WRRC-Funded Research Projects Produce Results

The Water Resources Research Center, in its role as administrator of the Section 104(b) program of the Water Resources Research Act, has selected three programs for 2008 funding. Funded by the U.S. Geological Survey, the 104(b) program supports small research projects investigating water issues of state and regional importance. Only faculty members at Arizona’s state universities are qualified to receive 104(b) funding.

The three funded projects were chosen from ten proposals submitted to WRRC. Of the three funded proposals, two were from the University of Arizona and one from Northern Arizona University. The funded projects will receive a total of $31,475.

The following projects were funded:

Real-time Detection of Estrogen in Waste Water by Piezoresistive Microcantilever Sensor, Principal Investigator: Nazmul Islam, Assistant Professor, Northern Arizona University, $10,000.
Project will develop a novel technology for rapid detection of estrogen in water. Strain induced on a microcantilever sensor by estrogen selectively bound to the sensor’s surface can be measured as a change in resistance. A device employing this technology has potential for use in rapid on-site monitoring of estrogen in water samples, even at extremely low concentrations.

Meta-Analysis of Rangeland Water-Yield Experiments for the Southwestern U.S., Principal Investigator: Ed de Steiguer, The University of Arizona, $10,000
This study will apply statistical meta-analysis techniques that have been successful in other scientific disciplines to data from a large number (100 or more) watershed and rangeland water yield studies. For the meta-analysis, a database will be created that encodes these studies in terms of water yield and other resource outputs, experimental treatments, site-related variables and factors related to experimental design. The research is expected to provide technical coefficients that may be used in the development of decision support systems, optimization models and other tools for managers of semi-arid rangelands.

Lessons Learned: Extending the Student/Staff/Faculty Collaborative Work Model to the K-12 Environment, Principal Investigator: James Riley, The University of Arizona, $11,475
Project will build on previous work teaching and demonstrating the techniques and benefits of rainwater harvesting on the UA campus extending the work into the community. The successful on-campus collaborative approach will be used to involve the students, parents, faculty and staff at Brichta Elementary School in a rainwater harvesting project. In addition, the project team will design and implement a rainwater harvesting system at UA Cochise Residence Hall to alleviate flooding problems on the grounds and adjacent neighborhood streets. University students with experience on previous projects will take leadership roles.

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