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For six Purdue University faculty members, the Wabash River is a living laboratory. The river, once crystal clear, is now one of Indiana’s most polluted waterways. But the interdisciplinary group hopes the Living Laboratories on the Wabash (LLOW) project can help restore the river.
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| Aquatic ecologist Reuben Goforth is among the Purdue researchers involved in the Living Laboratories on the Wabash project. |
The LLOW project centers on community-based research, urban hydrology, floodplain ecology and post-industrial rehabilitation. “Our plan focuses on river corridor planning and restoration design that connects natural processes and cultural needs, which will ultimately lead to more informed choices about land-use and management practices,” says Kim Wilson, professor of landscape architecture.
To collect data, scientists have placed equipment just north and south of Lafayette, Ind., to take water samples, which will be tested for pollutants like salts, nitrogen, acids and phosphorous, as well as sediments. Researchers also will investigate the effects of development and other community activities on water quality.
As the project progresses, the team wants to keep the community involved. “By the end of the day, we hope to have identified visions for the river’s future—what is needed to improve the river and how others can get involved with and be excited about the Wabash,” says Linda Prokopy, assistant professor of natural resources planning and project collaborator.
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