier, a contributor on the project, up to our monitoring stations on Mount Mansfield. It was a great chance to share information and learn from our respective networks and climates.

Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events are reshaping agriculture around the world. In Vermont, devastating floods and long-lived droughts have become defining features of recent growing seasons.

At UVM’s Horticulture Research and Education Center, Dr. Eric von Wettberg, a professor in CALS, and his research team are uncovering strategies for adapting to an unpredictable climate. A plot of perennial kernza grows alongside short-duration mung bean and buckwheat—three crops that demonstrate resilient approaches to a challenging climate.

Read more at the link in our bio.

Yesterday, the WRI and the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships teamed up with state partners to host the Vermont Stream Sensor Summit. Participants discussed instrumentation and data management needs for water level sensors that can monitor streams and alert communities to active flood risks.

A more coordinated statewide approach is critical. The summit explored funding, planning, permitting, and installation options that will allow communities and key partners, such as the National Weather Service and Vermont Emergency Management to access the data. Bringing together entities and individuals from across Vermont was a critical first step in developing a comprehensive statewide sensor network.

At first glance, the work happening inside Dr. Badireddy’s lab can seem like modern-day magic. ALCHEMIST, the Advanced Laboratory for Contaminant and Hydro-Environmental Management using Innovative Sustainable Technologies, focuses on advancing the health of water resources and ecosystems.

Dr. Badireddy’s team is developing innovative solutions spanning wastewater, non-chemical disinfection methods, PFAS removal, water-quality monitoring systems, and more.

ALCHEMIST transforms things, and by doing so, is tackling some of society’s most pressing water and environmental challenges.

Learn more about their work at the link in our bio.

Yesterday, the Water Resources Institute and the Vermont Rural Water Association led a field tour for eight UVM faculty to three Vermont rural water systems.

The group toured Waterbury’s Edward Farrar Utility District, the Richmond Water Department facility, and Hinesburg’s Wastewater Treatment Facility. Water operators and educators discussed how to leverage learning opportunities and hands-on experiences for students to become exposed to the industry.

As Vermont rural systems face workforce challenges, it is critical to raise awareness to the needs in drinking water and wastewater operations.

Meet the Team Thursday! Today, we’re introducing Hannah (hi👋🏼!), the WRI’s Communications and Events Manager. I am the face behind the many social posts & newsletter updates!

At this year’s RISE Summit, Joshua Beneš received the Distinguished Community Engagement Award from former Senator, Patrick Leahy, and Patricia Coates, the Director of the Leahy Institute.

This designation is awarded to a UVM faculty or staff member who exemplify UVM’s land grant mission and are inspired by a commitment to their communities.

Josh is working to develop a statewide network of weather monitoring stations that will provide localized, real-time weather information across the state. This tool will help communities better prepare for emergencies and support farmers, businesses, and utilities. Congrats, Josh!

This past Saturday, we held our last talk and walk of our Water Side series! Dr. Keith Jennings introduced the group to the history of snow monitoring in Vermont and afterwards, participants accompanied us to our snow monitoring infrastructure along Ranch Brook.

While it was quite the opposite of a winter wonderland, we had a magical walk in the woods! Attendees learned about all the various instrumentation we use to collect data, as well as the importance of stream monitoring in this watershed.

A big thank you to everyone who participated in this series and joined us all around Vermont to learn about the research UVM is conducting!

And we’re back for another Meet the Team Thursday! Today we’re introducing Sam, our Senior Meteorological Technician, and lover of bread making. We’re so glad Sam joined us almost one year ago today!