| Project Description | Supporting Groups |
| Hypotheses | Graduate Students |
| Grants |
In 2000 researchers started collaborating about comparing the social, biological, and physical attributes of a watershed along a north-south gradient in the Sugar Creek Watershed. The gradient consisted of mainly Mennonite German farmers in the northern part of the watershed, steadily increasing to nearly 100% Amish farmers in the south. A number of grants from the USDA, EPA, and NSF were successfully applied for focusing on 1) headwaters research and 2) participatory research with the local farming communities. One of the hallmarks of the research is that it was based on the needs of a farming community that wanted to be more socially responsible for their water quality. As a result, the project has conducted biweekly water sampling at 1 site per 2 square miles—currently sampling 105 sites for parameters such as nitrates, phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, ph, and temperature. Nationally this is one of the highest densities of sampling allowing for an opportunity to study the effect of change in headwaters systems across scale starting with first order streams and specific fields on a farm.
As a database was started for the project, researchers were invited to join the project. Originally started by Drs. Richard Moore, Mark Weaver, and Ben Stinner, in 2002-4 Charles Goebel, Lance Williams, and Virginie Bouchard joined the team. Currently there are over 25 researchers including 7 graduate students and 1 visiting scientist conducting research in the Sugar Creek Watershed (See Appendix for complete listing). The goal for the research team is to relate the biocomplexity of social and natural systems. The researchers have conducted work in this area through an NSF grant where they worked on 3 headwaters streams at the landscape (field) scale. The hope of the team is to create a long-term NSF funded project such as the Hubbard Brook Project. For over forty years, the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest Project researchers investigated how disturbance impacts diverse biological, physical, chemical and hydrological parameters of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems within the Hubbard Brook Valley. Studies at Hubbard Brook, which included long-term biogeochemistry and whole-system experimental manipulation, led to the discovery of acid rain. One key area of difference between the Hubbard Brook Project and the Sugar Creek Project is that the Sugar Creek Project tries to link the social and natural system biocomplexity. A long-term LSTER research project in France led by Jacques Baudry has similar goals so it is likely that the two teams will increase collaboration in the next few years. (See http://www.rennes.inra.fr/sad/docs_sad_armorique/site_etude_principal/LTSER_platform_Brittany.pdf). The French and US teams are establishing a new project in the southern end of the Sugar Creek Watershed to compare two adjacent subwatersheds on an east-west gradient, one Amish and the other in a larger-scale non-Amish dairy farm area.
A hallmark of the Sugar Creek project is the team approach to research and close relationship with the farming community. All research proposals are done in collaboration with the local community and local agencies. This has led to widespread community support of the project and our last proposal was endorsed by all 8 superintendents of public schools in the watershed.
The central hypothesis of this interdisciplinary research is that management of agroecosystems that integrate natural and social capital will be the most effective method of restoring ecological function in watersheds while maintaining productivity and economic viability of local communities. (USDA Water Quality & NSF Biocomplexity Planning Grant)
Characterize and link social and agricultural intensification at multiple scales (headwaters to entire watershed) of biocomplexity within the Sugar Creek Watershed; Compare the underlying causes of intensification of contrasting farming systems within and across sub-basins and at varying scales. (NSF Biocomplexity)
Associations between land use and bacterial contamination can be made based on bacterial indicator densities and host source diversity, and adaptive land management, based on "hot spots" of contamination, can be encouraged based on community knowledge and active participation in decision making. (NRI Pathogen Transport)
Place-based educational opportunities that incorporate inquiry and interactive (constructivist) learning strategies are effective at increasing student understanding and performance in traditional academic subjects (e.g., STEM) as well as fostering stewardship of natural resources. (NSF GK-12 grant)
Moore, R.H., L. Williams, C. Hoy, V. Bouchard, D, Stinner, P. Grewal, P.C. Goebel, and N. Knobloch.
Grant Title: "Linking Watershed Research and GK-12 Education Within an Ecosystem Context."
Source of Funding: NSF GK-12 Program
Grant Period: 7/1/07-06/30/11.
Amount: $2,958,178
Moore, R.H., L. Williams
Grant Title: "A Plan to Reduce Phosphorus Loading and Improve Stream Ecological Function in the Middle Fork and Adjoining Watersheds of the Sugar Creek Watershed: Joint Recommendations for the Alpine Cheese Phosphorus Nutrient Trading Plan."
Grant Period: 2006-2011
Source of Funding: Alpine Cheese Company NPDES Permit Application to Ohio EPA. Service contract for the
OSU research. The plan was part of a point source pollution permit for Alpine cheese. The contract also supports the social and natural headwaters research by Drs. Moore and Williams. This was Ohio's first approved permit for water-quality trading.
Amount: $800,000 plan total of which $300,000 will go to Sugar Creek Research.
Williams, L. R.H. Moore, V.Bouchard, C.P.Goebel, D. Stinner
Grant Title: "Landscape scale disturbances in an agroecosystem: impacts on aquatic and riparian environments in the Sugar Creek Watershed, Ohio."
Grant Period: 2006-2009
Source of Funding: USDA CSREES
Amount: $590,000
Moore, R.H., B. Stinner, L.Williams, and R. Ramseyer
Grant Title: "Evaluation of Innovative Conservation Measures in a Phosphorus Nutrient Trading Program in the Sugar Creek Watershed of Ohio (Alpine Cheese)."
Grant Period: 2005-2006
Source of Funding: OARDC ATECH Matching Grants Program
Amount: $100,000
Moore, R.H., and J. Parker
Grant Title: "Expanding local participation in conservation programs: Examining factors affecting conservation adoption among Old Order Amish in the Sugar Creek Watershed. Grant for graduate student research. This was the only graduate student grant to be awarded for Ohio."
Submission Date: 2 Feb. 2005
Period of funding: 2006
Source of Funding: USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
Amount: $10,000
Moore, R.H., B.Stinner, C.P. Goebel, L. Brown
Grant Title: "Improving Water Quality and Fostering a Community Vision and Action Through Participatory Farmer Groups in the Sugar Creek Headwaters"
Submission Date: 20 April 2002
Period of funding: 2002-2005
Source of Funding: EPA 319 grant
Amount: $475,479
Moore, R.H., B. Stinner; C. P.Goebel, D. Stinner, R.Taylor
Grant Title: "Impact of economics-driven land use decisions on watershed health."
Period of funding: 2003-2006
Source of Funding: NSF Biocomplexity Planning Grant Program
Amount: $99,900
Moore, R.H., and B. Stinner
Grant Title:"Improving Livestock and Grain Farms’ Contribution to Environmental Quality Through Headwaters Learning Communities (Year 2)"
Period of funding: 2002-2003
Source of Funding: USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
Amount: $49,532
Moore, R.H., B.Stinner, and L. Grant
Grant Title: "Improving Livestock and Grain Farms’ Contribution to Environmental Quality Through Headwaters Learning Communities (Year 1)"
Submission Date: 19 Jan 2001
Period of funding: 2001-2002
Source of Funding: USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
Amount: $49,532
Moore, R.H., and M. Weaver
Grant Title: "Apple Creek and Little Chippewa Watersheds Participatory Headwaters Project."
Period of funding: 2000-2001
Source of Funding: Environmental Policy Initiative (EPI) and Agroecosystems Management Program (AMP)
Amount of Funding: $16,000
Agroecosystems Management Program
ATECH
Environmental Policy Initiative
Social Responsibility Initiative
Social Sciences:
Andy Hupp — (M.S. Environmental Studies Graduate Program -- Richard Moore Advisor) "The Social Factors Related to the Spread of Organic Agriculture in the Sugar Creek Watershed of Ohio."
Matt Mariola — (Ph.D. Rural Sociology -- Richard Moore Advisor) "Social Organization of the Alpine Water Quality Trading Project in Sugar Creek Watershed."
Natural Sciences:
Kyle Herrman — (Ph.D. Natural Resources -- Virginie Bouchard, Advisor). " Denitrification in Sugar Creek."
Deborah Hersha — (Ph.D. student, Natural Resources -- Lance Williams, Advisor) "Protozoans as Indicators of Disturbance in Primary Headwater Streams."
Ed Moore — (M.S. Natural Resources -- Lance Williams, Advisor)-- "Development and evaluation of headwater biological assessment tools for Ohio streams."
Hector Santiago - (Ph.D. Natural Resources -- Lance Williams, Advisor) "Landscape Scale Disturbances in an Agroecosystem: Impacts on Aquatic and Riparian Environments in the Sugar Creek Watershed."
Natsuko N. Merrick - (PhD Soil Science Graduate Program -- Warren Dick, Adviser)