Virginia Water Resources Research Center

Ongoing projects at the Water Center

The Water Center thrives on participating in inter-disciplinary research ventures. Many of the ongoing projects bring together faculty, researchers and graduate students from departments such as Civil and Environmental Engineering, Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, and Forestry.

A snapshot of the current project portfolio includes (click on titles for more details):

Virginia's Stormwater Impact Evaluation

Stormwater runoff

Trash accumulating after a heavy rain

The goal of this U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded project led by Dr. Tamim Younos is to develop a watershed management and decision-making tool that will enable regulators and site developers to rank and select BMPs for reducing stormwater runoff impacts.

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Water Center - Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Partnership

The Water Center has established a working partnership with DEQ to assist the agency with establishing science-based water quality standards. This goal is accomplished by an interdisciplinary and multi-institute academic advisory committee (AAC) coordinated through the Water Center. The AAC is currently working on establishing nutrient criteria for the state's streams and rivers.

  • For more information, please contact Dr. Tamim Younos at tyounos@vt.edu.

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Nutrient Criteria Development for Constructed Impoundments

This project funded by the USEPA and coordinated by Dr. Tamim Younos is using databases from USEPA Region 3 states in conjunction with a comprehensive literature review to identify critical gaps in knowledge and ways to address nutrient criteria development issues for constructed reservoirs.

  • For more information, please contact Dr. Tamim Younos at tyounos@vt.edu.

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Solute Transport and Nitrogen Mineralization on a Harvested Hillslope

Dr. Stephen Schoenholtz and M.S. student Erin Moore have initiated a study on recently logged steep slopes in the southern Appalachian Mountains and the role of riparian buffers in transport of dissolved nitrogen and carbon.

  • For more information, please contact Dr. Stephen Schoenholtz at schoenhs@vt.edu.

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Differential Rates of Nitrate Retention in Two Watersheds in the Fernow Experimental Forest

Dr. Stephen Schoenholtz and Ph.D. student Charlene Kelly are investigating the implications for forest health and water quality of native and non-native hardwood systems.

  • For more information, please contact Dr. Stephen Schoenholtz at schoenhs@vt.edu.

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Initiative for Developing Sustainable Energy and Water Systems (DEWS)

A team of faculty members from five colleges at Virginia Tech is participating in the DEWS initiative. Based on a concept developed by Dr. Tamim Younos (Water Center) and Dr. Darrell Bosch (Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics), the initiative aims to create a cross-disciplinary technological and social sciences research and educational program for studying and promoting the development of decentralized energy and water systems. The program will develop professionals with broad technical and social knowledge of these interrelated issues. They will possess a holistic knowledge of synergistic energy and water issues - individuals who will confront the inevitable energy and water challenges facing global society - and promote development and implementation of decentralized energy and water systems.

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Analysis of Water Consumption for Producing and Generating Power

Energy production and power generation systems require huge amounts of water. This study aims to compare water consumption efficiency of various energy production systems such as coal, natural gas, biodiesel and ethanol, and power generation systems such as hydroelectric, geothermal, nuclear, and solar. Preliminary analysis shows that, when expressed in British Thermal Unit (BTU), natural gas is the most water efficient and biodiesel is the least efficient energy production system. In terms of power generation, hydroelectric system is the most water efficient while nuclear power is the least water efficient.

  • For more information, please contact Dr. Tamim Younos at tyounos@vt.edu

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Virginia Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Clearinghouse

The Water Center is working in partnership with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse Committee to produce a publicly accessible web site to serve as the Commonwealth of Virginia's reference site for stormwater BMPs. The Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse web site will link to the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook and will provide supplemental information about BMPs, BMP selection tools, research protocols to validate performance claims for manufactured BMPs, and manufactured BMPs certified for use in Virginia

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Virginia Water Monitoring Council (VWMC)

Members of the VWMC collect and/or use water monitoring data. The VWMC promotes collaboration and information sharing among its members and their associated organizations. The VWMC offers a unique opportunity for dialogue and teamwork among all parties interested in water monitoring. Approximately 250 members, belonging to over 150 different organizations, contribute to the success of the VWMC. 

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