Research Collaboration Tackles Phosphorus Pollution and Educates Youth | Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin
If you’ve seen blue-green algae on local lakes and rivers, you’ve seen the effects of agricultural runoff — particularly phosphorus pollution. This nutrient contaminates Wisconsin’s freshwater lakes and negatively impacts water quality and safety for human consumption and aquatic life.
A Freshwater Collaborative–funded project led by researchers at UW-Green Bay and UW-Madison is tackling phosphorus pollution head-on. They are combining cutting-edge research with hands-on learning experiences for students of all ages.
“We wanted to lean into using our expertise to think about phosphorus transport because it’s such a big issue in the state,” says Erin Berns-Herrboldt, Assistant Professor of Water Science at UW-Green Bay.
She and Christopher Zahasky, Assistant Professor of Geosciences at UW-Madison, are using the three-year grant funding to analyze controls on phosphorus level fluctuations and how those fluctuations impact surface waters and groundwater. For example, if the Wisconsin River rises rapidly due to heavy rain and flooding, river water with excess nutrients can flow into the streambank groundwater system. Those nutrients, like phosphorus, can then get stored on sediments and potentially re-released at later times. Their work builds upon research previously funded by the Freshwater Collaborative at other universities that has looked at other aspects of phosphorus transport and removal.
The researchers anticipate their results will inform land, nutrient, and water management decisions.
A Collaborative Research Effort
A key partner in this effort is the Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, which provides an ideal setting for field research and educational outreach.
“Upham Woods is an amazing site,” Zahasky says. “Infrastructure and lack of resources are often barriers to entry for research. Upham Woods has so many resources and trained staff to support us.”
The center is located on the Wisconsin River just north of Wisconsin Dells in an area of the river known for rapid changes. To monitor and collect data about these fluctuations, the research team set up two sampling locations on Blackhawk Island. Dave Hart, a hydrogeologist with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, advised on the field locations, trained students to use the equipment and provides ongoing mentorship.
The project requires a lot of field and lab work, so students learn a diverse set of skills. Six undergraduates enrolled at UW-Madison and UW-Green Bay have conducted research so far. In addition, Henry Barron, a junior at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, participated as a 2024 Freshwater@UW Summer Scholar, a statewide program coordinated by UW-Madison and funded by the Freshwater Collaborative. Berns-Herrboldt and Zahasky hope to host another Freshwater@UW Summer Scholar in 2025.
Vy Le, a PhD student at UW-Madison, led the early fieldwork and is developing protocols for the data sets. She now leads the data analysis and helps train the undergraduates.
The students learn how to take water samples and conduct chemical analyses. They also become proficient in using advanced laboratory equipment to measure specific water quality parameters, such as nutrient concentrations and pH levels.
These are key skills for understanding water chemistry, identifying contaminants, and evaluating the health of aquatic ecosystems. These skills will also help students get jobs. One of the first students to work on the project landed a job with an environmental consulting firm upon graduation. She is now working on contaminated groundwater sites throughout the United States.
UW-Green Bay student Jessie Kreiling plans to graduate in May. She is returning to the workforce after a decade-long hiatus and appreciates gaining work experience while earning her degree.
“The opportunity to be a mature student but engage in such interesting work has been fulfilling,” she says. “I am certain that my time spent on this project will make me more marketable to potential employers. This experience has provided me with practical knowledge that will be useful in any career.”
Outreach to Inspire Teens
The grant goes beyond research. The project also engages middle and high school students and ideally inspires them to consider degree programs and careers in water-related professions.
Maddie Mueller, a student at Oshkosh High School, worked on the project as one of 10 students in UW-Green Bay’s High School Summer Scholars Program, which was developed with funding from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. She now intends to attend UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences.
The partnership with Upham Woods connects university faculty and students with middle school students throughout the state. In 2024, they provided introductory field work for middle students who participated in two camps at Upham Woods. They also presented research objectives to K-12 science teachers during a one-day workshop.
“We hope to create a generation of individuals who are aware of and equipped to tackle the state’s specific water challenges,” Zahasky says. “Cultivating these skills early helps ensure a pipeline of skilled workers who can manage and protect Wisconsin’s water resources.”
The collaboration will expand in 2025 and 2026. A portion of the grant funds will be used to bring high school students to Uphams Woods for a day. The graduate and undergraduate students involved in the grant will run activities at the field sites. They hope to educate the younger students about water quality and give them a taste of what it’s like to conduct research.
“It is critical that youth understand that the activities they enjoy are only possible if nonpoint source pollutants, like phosphorus, are monitored and mitigated so that water quality remains high,” says Amy Workman, director of Upham Woods. “Phosphorus is a key component of nonpoint source pollution. Monitoring the amount of phosphorus that enters the Wisconsin River connects directly to monitoring the health of the river ecosystem.”
Sharing with Stakeholders
Research findings are being shared at professional conferences and have been submitted for publication.
Kreiling along with UW-Green Bay undergraduate Claire Igielski and UW-Madison undergraduate Callie Karsten were selected as Freshwater Collaborative Research Fellows to present their work at Research in the Rotunda April 2 at the State Capitol. Students share their research findings with state legislators, state business and nonprofit leaders, UW alumni, and other supporters.
Le presented the preliminary findings at two American Geophysical Union annual meetings, which attract more than 25,000 attendees from around the world.
She also was one of four students to win a presentation award at the Wisconsin chapter of the American Water Resources Association. She connected with researchers, regulators and policymakers, and community stakeholders from across the state.
“Knowing others who are doing similar research in Wisconsin makes me feel like my research has a tangible outcome,” Le says. “I can see the reason why I’m doing this. It will directly benefit the community.”
Written by Heidi Jeter, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.