Chocolate Friday is a research and idea-sharing event sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Asheville's National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC). Typically, each Chocolate Friday features presentations from NEMAC staff, UNCA faculty, student researchers, and visiting professionals. The event is open to anyone who is interested. This academic year, Chocolate Fridays are scheduled to be held from 3:00 to 5:00 at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce in their Board Room, located on Montford Ave. The spring schedule includes a variety of themes, and will attract individuals from our greater community.
And yes, chocolate is served!
The third Chocolate Friday of 2008 is March 28 and features four presentations on Water Resources.
Water Quality Trends in Buncombe County Streams
Marilyn Westphal, Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN) Coordinator, Environmental Quality Institute, UNC Asheville
The Volunteer Water Information Network of the Environmental Quality Institute has been monitoring Buncombe County streams monthly for over fifteen years. Samples are analyzed for stream sedimentation and water clarity, nutrients, and heavy metals. Over the period of analysis, water quality trends related to stream flow, time, season, and land use have become evident. This presentation will discuss some of these trends, as well as other water quality trends that are evident throughout the mountain region.
Watershed Assessment and Restoration: An Overview of Typical State-Level Programs
Barry Evans, Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment (PSIE)
An overview will be provided of typical, federally-mandated state-level programs that are driven by the requirements of the national Clean Water Act. The focus will be on the process of how “impaired waters” are identified, how water quality problems are quantified, and how watershed restoration efforts are undertaken. Material and examples will be drawn primarily from state agency programs in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Challenges of Water Resource Management: A Regulator’s Perspective
G. Landon Davidson, NCDENR – Division of Water Quality, Aquifer Protection Section
North Carolina’s natural resources provide the foundation of our economy. Perhaps more importantly, these very resources are what make North Carolina a desirable place to live, a place to explore our heritage and build on our future. However, sustainable management of our natural resources, such as water, is a monumental challenge. The water resource has quickly moved from an assumed promise to a questionable and dubious prospect. From the regulators’ perspectives, we are facing an ever-increasing and often daunting task. We are now aware that our current approach to managing the water resource is highly stressed and very likely not sustainable given the projected population growth and the associated environmental stressors. Natural resource stressors such as drought only exacerbate the issues. Therein, we’ve now recognized that broadening of our perspective through collaboration and through innovative approaches is no longer a vague option but a specific mandate. To simply maintain our current level of regulated oversight, with the increasing demands on our water resource, will require advanced planning, implementation of new technologies, and expanded partnering with a variety of stakeholders. Understanding and fully appreciating the necessity of technical fieldwork while acknowledging the value and expanded scale environmental modeling provides, requires a balance of internal resources and focus. To move beyond our current level of water resource management will require substantial vision coupled with a commitment on all levels by resource users. In-depth assessment of the resource itself followed by expanded support for implementing sustainable measures by all of us is a necessity.
Models for Management, the Owasco Lake Watershed View
Bob Brower, CEO and Chair, Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology (IAGT), Cayuga Community College
This presentation will demonstrate a viewer, a geospatial information tool that is intended to provide local decision-makers and watershed advocates with a “bridge” to the science of watershed management, including nutrient transport models. The presentation will include a brief description of the tool’s development and use, and will advocate for the value of three-dimensional visualization as the foundation of the bridge. Reference will also be included to the related deployment of a lake monitoring buoy in Owasco Lake.
Stay tuned for more Chocolate Fridays in 2008!
April 25: Land Use Planning
WHERE: The Chamber of Commerce
36 Montford Ave , Asheville 28801
WHEN: 3:00-5:00 on Fridays
(check the schedule for upcoming days)
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Susan Weatherford (250-3890)
