Toxic levels of ammonia were discharged into the Saline Branch stream on July 13, 2002. This spill subsequently caused a 16 kilometer fish kill in the Saline Branch, and further impacted 52 kilometers downstream in the Salt Fork of the Vermilion River, resulting in an estimated loss of over 115,000 fish. Construction of instream rock structures, bank stabilization, and vegetation enhancements were completed in 2020. Furfural was spilled into Kickapoo in 2001 causing the mortality of 200,000 fish and other species. Instream habitat restoration was completed in 2010. This project included the construction of two artificial riffles, pool scouring keys along the restored stream section to deepen pools within the channel, and bank stabilization measures using riprap and native grass planting to reduce sediment loads into the water. Fish and invertebrate communities have been annually sampled in Kickapoo since 2009, with the most recent sampling completed in the fall of 2022. This project aims to quantitively measure the success of the 2020 restoration projects in the Saline Branch by continuing fish and macroinvertebrate assessments, as well as conduct food web analysis using stable isotope measures within the Saline Branch and Kickapoo Creek to examine ecosystem level impacts. The goal of this research is to utilize the Saline Branch and Kickapoo Creek restorations as case studies for the effectiveness of instream and stream bank restorative construction. The objectives of this study are to (1) measure changes in biodiversity of the stream as a function of the physical restoration in the Saline Branch (2) analyze the food web interactions between the aquatic and terrestrial community as a proxy to stream health in restored and unrestored sections of the Saline Branch and Kickapoo Creek. 

This project will evaluate the impacts of microplastics, in combination with a common environmental estrogen (17-alpha ethinyl estradiol) on critical early life stages of a model species, the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Specifically, these data will seek to fill knowledge gaps in three areas; (i) the impacts of microplastics on fish at early life stages; (ii) the potential for transgenerational and multigenerational effects of exposure; and (iii) the effects of multiple environmental stressors on individuals. 

This project proposes to collect samples from various parts of Lake Michigan as proof of concept for a new “Environment to Bioassay” approach being developed. Using this approach, we can accomplish many stages of the microbial drug discovery pipeline directly from single bacterial colonies in a semi-automated fashion, bringing a huge advantage in terms of scale and capacity to access diverse portions of Lake Michigan’s microbiome for rapid antibiotic discovery. Furthermore, understanding the bio-assets from Lake Michigan will be key in informing how to best sustainably manage a critical resource and preserve this area. I plan to integrate my research project with an educational outreach program in partnership with the James Jordan Boys and Girls Club of Chicago. 

In the proposed work, we will explore opportunities and tradeoffs associated with the use of green infrastructure for stormwater management. In particular, we seek to quantify the extent to which increased percolation of stormwater, driven by increased use of green infrastructure, may be increasing groundwater chloride (Cl-) concentrations in communities surrounding Southern Lake Michigan. 

Nitrogen contamination in groundwater of the Southern Lake Michigan region endangers both the potability of well water in the region and contributes a source of ‘legacy nitrogen’ to the surface waters of the southern Lake Michigan region. Using a data-driven approach leveraging machine learning and GIS, this graduate student scholars project will for the first time provide an estimate of how much nitrate is stored within the aquifers of the Upper Mississippi River Basin and Lake Michigan watersheds.

Since the early 2000s, alewife populations have been on the decline and at an all-time low. This is a major concern to many recreational fishery specialists and salmonid managers. Although some species of salmonids are flexible in their diets, Coho and Chinook Salmon are not very flexible and rely heavily on alewife for the majority of their diet. In years prior, it was believed that the main basin of Lake Michigan was responsible for the majority of alewife recruitment. In recent years, evidence has begun to show that alewife may utilize other habitats like creek and river tributaries and drowned river mouth lakes (DRMLs). These environments may provide additional habitat with warmer temperatures, greater vegetation cover, and greater abundance in prey availability. The main objectives of the study include: 1) estimation of relative contribution of recruits from DRMLs, 2) comparison of growth and survival rates of larvae between the main basin and DRMLs, and 3) prey availability and diet analysis between the main basin of Lake Michigan and DRMLs. With the additional support requested with this proposal, an increased number of samples would be able to be processed with technician support. Additionally, genetic verification of larval alewife will be performed to ensure the larvae being analyzed are not the closely related species Gizzard Shad.