Affiliates Rosemond, Pringle named SFS fellows
Amy Rosemond and Catherine Pringle were inducted into the Fellows of the Society for Freshwater Science at a recent meeting in Puerto Rico. Several members of the Pringle Lab also held a two-part panel discussion—“Hydrologic connectivity and watershed conservation: a session in honor of Dr. Cathy Pringle”— to highlight the knowledge amassed during 30 years of working with Pringle, who supervised 24 doctoral and 22 master’s students over her career.
Student researcher uses frog’s call to preserve rare amphibian
Valeria Aspinall was at the Tapir Valley Nature Preserve in northern Costa Rica the day an expert herpetologist declared that the tree frog living there is a distinct species, something that had not been recognized by science. Aspinall is now at the Odum School of Ecology working on a master’s degree with a Spencer Fellowship and conducting research that she hopes will protect the very rare, critically endangered frog, which has only been found in a 20-acre wetland within the larger nature reserve adjoining Tenorio Volcano National Park.
What’s in a name: Consumers prefer purified water to recycled or reused water (even though they’re the same thing)
Athens, Ga. – “Purified water,” “reused water,” “recycled water”—these terms mean exactly the same thing. Even though all three refer to water that’s been treated to the highest drinking water standards, research has shown that people much prefer the idea of consuming purified water to reused or recycled water. A recent study from a team of University of Georgia River Basin Center affiliates has for the first time put a dollar value on that preference.
Wetland protection primer supports local efforts
The Land Conservation Clinic and the River Basin Center have released the updated Local Wetlands Protection Primer, a guide to help protect wetlands that provide flood prevention, water quality improvements, protection from erosion, support for fisheries and biodiversity, and opportunities for recreation activities.
Finding where freshwater shrimp fit into the food web
As an undergrad at the University of Benin in Nigeria, Justin Jimawo studied tropical zooplankton, the tiny organisms that live near the surface of streams and ponds.
Water Resilience Shines at Biennial Georgia Water Resources Conference
ATHENS, GA – Interdisciplinary knowledge is a critical aspect of solving big environmental problems. That’s why, for the 2025 Georgia Water Resources Conference, we brought everyone together. We do mean everyone: ecologists, hydrologists, engineers, geoscientists, lawyers, anthropologists, consultants and certified fish enthusiasts.
2025 Spencer Research Grants Awarded to Six
Athens, Ga. – Six graduate student affiliates of the River Basin Center have been named recipients of John Spencer research grants for 2025. This year’s awards will provide a total of $10,000 to support a range of projects that contribute to water sustainability and resilience across the southeastern United States and beyond.
UGA graduate student connects conservation and agriculture
Something “clicked” for Mackenzi Hallmark while doing fieldwork in northwest Georgia.
The current Odum School of Ecology graduate student and 2024 James E. Butler Fellow was measuring water quality in the Etowah and Conasauga rivers, part of her role as a research technician for the school’s River Basin Center (RBC). She became enamored with the biodiversity she encountered, from freshwater mussels to fish species like the amber darter.
Clinic Combines Law and Science to Protect Land
When the idea of a clinic bringing ecology and law students together to serve as support for land conservation efforts was introduced, there wasn’t anything like it. Science and policy are inextricably linked, but there aren’t many other programs like Steffney Thompson’s Land Conservation Clinic at UGA’s School of Law. “I think this particular clinic […]
New publication: Spatial planning to maximize levee setback co-benefits
A new study authored by RBC affiliate Charles Van Rees was published in WIREs Water, discussing ways to maximize the benefits of levee setbacks, a form of natural infrastructure that allows for more effective conservation of riverine ecosystems.