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THE DROP
A monthly e-newsletter from the North Central Region Water Network
December 2023
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Network News
On behalf of the North Central Region Water Network, we hope you had a festive and restorative holiday surrounded by those you cherish most.
We hope 2024 provides us the opportunity to build on these successes and expand in new directions with new and established partners. We look forward to working with each of you this year as we work to advance stewardship of and equitable access to clean and abundant water.
Happy New Year!
-The North Central Region Water Network team
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Returning for its fourth year, the Algal Bloom Action team will be hosting its Harmful Algal Bloom Research Symposium next week! The symposium, which will take place virtually on January 4th, will highlight the latest research on harmful algal blooms (HABs) from researchers across the North Central Region.
This year's event will feature two sessions: 1) HAB Prediction, Monitoring, and Treatment and 2) HAB Outreach and Communication. Read on
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Please credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskarp
Leadership Spotlight
Story by Linda Weavers
The Ohio Water Resources Center is the federally authorized Water Resources Research Institute for Ohio. Components of our mission are (1) to enable and conduct state-relevant water-related research, (2) foster collaboration among academic investigators, governmental bodies, and water professionals, (3) train the next generation of water scientists, and (4) to educate the public on water resources. Read on
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In The News
Upcoming Events
Harmful Algal Bloom Formation: Beyond Nutrients and Temperature
January 11 & 18, 2024
Join the Great Lakes HABs Collaborative for two webinars on HABs Formation: Beyond Nutrients and Temperature. Each presentation will feature three speakers from across the basin as they discuss the cutting-edge research on the dynamics influencing the formation of harmful algal blooms beyond high temperatures and phosphorus inputs. Register here2024 Midwest Crops Conference
January 16 & 17, 2024
The annual Midwest Crops Conference event offers two days of updates from agricultural leaders, university extension specialists and industry experts from four states. Attendees will hear updates on drought, soils, nutrient management, weed control and pests, among other timely topics. Register here
2024 Soil Health Conference (South Dakota Soil Health Coalition)
January 23-24, 2024
The 2024 Soil Health School will be held Jan. 23-24 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City, SD. Keynote speakers include Jay Fuhrer, Jerry Hatfield, Glenn Elzinga, and Zach Smith. There will be many other speakers, breakout sessions, and opportunities to network and socialize. Register here
6th Annual "Underground Innovations" Event
February 7-8, 2024
Featuring information on cover crops, strip-till, no-till, relay cropping, food grade grains, intercropping, new crops, precision technology and new crop markets. Speakers will share how they've come to adopt new practices on their farms, how they've gotten to this point, and where they are looking to go in the future. Network with producers from across Michigan and beyond to help take ideas home to implement on your own operations. Register here
Funding and Opportunities
Extension Educator - Michigan State University
As part of MSU Extension and the Community, Food and Environment Institute (CFEI), this position provides region-wide leadership and programming expertise on Great Lakes coastal resilience as a liaison between the Great Lakes Sea Grant (GLSG) network and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL). Focused on Great Lakes coastal resilience, this position will identify, design, implement, and evaluate research-based programs that meet current and projected outreach needs. Learn more
79th SWCS International Annual Conference - Call for Presentations
The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is seeking oral presentations, posters, symposia, professional development sessions, and workshops for the 79th SWCS International Annual Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, July 21-24, 2024. This year’s conference features four submission tracks. General submissions should speak to the overall conference theme, “Rising Together: Collaborative Conservation for All," with a submission deadline of January 31, 2024. Learn more
Extension Educator, Tribal Climate Adaptation and Resilience - University of Minnesota
The Tribal Climate Adaptation and Resilience Extension Educator will bring in-depth climate science and adaptation expertise to assist Tribal food systems, water and natural resource managers, growers, gatherers and other community members from Minnesota and the greater Midwest in responding to impacts of a changing climate. This position will be responsible for leading engagement and providing technical assistance to Tribal audiences and helping to develop, tailor, and disseminate USDA Midwest Climate Hub, University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) and Extension resources for these audiences. Learn More
News
Study: Extreme rainfall increases ag nutrient runoff, conservation strategies can help
Nutrient runoff from agricultural production is a significant source of water pollution in the U.S., and climate change that produces extreme weather events is likely to exacerbate the problem. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign looks at how extreme rainfall impacts runoff and suggests possible mitigation strategies. Read more
Tips for Selecting a Practical Decision Support Tool to Achieve Watershed Conservation Goals
When making conservation decisions within watersheds, it can be helpful to use decision support tools (DSTs). These software-based tools can assist in identifying opportunities for best management practices (BMPs) or estimating potential outcomes or costs from implementing BMPs. There are dozens of DSTs available to aid in conservation planning or outcomes estimation. With so many options, it’s important to carefully evaluate each tool’s unique outcomes, requirements, and processes to determine the best fit for your project. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind when choosing a DST. Read more
Wisconsin dairy farmer perspectives on water quality
To learn what dairy farm owners think about water quality, soil health, and policy options, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-River Falls surveyed dairy Wisconsin farmers January through March 2023. Survey results show that dairy farmers view soil health and minimizing nutrient runoff as important for being a ‘good farmer’, are concerned about water quality, and support policies such as paying farmers for water quality outcomes. Read more
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