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Water quality research in Ohio spans over 40 years

Dr. Laura Johnson

Dr. Laura Johnson speaks to farmers at an Ohio Grain Farmers conference in Toledo

Study of the water quality and systems in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana has been a major focus of the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University. Dr. Laura Johnson says the northwest Ohio institution has been studying water quality since 1974.

“We monitor water quality and we monitor those as close to the ends of the watersheds as we can so we get a good picture of everything that’s happening in that watershed, everything that’s coming into whatever downstream ecosystem.” says Johnson.

Johnson tells Brownfield having data that spans over 40 years puts the center in a prime position to not only understand changes in water quality in the Western Lake Erie basin, but also how best respond to issues, such as harmful algae bloom.

“The fact that we’ve had this long term data in these watersheds and we’re continuing into the future is that there’s no guessing games. If we’re doing the right practices and we’re fixing the issue, we’re going to know. We’ll know that it’s working.” says Johnson.

Johnson says the research shows nutrient management practices on farm fields in Ohio shows some promise. Brownfield spoke with Johnson at an Ohio Grain Farmers conference in Toledo.

More information about the work of the National Center for Water Quality Research can be found online at Heidelberg University.

Audio: Dr. Laura Johnson, Director of the NCWQR at Heidelberg University

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