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Improving water quality focus of K-State's work with Heartland InitiativeMulti-partner project receives new funding University scientists who are studying ways to improve the quality of water in four states will receive $560,000 in funding to continue their work for the next four years. The Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative, a consortium of researchers and extension specialists from four universities, was awarded the funds by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. The universities involved include Kansas State University, Iowa State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Missouri. "The goal is to improve water quality for drinking, recreation and agriculture," said Dan Devlin, who is a K-State professor of agronomy and one of the scientists involved in the project. "Research to determine the ways we can improve water quality is ongoing at all of these universities, plus others across the United States," said Devlin, who is an environmental specialist with K-State Research and Extension. "The Heartland Initiative is designed to bring scientists from these four universities together with federal and state agencies to form collaborations and share information. The idea is to learn from each other's research and experience and to build from there. It works much better if we work together than if we're each working individually and not sharing information." One of the ways participants in the Heartland Initiative share information is to hold an annual workshop where state and federal agencies come together with scientists from the four universities. This year, a workshop that focused on water quality assessment was held in Nebraska City, Neb., June 17-19. Attendees came from such agencies as the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service; Agricultural Research Service; Environmental Protection Agency and local watershed specialists, among others. "Workshops such as this one on assessment have also been held on phosphorus, nitrogen and pesticide best management practices," said Amanda Schielke, who serves as the Heartland Initiative's water quality and event coordinator. "The project has been found to be successful in sharing research findings and thereby saving money, by not repeating similar studies across state borders," said Schielke, who is based at K-State. More information about the Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative, its workshops and partners is available at: http://www.heartlandwq.iastate.edu and http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/waterquality/. 8/11/08 Date: 8/6/08 Advertisement
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