AWRA Florida Section Meeting, St. Augustine, FL Flagler College ...

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Oct 18, 2014 - Daryll Joyner, Water Quality Standards Program, Florida Department ... Ms. Greening presented an overview
October 2014 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Michael DelCharco, P.E. President Jacksonville Gary Howalt, P.W.S. Vice President Jacksonville Kristin K. Bennett, Esq. Secretary Stuart Mark C. Diblin, P.G. Treasurer Gainesville Carol Hinton Past President 2013 Gainesville Annette Carter Past-President 2012 Stuart

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ed Call Brooksville Catherine Katsikis Royal Palm Beach Joanne Chamberlain, P.E. Palatka Richard Creech, P.E., P.S.M Stuart L. Donald Duke, Ph.D., P.E. Ft. Myers Carol Howard Sebring Gregg Jones, P.G. Tampa Jeremy McBryan, P.E., CFM West Palm Beach Walt Reigner, P.E., CPESC Lakeland Krista D. Sabin Palm Beach Gardens Catherine A. Walker, P.E. Palatka Garrett Wallace West Palm Beach Shayne Wood, P.E. Jacksonville

AWRA Florida Section Meeting, St. Augustine, FL Flagler College, Virginia Room of the Ringhaver Student Center Saint Augustine, Florida. Friday, November 21, 2014 “Hot Topics in Water Resources with a North Florida Focus” The highlights of the agenda include an update on the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project and updates from the St. Johns River Water Management District on both the Springs Protection Initiative and the North Florida Water Initiative. Following the technical meeting will be a special networking event that includes a walking history/trivia/scavenger hunt that is sure to be enjoyed by all. The timing of the meeting couldn’t be better with the annual Nights of Lights for St. Augustine starting on Saturday November 22, 2014. During Nights of Lights, St. Augustine glows with holiday magic - from the ground to the rooftops. Selected by National Geographic in 2011 & 2012 as one of the ten best holiday lighting displays in the world! So, register now for the November Meeting at: www.awraflorida.org. Note: Students can register for $10 up until noon on Nov. 14th – after that, the student registration fee will be $50. One of the best benefits of AWRA meeting is the networking and technical conversation opportunities. As AWRA National always says, ‘AWRA is about Community, Conversation and Connections’ and your registration and attendance at the event will get you up-tospeed on many of the complex issues facing the water community in Florida. This is also a great chance to secure PDHs, especially for those P.E.’s who need to renew in February. AWRA, Florida Section sincerely thanks our sponsors. Without them, this and the other bi-monthly meetings would not be possible. For ideas on where to stay while attending the meeting, please visit the City of St. Augustine’s official tourism site: www.floridashistoriccoast.com. Be sure to reserve your hotel early as they will be in high demand for the Nights of Lights event. See you there!

Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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Florida AWRA October 2014 Technical Meeting

Virginia Room of Ringhaver Student Center at Flagler College, St. Augustine, FL Friday November 21, 2014 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Lunch Provided with Registatrion) AGENDA – Tentative Presenters and Topics

“Hot Topics in Water Resources with a North Florida Focus” Friday, November 21st 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Florida Section Board of Directors Meeting - at the St. Augustine City Hall, a short walk from City Hall to Flagler College - All are welcome to attend as the Board of Directors handles the business of the section 12:00 p.m.

Welcoming Remarks from Mayor of St. Augustine and/or City Manager John Regan

1: 00 p.m.

State Representative Lake Ray and Brian Taylor (CEO JAXPORT - Invited) – Jacksonville Harbor Channel Deepening Update

1:30 p.m.

John Fitzgerald – Update from the St. Johns River Water Management District on the North Florida Water Initiative

2:00 p.m.

15-minute Break

2:15 p.m.

Dr. Terri Seron – Flagler College Coastal Environmental Science Department Chair

2:45 p.m.

Rick Hutton – North Florida Utility Coordination Group – North Florida Public Water Supply Use Trends

3:00 p.m.

15-minute Break

3:15 p.m.

Mike Cullum – SJRWMD’s Springs Protection Initiative

4:00 p.m.

Reuben C. Franklin Jr. – 450-years of Water Resources Management in the Nation’s Oldest City

4:30 p.m.

Overview of the Walking History Trivia/Scavenger Hunt Tour of the Nation’s Oldest City

Meeting Sponsors as of 10/18/14

Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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Board of Directors Summary The Florida Section AWRA Board of Directors (BOD) met September 18, 2014 6:30-8:15 p.m. The detailed agenda and minutes will be included on the Section website following BOD approval of the minutes at the November 21 BOD meeting. Highlights of the meeting include: • Treasurer: “we have money.” However, the Education Committee’s generosity needs to be evaluated. • Education Program: Financial support is being provided to ten (10) people to attend AWRA National in November 2014. Education Committee is to schedule a meeting to address revisions to the student support budget. • Student Support: Don Duke, Ron Edenfield, Karen Bickford (and a host of others!) were involved in the planning and execution of the “Meet the professionals” night at FGCU. There were approximately 12 exhibitors, fifty students and 20-30 professionals. • Tellers Committee: the results of the 2014 elections are official. New members are: Luna Phillips, Roger Copp and Ray Scott. The new board members will assume their positions at the January 2015 board meeting. • National: The Florida Chapter was again awarded the AWRA Chapter of the year (2013). Natalie Nelson (UF) received the Herbert scholarship. The Florida Section Student Poster Competition will be held at the Ft. Myers meeting. Winner of the competition will be supported to attend the National meeting in November 2015. Discussions being held on how to add value to membership including educational offerings such as webinars. • Membership/Merchandising: Discussion held regarding AWRA merchandise. AWRA may be able to offer merchandise with the AWRA logo. Board members to follow up with members to determine the level of interest. • Upcoming Meetings: November 21, St. Augustine; February 6, 2015 Ft. Myers, March 2015 – TBD; May 2015 – TBD; July 23-24 Key Largo; September 2015 – TBD; November 2015- TBD • 2015 Annual Meeting – July 23-24 in Key Largo • Next BOD meeting: November 21 Board meetings are open to all members of the Florida Section AWRA and their guests. Members and guests are encouraged to get involved and increase the value of their AWRA membership.

Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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AWRA Florida Section Meeting: Technical Summaries of Presentations September 19th AWRA Annual Meeting Tampa, FL

FDEP’s Numeric Nutrient Criteria: Status, Lessons Learned from Tampa Bay, and the Path Forward Daryll Joyner, Water Quality Standards Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Mr. Joyner discussed the current estuary NNC Rulemaking, the status of adopted NNCs, the basic approach for estuary NNCs. He also presented some lessons learned, water quality trading issues, and information on tidal creek NNCs. The DEP realized the need to “maintain the narrative” (or existing) nutrient criterion and numerically interpret it using best available information on a site-specific basis using a systematic, hierarchical approach. This allowed the DEP to use, for example, NNC for Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and Charlotte Harbor developed by their respective NEPs. Over last 2 ½ years, DEP has adopted NNC for all lakes and spring vents, most estuaries, and for all streams (“flowing waters”) except in South Florida. A 2013 FL law opened up trading of water quality credits (Chapter 2013-146) and authorized trading in restoration plans. The DEP held workshops in August and plans to hold additional workshops to present rule language. Tidal creeks are not the same ecosystems as estuaries and so the DEP will apply existing narratives and NEP studies. Overview of the Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Program Holly Greening and Ed Sherwood, Tampa Bay Estuary Program Ms. Greening presented an overview of how the bay was and the incredible come back seen in recent years. The restoration efforts, started by Citizen Action, Agency on Bay Management in the early 1980’s, SWIM program in the late 1980’s, and the TBNP in 1990, captured the collaborative approach and made sure public and private sectors worked in tandem to achieve restoration goals. These partners formed the Tampa bay Nitrogen Management Consortium (NMC) in 1996 with the goal of reducing N loads to the bay. Over 45 NMC participants worked to implement over 300 projects between 1996 and 2013. As a result – drastic water quality improvements. And as a result, seagrasses have responded. The NMC continues to contribute to improving the system. They have developed TMDL target goals and all parties signed on to act in good faith. They have identified the goals and agreed to contribute funds to support the technical work. Overview of the Nitrogen Management Consortium and Anticipated Future Challenges Craig Kovach, Mosaic Fertilizer LLC Mr. Kovach, a partner in the NMC mentioned in the Tampa Bay Estuary Program discussion above, presented the challenging aspects of signing on to and agreeing to N targets. The 1998 NMC action plan called for reducing N by 84 tons per year (TPY) over 5 years. In reality, the NMC enacted 100 projects that reduced N by 163-184 TPY – a resounding success. The NMC continued to build strength and have success. But then in the years between 2006 and 2012 a rash of regulations challenged the consortium. This included efforts from EPA/FDEP on cumulative permitted load, Final WQBEL, and NPDES permit negotiations. But the NMC continues to face the issues and work towards collaborative efforts that will continue to reduce loading to the Bay. Using the Tampa Bay Action Plan Database to Track Nitrogen Management Projects and Estimated Load Reductions Gerold Morrison, AMEC; Ed Sherwood, Tampa Bay Estuary Program; Terry Hansen, Florida Department of Environmental Protection This database is a joint effort brought about through the BMAP program funding. The need was for the TBNEP to track existing projects and the FDEP to track BMAP work in the Bay area. The software requirements included a web-accessible, GIS based open sources platform that is user friendly for stakeholders, users, and the public. In the end, the software achieves the goal of providing one-source data repository for tracking nutrient load reduction projects in the Tampa Bay watershed. It allows a mulit-tiered set of users, allows public access to viewing geospatial data and produce reports. Climate change and Resiliency in Tampa Bay Gary Mitchum, University of South Florida Dr. Mitchum presented a through and humorous look at the current understanding of sea level change. Even with large unknowns, it is clear things are changing. The good news is that we have better and better tools for measuring sea level. These tools show a steady increase in sea level from many angles. Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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Old Tampa Bay Integrated Model System: Examining Effects of Nutrient Management Scenarios Tony Janicki, Janicki Environmental; Brett Cunningham, Jones Edmunds & Associates; Steve Peene, Applied Technology & Management; James Fitzpatrick, HDR; Kellie Dixon, Mote Marine Laboratory; Mike Wessel, Janicki Environmental; and Ray Pribble, Janicki Environmental The primary objectives of the development of an integrated model system for the Old Tampa Bay estuarine system and drainage areas is to use this system to predict and evaluate ecological responses that may result from the implementation of management actions represented in the model scenarios developed in this project. The team was tasked to develop, calibrate and validate an integrated model system for Old Tampa Bay that will be able to determine the net ecological changes associated with the implementation of the management actions and modeling scenarios. The Old Tampa Bay integrated model system includes the following components: Watershed Model, Hydrodynamic Model, Water and sediment quality Model, Optical Model, and Ecological Model. Some of the management scenarios include diversion of Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal discharge, physical alteration of the Courtney Campbell and Howard Frankland Causeways, sea level rise, and many combinations of outfall, point and non-point source reductions. The model uses Net Environmental Benefits (NEB) that represents the overall net ecological response to a particular management action. This tool will greatly benefit the NEP as it develops future management strategies. The Role of Water Quality Credit Trading in Nutrient Reduction Programs Winston Borkowski, Hopping Green & Sams Mr. Borkowski gave an overview of the 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA) amendments that created three interrelated water quality programs: Water Quality (WQ) Standards Program, NPDES Permit Program, and the TMDL Program. These three programs are tied together and create the framework for discussing all of Florida’s water quality issues. The basic concepts for WQ trading: •

Regulatory Driver – something has to be reduce (e.g. TN in Tampa Bay)



Some can do it better than others—can exceed the minimum reduction assigned to their operations



Exceeding minimum creates a “credit”



Others parties cannot meet their minimum reduction—must buy “credit” for compliance

But, then things get complicated. How do you define the units (lbs of TN?), how long do credits last, what about uncertainty? Even further, things are complicated when you try to broker or track trades. In the end, trading could be a useful tool in nutrient reduction programs. That assumes the program can mature to meet EPA requirements and have legitimate market trading. The NMC – mentioned in several talks previously – is a model program without formal trading. Update on Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Activities Amber Whittle, FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Ms. Whittle gave an overview of RESTORE ACT funding – and pointed out that 30% of the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund will go to Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. Transocean has begun payment to the Fund and $376.5M is currently available. The Council has published several documents covering the “path forward” and programmatic assessments. The Goals of the Council are: Restore and Conserve Habitat, Restore Water Quality, Replenish and Protect Living Coastal and Marine Resources, Enhance Community Resilience, and Restore and Revitalize the Gulf Economy. Florida’s RESTORE Priorities are Stormwater / Wastewater infrastructure projects,Community resilience / Living shorelines, Water quality projects including those which achievewater quality benefits provided by the preservation of buffer lands around military bases, Implementation of agriculture best management practices, and Fish and wildlife habitat and management. The status of Florida’s RESTORE activities is: •

1200 projects ($16B) submitted on DEP website



Must comply with stipulations in the Act: Priority Criteria, Best Available Science, Public Engagement and Transparency



$150-180M in first round ($50-60M for FL)



Nov. 17: up to 5 projects for each of 11 Council Members



Current project ideas: NEPs (EPA, states), Land Acquisition (MS), CCMPs for non-NEP Estuaries, Agricultural BMPs (USDA)



Public Input (Sept. 23 webinar, Oct. 22 Meeting in Panama City)

Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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The Another great meeting put to stern! We had a great gathering of folks at the Rusty Pelican in Tampa. We had a great co-sponsor with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and it was great to catch up with colleagues from my old stomping grounds. Thanks to Board Member Walt Reigner, Dymarie Perez, and their crew at AMEC for putting together such a great meeting! Only one more meetings left in 2014, St. Augustine! You’ll find all the information in this newsletter. It is November 21st in St. Augustine on the campus of Flagler College. Board member Shayne Wood and SJRWMD’s Michael Cullum are lining up a winner that will include great technical presentations and a look into the history of St. Augustine as we help celebrate the 450th anniversary of the City. Personally, I have been trying to spend more time in St. Augustine. In order to fully indoctrinate my children with the sailing gene, we kept a sailboat there for a good while. Best trip I had on it was for AWRA! Michael Cullum and I (with a couple others) sailed it from St. Augustine to Fernandina for the first AWRA meeting in 2009. We even had a sailing field trip in the freezing cold taking some hardy AWRA folks from Fernandina to Cumberland Island. That’s when Shayne Wood found out that sailing is slow and he’ll probably prefer to take motorboats in the future. I guess the indoctrination worked, all my kids love sailing and my 16 year old just bought his first boat – a 16 ft Sunbird. I couldn’t be prouder! Whatever your sporting passion is, I recommend you get out on the water. There is no better way to connect our professional and personal lives than to enjoy the very places and hydrologic systems we are working to understand, protect, and manage. If everyone spent time on the water – like many did after our Tampa meeting kayaking in Cooper’s Bayou – they would try a little harder to protect our greatest natural resource. I am sure my kids will value water like we do – even if they don’t work in it as a profession. They will work to keep our estuaries healthy and streams and springs flowing clean because they want to spend time on them. There is no better way to learn good water resources. It has been a blast being President for 2014. I am sorry to see it go! Standard procedure is to remain on the board for 2 years as past president – I may revive that trip to Cuba yet! Long sail anyone? Be sure to register on-line for our November meeting at www.awraflorida.org. Hope to see you at a meeting soon!

Michael DelCharco, P.E. [email protected]

Captain Timothy DelCharco with his first boat

September Meeting Thanks Thank you for joining us at the AWRA September 2014 Technical Meeting. I appreciate your taking time from your busy schedule to join us and hope that you found the event to be both interesting and informative. I encourage everyone to invite friends and colleagues to attend future events and consider joining the Florida Section of the American Water Resources Association. Thanks again! Dymarie Perez AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.

Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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Membership Our Section continues to grow. Please welcome some of our newest members and take a few minutes to introduce yourself at an upcoming meeting. Elie Araj Anthony Betts

Applied Sciences Consulting, Inc. Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County Hillsborough County Public Works

Allan Biddlecomb

AMEC

Jonathan Bilby

SWFWMD

Emma Lopez Jan MandrupPoulsen Caroline Masek

Ivana Blankenship

Tampa Bay Water

Robert McDaniel

SWFWMD

Tara Bourcy

Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc.

Karen Miller

Conestoga-Rovers & Associates

Curtis Burkett

McKim & Creed, Inc.

Renee Murch

INTERA

Scott Deitche

Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.

David O’Brien, Jr.

SurvTech Solutions Inc.

Derek Doughty

Applied Sciences Consulting, Inc.

Dymarie Perez

AMEC

Paula Dye

Tampa Bay Water

Curtis Porterfield

Ron Edenfield

RMEC, LLC

Robert M. Powell

Timothy English

Reiss Engineering, Inc.

Dharma Ramos

City of Lakeland Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure Yara North America

David Glicksberg

Hillsborough County Public Works

Thomas Ries

Scheda Ecological Associates Inc.

James Greco

Interflow Engineering LLC

Megan Ross

Pinellas County Utilities

Kevin Grimsley

United States Geological Survey

Ed Sherwood

Tampa Bay Estuary Program

Daniel Hammond

Cardno

Laurie Smith

City of Lakeland

Jeff Harris

Pasco County

Charlene Stroehlen

AMEC

Chelsea Hazlett

University of Florida (student)

University of South Florida (student)

Hayley Hoover

University of South Florida (student)

Grace M. Johns

Hazen and Sawyer

Brian Studiale Gustavo Suarez Narvaez Mary Szafraniec

Todd Kafka

Patrick Tara

INTERA

Andrew Tilton

Johnson Engineering Inc.

Stephanie Kitzerow

Geosyntec Consultants Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County AMEC

Emily Varner

University of South Florida (student)

David Kramer

SWFWMD

Michael Walters

Interflow Engineering LLC

Carolyn Lang

University of South Florida (student)

Jeffrey Wilbur

Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc.

Richard LeBlanc

HDR Engineering, Inc.

Tao Xia

University of Florida (student)

Tom Ash

David Karlen

Claudia Listopad

Applied Ecology, Inc.

Maria Loinaz

A.D.A. Engineering, Inc. University of South Florida (student) Dynamic Solutions, LLC INTERA

SJRWMD AMEC

You can renew your membership, change the level of your membership, and update your contact information from our website - www.awraflorida.org. The online membership application is available by clicking Join on our home page or by navigating to the Membership page, which is under Get Involved. Thank you for your participation!

Joanne Chamberlain Membership Services Coordinator [email protected] • 561-707-8301 Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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A Message from the Education Committee The Rosanne Clementi Education Program Education Committee: Rosanne Clementi, Clementi Environmental Consulting; Kristin Bennett, Tetra Tech, Inc.; Mark Diblin, AMEC, Jeremy McBryan, SFWMD

In the previous newsletter, you had the opportunity to read about the 2014 recipients of the J.B. Butler Science Grant, the William V. Storch Award and the Sanford N. Young Scholarship. If you missed it, you can access the August newsletter on the website – www.awraflorida.org. Those that attended the July meeting had the pleasure of meeting Alice Alonso, William V. Storch recipient and at the September meeting, Natalie Nelson, Sanford N. Young recipient. Ms. Nelson is also the recipient of the AWRA National Herbert Scholarship. In this edition, we have included feedback from a few of the recipients.

Sanford N. Young Scholarship

Natalie Nelson

Dear members of the board, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to you all in selecting me as a recipient of this year’s Sanford N. Young Scholarship. I’m truly very honored to be receiving a scholarship that has been created in recognition of such a dedicated water resources professional and patriot. I have been in a somewhat strange situation in that I have funding for myself, but not for my research. I created my dissertation project from the ground up, and am now ready to start getting my feet wet in the field - but I’ve been stuck trying to secure funds to do so! This scholarship money will greatly help in achieving this goal. I am so appreciative of you all, and the other members of the Florida Section, who so generously donated money to support this scholarship and time in reviewing the applications and ultimately selecting me as an awardee. I can’t thank you all enough! Looking forward to seeing everyone in Tampa! With thanks and appreciation, Natalie Nelson PhD Student NSF Graduate Research Fellow Agricultural & Biological Engineering | University of Florida

William V. Storch Award

Jason Goodrich

Dear Members of the American Water Resources Association, Florida Section: In addition to the paper copy, I wanted to follow-up with this e-mail so that I may have the opportunity to thank everyone. I am truly honored to have been selected as a recipient of the 2014 William V. Storch Student Scholarship. I am writing to offer my sincere gratitude for your generous, financial support towards my higher education. I am currently a junior at Florida Gulf Coast University, where I am actively pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering with aspirations to earn a Master’s in Environmental Engineering. The William V. Storch Student Scholarship will be invaluable in helping me with tuition costs, providing me with the opportunity to fulfill my dreams as a Utilities Director. I look forward to making a greater contribution in this field and the opportunity to give back to the community. Your financial generosity has allowed me to be one step closer to my goal. I will, with determination and commitment, succeed in fulfilling my dream. Thanks, Jason Goodrich Lead WW Treatment Operator, City of Sanibel, Donax WRF 930 Donax Street Sanibel, Florida 33957 Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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J.B. Butler Science Grant

William Bianco, Rymfire Elementary

On behalf of my school Rymfire Elementary and my students I would like to thank you all for awarding us a grant. We will make good use of it. Reminder of the Rymfire Project: Students will be reusing our raised bed gardens to grow fruits and vegetables. We had an indoor hydroponics lab that will be moving outside this year. Students will work on all aspects of creating and maintaining 3 separate outdoor hydroponic systems. Each system will be self-contained and water levels and nutrients will be measured and revitalized by the students. If time and funding lasts, we will add an aquaponics section with Koi fish and plants co-existing. The end results will focus on students learning plant structures and their roles with in the plant. Students will track the path of water and nutrients through the plants and the hydroponic systems. Students will be charged with comparing and contrasting plants grown hydroponically versus plants grown traditionally in the raised beds. Students will record and use data to teach lower grades the basics of hydroponics and gardening. They will also reinforce their knowledge of the structures and roles of the different parts of plants. Students also will be able to visualize pollination and the affects that seasons have on plant growth.

Support for students at the 2014 AWRA National Meeting The AWRA Board of Directors approved the Education Committee recommendation to provide financial assistance for nine students attending the 2014 AWRA National Meeting in Tyson’s Corner, Va. We could not provide this assistance to the students without the financial support provided by our AWRA members. For that support WE THANK YOU! The Education Program is funded through meeting profits, membership registration, the annual silent auction and direct donations to the education program. You can make a donation directly from the website at www.awraflorida.org. The AWRA Florida section is a 501(c)(3) organization. When you are at the conference, be sure to find our Florida students! You can help the students by letting them practice their presentation and providing constructive feedback, by helping them network and introducing them to meeting attendees and maybe even take them out for a meal (you know…help the “poor starving student”). • Natalie Nelson – University of Florida • Jeffry Kast – University of Florida • Hari Kandel – Florida International University • Yogesh Khare – University of Florida • Michele Weitzel – Florida Gulf Coast University • Samantha Schreiner – University of Florida • Isabella Bergonzoli – Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches • JoseMarie Silverstrini - Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches • Katelyn Slaight - Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches • Teresa Thorton - Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches

Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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National News 2014 Annual Meeting The 2014 Annual Meeting will be held on November 3 through 6 in Tysons Corner VA, a short hop from the AWRA national headquarters and an easy Metro ride to Washington D.C. The theme is Fifty Years of Water Resources Management: Where Have We Been, Where are We Going? Conference organizers plan to draw presentations from many decision-makers, policy analysts, and science researchers from a range of Federal agencies and the multiple State and regional institutions in the D.C. region, along with the nationwide participation that is always expected. The location and likely attendees should lead to plenty of thoughtful discussions on the state of the art and immediate future plans on the history and future of water resources in the U.S.

Richard A. Herbert Memorial Scholarship Natalie Nelson from the University of Florida is the 2014/2015 Richard A. Herbert Memorial Scholarship recipient. Ms. Natalie Nelson is a Florida native and a University of Florida graduate student developing a specialization in Water Resources Engineering. She has incorporated AWRA’s mission to advance multidisciplinary water resources education and investigation within her program by threading several fields into her research and curriculum. Ms. Nelson’s principal area of study is Hydrologic and Wetland Sciences and she is doing research in algal bloom and hydrologic modeling. She is an enthusiastic member of and leader in the UF AWRA student chapter. Ms. Nelson’s specialization in Water Resources Engineering is channeled through her Ph.D. program in the Agricultural and Biological (ABE) Department at UF. Certificates in Hydrologic Sciences and Wetland Science through UF’s Water Institute and Center for Wetlands are also integral to her academic performance. She was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship the summer after graduating with her B.S. in ABE from UF in May 2012, developing a data collection plan for her dissertation project. Ms. Nelson’s research hones in on ecosystem-scale dynamics of algal blooms in relation to nutrient ratios and hydrology. Much like plants, algae rely on light and nutrient availability to thrive. An excess of nutrients often leads to algal overgrowth, resulting in a condition described as an “algal bloom.” However, unlike plants, many taxa of algae have developed unique abilities that enable them to access nutrients from several parts of their physical environment aside from the water column, such as from the sediment and/or atmosphere. These alternative nutrient-capturing capacities not only enable some algae to grow in low nutrient conditions, but also to modify the water chemistry of the affected water body. Cyanobacteria, or “blue-green” algae, are a common type of algae that possess these efficient nutrient-fixing abilities.

About the Award: In 1980, AWRA established the Endowment-Memorial Fund to be used for the enhancement of education in water resources. The fund has since been renamed the Richard A. Herbert Memorial Educational Fund to honor Richard A. Herbert -- a champion for water resources education -- who passed away in 1994. In order to carry out his vision, AWRA is proud to announce the availability of scholarships derived from the proceeds of this fund. Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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Florida Section American Water Resource Association

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