Harmful Algal Blooms, Hypoxia, and Nutrients Research Webinar Series

Mapping Potential Wetland Areas for Landscape and Nutrient Management Across the Conterminous United States

Register for the Webinar  

1. Advancements in Mapping Potential Wetland Areas Across the Conterminous United States

Increased availability and accessibility to 10-m landcover, topographic, and environmental data alongside tools and computers to process these data at the continental scale support large-scale landcover modeling. EnviroAtlas researchers harnessed 17 datasets at 10-m resolution and the Random Forest algorithm to identify locations across the conterminous United States that are likely to support a wetland ecosystem based on biophysical characteristics. The associated suite of products from this research provides opportunities to highlight locations for wetland construction, conservation, and restoration to contribute targeted ecosystem services related to nearby threats, including pollution from agricultural runoff and flooding. 

Presenter: Lauren Krohmer, Office of Research and Development

Lauren Krohmer is a biologist at the US EPA's Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Lauren supports geospatial work that investigates links between human health and ecosystems, utilizing novel techniques to highlight these connections as part of the team that supports EPA's EnviroAtlas. She holds a master's degree from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. 

2. Interception of Agricultural Surface Runoff by Wetlands Across CONUS

Wetlands are widely valued for their effectiveness in reducing nutrient loads in surface waters, but there is growing need for targeted wetland conservation and construction to maximize impacts on water quality management while efficiently investing resources in wetland projects. This presentation will describe efforts to identify existing and potential wetland areas that intercept agricultural nonpoint source pollution in the form of surface runoff as a means of nutrient management across the conterminous United States (CONUS). This framework represents the initial steps in developing a CONUS scale wetland prioritization tool to be used for water quality management.

Presenter: Scott Alford, Office of Research and Development

Scott is an ORISE postdoctoral fellow with the US EPA's ORD Freshwater Ecology Branch in Corvallis, Oregon, under the mentorship of Dr. Ryan Hill. Scott holds a PhD in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida and has a background in estuarine ecology. Scott's ORISE project focuses on using spatial analyses to quantify nutrient interception by wetlands across CONUS.

Attendees will have the option to receive a certificate of attendance. Acceptance is contingent on organization requirements—EPA cannot guarantee acceptance.