Four CFAES Researchers Funded in State’s Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative

Four researchers in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) have been awarded funding from the statewide Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI), which seeks solutions for harmful algal blooms in Ohio.

Ohio Sea Grant, on behalf of the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) and in partnership with The Ohio State University and The University of Toledo, recently announced the 2024 and 2025 research award winners for HABRI.

Selected CFAES projects, include:

• Project Title: Drainage Water Recycling – Potential Impact and Feasibility in the Western Lake Erie Basin
  Principal Investigator: Vinayak Shedekar, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Water Management in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
• Project Title: Quantifying Cropland Water-Carbon-Nutrient Coupling Under Drainage Water Management for Climate-Resilient Production
  Principal Investigator: Yanlan Liu, Assistant Professor with appointments in the CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) and Arts and Sciences School of Earth Sciences
• Project Title: Tracking Stream Channel Migration and Extent of Stream Bank Erosion in Ohio’s Watersheds
  Principal Investigator: Asmita Murumkar, Assistant Professor and Field Specialist, Ecosystem Services, Ohio State University Extension
• Project Title: Watershed Monitoring to Determine Nutrient Load Allocations from Urban Areas to Inform Recommendations for Nutrient Control through Strategic Best Management Practice Implementation
  Principal Investigator: Ryan Winston, Assistant Professor with appointments in the Departments of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering

“These four HABRI projects exemplify the School of Environment and Natural Resources’ and college’s dedication to sustainability, showcasing our holistic approach to addressing complex environmental issues through innovative research and collaboration,” said Tim Haab, SENR interim director.

Since 2015, ODHE’s HABRI has engaged 15 universities across the state through 97 awards to address critical algal bloom knowledge gaps identified by front-line state agencies that include the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Ohio Lake Erie Commission.”

See the listing of the fiscal year 2024 and 2025 award-winning research projects and institutions.

“Gov. DeWine’s leadership through the H2Ohio program provides real promise in our efforts to address water quality issues,” said ODHE Chancellor Mike Duffey. “I’m pleased that Ohio’s colleges and universities continue to conduct research to inform H2Ohio efforts and play a vital role in finding solutions to pressing Lake Erie issues. The Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative has been a collaborative problem-solving effort that uses our higher education assets to inform management decisions and to improve the quality of life for all Ohioans.”

HABRI has made $24 million available since 2015. Matching funding from participating Ohio universities increases the total investment to more than $37 million, demonstrating the state’s overall commitment to addressing the harmful algal bloom issue.

Information about HABRI projects, as well as partner organizations and background on the initiative, is also available on the HABRI page of the Ohio Sea Grant website. Download the most recent annual report.

Ohio Sea Grant is supported by CFAES’ SENR and OSU Extension, and NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs nationwide dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. The Ohio State University Stone Laboratory is the CFAES island campus on Lake Erie and is the research, education, and outreach facility of Ohio Sea Grant and SENR.