WRI Research Reports

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Jump to publications filtered by key themes of interest on eCommons. The WRI eCommons collection is currently being built so many but not all research reports have been added.

Research Report by date

New York Drought Summit

Art DeGaetano and Natalie Umphlatt, Cornell University (Northeast Regional Climate Center). The New York Drought Summit culminated in the creation of a website featuring important drought-related resources: New York Drought Summit Website

 

Sounding the Hudson: Detecting Impacts of Aquatic Invasive Species in the Hudson River using Passive Acoustics

Alex Flecker and Aaron Rice, Cornell University

 

Understanding the Impacts of Tile Drain Density on Watershed-Scale Nutrient Concentrations across New York State

Scott Steinschneider and Romir Anand, Cornell University

 

Improving Water Literacy and Education of the Mohawk River Watershed through Art and Science

Anna Davidson, Cornell University

 

Aquatic Plant Surveillance on the Niagara River: Groundtruthing a Predictive Model Sample Selection

Lindsay Yoder, Cornell University

 

Parasites as Indicators of Environmental Change in the Oneida Lake Watershed

Florian Reyda and Hannah Whitcomb, SUNY Oneonta

 

Development and Application of Infrastructure Performance Metrics of Wastewater Systems in Upstate NY

Carolyn Rodak and Chance Walker, SUNY Polytechnic. Sewage release statistics for 2017-2022 reported from Oneida County and the City of Utica.

 

2023 Annual Report Ecological Monitoring of Barrier Mitigation Projects in the New York State Portion of the Great Lakes Watershed

Jeremy Dietrich, Cornell University

 

Natural Resources Protection in the Hudson Valley: Municipal Conservation Stories

Daria Ponstingel, Shorna Allred, and Laura Heady, Cornell University

 

From Source to Tap: Microplastics in a sub-watershed of the Hudson River Estuary

Sarah Cadieux, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

 

Risk Communication & the MyCoast App: An exploration of mobile applications for documenting flood events

Bronwen Stobert, Sean Giatzis, Jessica Kuonen, and Michael Finewood, Pace University

 

New York Healthy Coasts and Communities: Passive Sediment Management Study for New York's Lake Erie Shoreline

Environmental Modeling Lab, University of Pennsylvania

Developing 350-year records of Nutrient Loading and Environmental Change in Skaneateles and Oneida Lakes, NY: Evaluating End-Member Lake Systems in Upstate NY

McKenzie A. Brannon, Christopher A. Scholz, Charles T. Driscoll, and Melissa L. Chipman, Syracuse University

 

Ecological Monitoring of Dam Removal Projects in the Hudson River Estuary

Jeremy Dietrich and Patrick Sullivan, Cornell University

 

Ecological Monitoring of Dam Removal Projects in the NYS Portion of the Great Lakes Watershed

Jeremy Dietrich and Patrick Sullivan, Cornell University

 

Pocantico River Watershed: Natural, Scenic, and Historic Resource Inventories

George Frantz, Cornell University

 

Saw Mill River: Inventory and Recommendations

George Frantz, Cornell University

 

Invasion genomics of Hydrilla verticillata in NY State

Jose Andrés and Steve Bodganowicz, Cornell University

 

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus genetic diversity among invasive and native reservoir fishes of the Thousand Islands region, St. Lawrence River

John Farrell, Anna Haws, and Rodman Getchell, SUNY ESF

 

Equity of Green Infrastructure Planning in New York State: Current State of Practice

Zbigniew Grabowski, University of Connecticut; Veronica Olivotto, The New School

 

Mid-Hudson Young Environmental Scientists (MH-YES) Year 5

Ashley Alred and Alan Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

 

Water Literacy for Lower New York Students

Meghan Marrero, Mercy College

 

Effects of Iron and Manganese on the Decomposition of Plant Litter in Tidal Wetlands

Matt Reid, Cornell University

 

Understanding Coastal Adaptation Governance on the Lake Ontario Shoreline: Identifying Barriers to Local Flood Resilience

Rewa Phansalkar and Kristen Hychka, WRI

 

Analysis of Historical Northeastern US Water Well Completion Records to Identify Effects of Drought on Residential Wells

Stephen Shaw and Charles Kroll, SUNY ESF

 

Equity in Flood Insurance Access in a Changing National Flood Insurance Program 

John Zinda, Sharon Tennyson, and David Kay, Cornell University

 

Efficiency of Removing Emerging Contaminants from Wastewater Using Electron Beam

Mark Driscoll, SUNY ESF

 

FloodViz: networked edge-AI and photogrammetry to map urban floods

Elizabeth Carter, Rebecca Shewe, Carlos Caicedo, and Joshua Cousins, Syracuse University

Microplastic pollution in Onondaga and Skaneateles Lakes in Central New York

Charles T. Driscoll, Syracuse University

 

Culvert Model Program 2021

Benjamin H. Houston, GroundPoint Engineering

 

Oyster Pathogen Monitoring Using Third Generation Sequencers

Elizabeth Suter, Molloy University

 

The nitrogen biogeochemistry of vacant lots across an urban land reuse gradient 

Philip Conrad and Richard Marinos, University at Buffalo

 

Exploring the Sources, Fate, and Processing of Microplastics in Seasonally Stratified Lakes

Laura Markley and Charles Driscoll, Syracuse University

Are invasive round goby a new contaminant vector in Northeastern U.S. inland waterbodies?

Suresh Sethi, Cornell University

 

Turning Vacant Lots into Green Infrastructure: Application of A Multi-objective Optimization Tool in the City of Buffalo

Zhenduo Zhu, University at Buffalo. Two papers were published from this effort: 
1. A new tool for automatic calibration of the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM)
2. Modeling the transport of titanium dioxide nanomaterials from combined sewer overflows in an urban river

 

Assessing stakeholder perceptions and facilitating collaboration in the Pocantico River Watershed

Michael Finewood, Pace University

 

Effect of climate change on nutrient limitation and algal blooms in headwater lakes of the Hudson River

David Richardson, SUNY New Paltz

 

Hudson Estuary Watershed Resiliency Project

Cornell Cooperative Extension: collaboration across Columbia and Greene, Dutchess, and Ulster Counties

 

The Socioeconomic Implications of Changing Flood Risk in the Hudson/Mohawk Watersheds (2018)

The Community and Regional Development Institute, Cornell University

 

Scoping Green Infrastructure in Troy

Brian Davis, Cornell University. For the full report, please contact WRI or the researcher directly.

 

Sustainable oyster restoration requires oyster reproduction: Variation in reproduction across Hudson/Raritan Estuary environments

Matthew Hare, Cornell University

 

Communicating results of a 2016-2017 micropollutant monitoring campaign to stakeholders in the Hudson River Estuary

Damian Helbling, Cornell University

 

Support for Land Use/Environmental Planning Field Workshop (2018)

George Frantz, Cornell University

 

Assessing the effectiveness of green infrastructure (2017)

Emily Vail, Cornell University

 

Quantification and Source Identification of Microplastic Pollution in the Hudson River

Lisa Watkins, Cornell University

 

Support for Land Use/Environmental Planning Field Workshop

George Frantz, Cornell University

 

The Socioeconomic Implications of Changing Flood Risk in the Hudson/Mohawk Watersheds

The Community and Regional Development Institute, Cornell University. 

 

Geospatial assessment of riparian zones: A case study in the Hudson River Estuary – Stockport Creek Watershed

Lindi Quackenbush, SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry

 

Design for Climate-resilient Hudson River Communities

jfc299 [at] cornell.edu (Josh Cerra), Cornell University

 

Remote Sensing, Harmful Algal Blooms, Spectroscopy, Unmanned Aerial Systems

Ileana Dumitriu, Hobart & William Smith Colleges

 

Quantifying the ecosystem services of nitrogen removal and carbon sequestration in restored urban tidal wetlands

Chester Zarnoch, CUNY Baruch College. For more information about this work, please contact the researcher .

 

Otsego Lake Water Quality Constant Monitoring System

Kiyoko Yokota, SUNY Oneonta

 

Variability in water quality and the effect of climate change and teleconnections on lake thermal structure in the Sky Lakes of Shawangunk Ridge

David Richardson, SUNY New Paltz
To learn more, watch these short videos related to acid rain and climate change in the Sky Lakes, or click on the following link to read the written report

 

Dynamic sediment-discharge rating curve models to support climate-smart management of water quality in the New York City water supply system

Scott Steinschneider, Cornell University

2015 WRI Summary Report

Water resource infrastructure in New York: assessment, management, & planning – year 4

 

Prediction of Sediment Remobilized by Removal of an Aged Dam in the Hudson River Watershed

wwu [at] clarkson.edu (Weiming Wu), Clarkson University. To learn more, watch a short video. Contact Brian Rahm (WRI) or Weiming Wu (Clarkson University) for the full report

 

Septic systems and surface water quality

rer26 [at] cornell.edu (Ruth Richardson), Cornell University.

 

Assessing the effectiveness of green infrastructure

Emily Vail, Cornell University

 

Detection and characterization of microplastics in Hudson valley surface waters

Lisa Watkins, Cornell University

 

Mohawk River Water Quality: Risk Evaluation of Combined Sewer Overflow and Runoff Events

rodakc [at] sunyit.edu (Carolyn Rodak), SUNY IT.

 

The Importance of Field Trips and Cultural Awareness in Education: A Case Study at the Center for the Urban River at Beczak (CURB)

kruen [at] sarahlawrence.edu (Kathleen Ruen), Sarah Lawrence College. Read their article, "The Best Field Trip Ever: An Artistic and Scientific Analysis of the Value of Field Trips to an Environmental Center." 

 

Empirical Validation of the Use of Genetic Tags to Determine the Population Origin of Acoustically Tagged Atlantic Sturgeon in the Hudson River and Coastwide

Isaac.Wirgin [at] nyumc.org (Isaac Wirgin), New York University Medical Center.

 

Evaluating Septic System Inputs into Sodus Bay using Oblique Imagery, Optical Brighteners, and DNA-based tracers

Paul Richards, SUNY Brockport

 

Student Researcher Support of Adaptive Management of the St Lawrence River using Novel Water Quality Monitoring Methodology

mtwiss [at] clarkson.edu (Michael Twiss), Clarkson University

 

American Eel and Perched Culverts in the Hudson Valley

Dr. Robert Schmidt, Berkshire Environmental Research Center, Bard College at Simon's Rock. See here for a more in-depth report related to this project. 

2014 WRI Summary Report

Water resource infrastructure in New York: assessment, management, & planning – year 3

 

FEMA Community Rating System: A Cost-Benefit Analysis for New York State Communities

 

Assessment of the effectiveness of green infrastructure at improving water quality and reducing flooding at the watershed-scale

kmeierdiercks [at] siena.edu (Katherine Meierdiercks), Siena College

 

Design for climate-resilient Hudson River communities

jfc299 [at] cornell.edu (Joshua Cerra), Cornell University

 

Analysis of biodiversity in the Sparkill Creek Watershed as a course-based service learning undergraduate experience that will enhance STEM based applications

bernadette.connors [at] dc.edu (Bernadette Connors), Dominican College. To learn more, see here for a report on the riparian vegetation restoration aspect of the project, or click on the following link to read the aquatic microbial diversity report

 

Visualizing landscape change: public space and CSO's in the Hudson river watershed

brd63 [at] cornell.edu (Brian Davis), Cornell University

 

The Importance of Field trips and cultural awareness in education: a case study at the Center for the Urban River at Beczak (CURB)

kruen [at] sarahlawrence.edu (Kathleen Ruen), Sarah Lawrence College. To learn more, watch this short video on the grant program, or click on the following link to read the written report.

 

The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA): Structure and Effects

rrg24 [at] cornell.edu (Richard Geddes), Cornell University

 

Assessment of sediment properties in the impoundment of an aged dam in the Hudson River Watershed

wwu [at] clarkson.edu (Weiming Wu), Clarkson University. To learn more, watch this short video on the assessment, or click on the following link to read the written report.

 

Target and suspect screening for micropollutants in the Hudson River Estuary during a single recreational season

deh262 [at] cornell.edu (Damian Helbling), Cornell University

 

Determining Peak Flow Under Different Scenarios and Identifying Undersized Culverts (2015)

Todd Walter, Cornell University

 

Septic systems, water quality, and greenhouse gas emissions

Todd Walter, Cornell University. Report available upon request

 

Coupling in-ditch studies and modelling to understand the landscape - wide nitrogen transport and denitrification (N2, N2O) potential of roadside ditch networks across catchments

rls11 [at] cornell.edu (Rebecca Schneider) & rmm3 [at] cornell.edu (Roxanne Marino), Cornell University

 

Determining Peak Flow Under Different Scenarios and Assessing Organism Passage Potential: Identifying and Prioritizing Undersized and Poorly Passable Culverts

Todd Walter, atd2 [at] cornell.edu (Art DeGaetano), Cornell University

 

Seasonal variability of projected future climate and its impact on the freshwater discharge to the Hudson River and water residence time of the Hudson estuary

howarth [at] cornell.edu (Robert Howarth), Cornell University

 

Using citizen science to map Hudson Valley waterways for violacein-producing microbes

bjude [at] bard.edu (Brooke Jude), Bard College. To learn more, download this presentation, or click on the following link to read the written report

 

Emerging organic pollutants: from college campuses to Cayuga Lake

sallen [at] ithaca.edu (Susan Allen-Gil,) Ithaca College

 

Denitrifying bioreactors reduction of agricultural nitrogen pollution at the watershed scale

ldg5 [at] cornell.edu (Larry Geohring), Cornell University

 

Western New York watershed network

cslowry [at] buffalo.edu (Christopher Lowry), SUNY Buffalo

 

Population and DPS origin of subadult Atlantic sturgeon in the Hudson River

isaac.wirgin [at] nyumc.org (Isaac Wirgin), NYU Medical Center.

Assessing Flood Risk in a Changing Climate in the Mohawk and Hudson River Basins

Stephen Shaw, SUNY -ESF. 

 

Road ditches in the suburban landscape: potential hotspots for nutrient transport and cycling

Todd Walter, Cornell University. To learn more, watch this short video on road ditch research, or click on the following link to read the written report.

Roadside ditches: Source or filter of greenhouse gases?

 

rls11 [at] cornell.edu (Rebecca Schneider) & Roxanne Marino, Cornell University.
Results of a survey on ditch management by town highway staff.

 

The themes surrounding the Hudson River: A content analysis of newspapers along the Hudson

c.scherer [at] cornell.edu (Clifford Scherer), Cornell University

 

Using high frequency lake data and fish population analyses to inform management and outreach in the Sky Lakes, Shawangunk Ridge, eastern New York

David Richardson, SUNY New Paltz.

 

Identifying sinkholes and manure management setbacks Using LiDAR and aerial photography

Paul Richards, SUNY Brockport.
To access project products, see an index maps of Albany County, and see these detailed maps of ground features at the field scale.
To learn more, watch this short video on mapping sinkholes, or click on the following link to read the written report.

 

NY State and smart growth: Policy triangulation, coherence, tensions

dlk2 [at] cornell.edu (David Kay), Cornell University. See here for a Research & Policy Brief related to this project, or for a more in-depth report, 

 

Computerized content analysis of online reviews of water-centric entertainment areas

nagesh [at] cornell.edu (Srinagesh Gaverneni), Cornell University.

 

Further development and application of a planning support system for managing change in water infrastructure systems in Hudson River municipalities

kpd23 [at] cornell.edu (Kieran Donaghy), Cornell University.

 

Determining Peak Flow Under Different Scenarios and Identifying Undersized Culverts

Todd Walter, Cornell University. 

 

Planning and Implementing Green Infrastructure to Improve Watershed Resiliency in the Saw Mill Brook Watershed and Village of New Paltz

Kathleen (KT) Tobin and David Richardson, SUNY New Paltz.