The North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) announces its funded faculty researchers for 2026. Researchers are jointly funded by NC WRRI and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 

The Water Resources Research Institute is a federal-state partnership that receives funding through the U.S. Geological Survey in the U.S. Department of the Interior. The National Institutes for Water Resources partner with the U.S. Geological Survey in addressing water-related concerns by providing funding and resources for water resources-related research.

This year’s researchers are investigating the use of microbes for water quality management and monitoring, water resources education, emerging contaminants, saltwater intrusion, and algal blooms.

Drs. Ryan Paerl, Qubin Qin, Monica Rother, Rebecca Ward, and Mei Sun have been awarded funding for their projects. They represent North Carolina State University, East Carolina University, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Dr. Monica Rother, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Department of Environmental Sciences with co-researchers Dr. Andrea D. Hawkes and Dr. Philip J. Bresnahan

Project Title: ”Canaries in the coal mine; ghost forests signal ecosystem and water quality degradation”

North Carolina, and the rest of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coast, are experiencing an increase in “ghost forests.” Ghost forests are stands of dead trees and offer a sign of degrading water quality in a region due to salt water intrusion into freshwater resources. Dr. Rother and her team will “compile multiple lines of evidence—tree rings, dendrometry, microfossils from sediments, in-situ real-time water level and salinity data, and a historical archive” in order to determine “the timeline, causes, and future pathways of North Carolina’s changing wetland ecosystems.” In understanding North Carolina’s coastal wetland history, her team hopes they can help project managers along the coast better prepare for the future and the impacts of long-term saltwater intrusion. The team intends to make their data available to stakeholders, including residents, resource managers, and planners. Read more about Dr. Rother’s research on the impact of dredging in Wilmington on bald cypress trees and ever-growing ghost forests. 

Dr. Ryan Paerl, North Carolina State University, Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Project Title: “Can polyamines be used for ‘eco-friendly’ mitigation of filamentous cyanobacterial blooms?”

Harmful algal blooms (HABs), created by cyanobacteria, decrease water quality and ecosystem health. Methods exist to control and limit them, however these methods can leave metals and cyanotoxins in the ecosystem that can damage food webs and wildlife. Dr. Paerl and his team will investigate alternative methods for mitigating cyanobacteria HABs, using a natural polyamine called spermidine as an algaecide. Their hope is that this method would specifically target the undesired cyanobacteria, rather than indiscriminately harm other organisms, and would limit negative impacts on local water quality and wildlife. This research will involve investigating the impact of this “ecofriendly cyano-HAB-targeted treatment” on different kinds of cyanobacteria, analyze any changes in bacterial communities and oxygen levels after its use, and estimate its financial cost as a treatment. Dr. Paerl’s previous research focuses on aquatic microbial ecology, and his lab frequently partners with centers such as the North Carolina Center for Coastal Algae People and Environment and North Carolina Sea Grant.

Dr. Qubin Qin, East Carolina University, Department of Coastal Studies with co-researchers Dr. Michael O’Driscoll and Dr. Sean Charles

Project Title: “Evaluating the Interactions between Coastal Water Level Rise and Freshwater Withdrawals on Saltwater Intrusion along the Tar River: Implications for Water Supply and Freshwater Ecosystem Health”

The Tar-Pamlico River watershed of North Carolina is an important water resource in the state, specifically for residents of Greenville, Rocky Mount, Tarboro, and Louisburg. The watershed begins in the Piedmont of North Carolina, and flows through the Coastal Plain and the Pamlico River Estuary, then empties into the Pamlico Sound. Unfortunately, the sustainability of this waterway is under threat by saltwater intrusion, a phenomena where saltwater from the ocean infiltrates underground freshwater aquifers. Saltwater intrusion results in depleted water quality for North Carolinians who depend on the Tar-Pamlico River watershed for drinking water. Occurrences of saltwater intrusion increase when groundwater reservoirs are over pumped and when sea level rises. Dr. Qin and his team will research limits on how much groundwater can be pumped out of these groundwater reservoirs before saltwater intrusion becomes an issue, as well as determine how far inland saltwater intrusion extends under different scenarios. Dr. Qin’s past projects, like this one, seek to create simulations and scenarios of ecological conditions that can be used to generate real-world solutions for ecosystems. Learn more about Dr. Qin’s work with the Coastal Studies Institute and East Carolina State University here.

Dr. Erin Seekamp (PI) and Dr. Rebecca Ward, North Carolina State University with co-Researchers Marsha Sirkin, Allison Whitaker, and Rebecca Bloch DVM

Project Title: “Strengthening HAB Management through Classroom-Based Educational Research”

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose a risk not only to aquatic ecosystems and water quality, but also to human and animal health. Unfortunately, the current response system for altering communities to harmful algal blooms is decentralized and involves multiple agencies. Communication and education about harmful algal blooms is limited in some areas. Dr. Seekamp and her team will develop a HABs-focused education program and classroom based intervention for 5th grade students. The goal of the program and intervention is to introduce students to environmental health topics and enhance their willingness to “to adopt preventative behaviors concerning HABs.” The research project will involve using Environmental Health Literacy frameworks and the Health Belief Model to create featuring materials such as factsheets, booklets, and videos which can be reused and repackaged for classrooms across the state. Focus groups with state and local agencies will refine the material inform future steps for this project. Dr. Seekamp is Goodnight Distinguished Professor, Director Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Initiative who works at the intersection of culture and climate adaptation. Dr. Ward’s past work focuses on supporting communities through awareness, communication and capacity building. She has partnerships with the Carolinas Collaborative on Climate Health and Equity (C3HE), Climate Solutions Collaborative, and Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (CRSI).

Dr. Mei Sun, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Project Title: “An effective approach to treat and reuse PFAS-laden ion exchange resins”

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAs, are long lasting synthetic chemicals that have the potential to leach into ecosystems and cause adverse health effects or ecological impacts. PFAS are particularly a problem for municipal water supplies because they must be removed before water is distributed to the public. Ion exchange has proven a possible method of filtering PFAS out of water. The PFAS filtered out of the water are stored in resins, which are incinerated or put into landfills. This method is expensive, and PFAS have the potential to be re-released into the environment. Dr. Sun’s research explores the possibility of regenerating the resins using tetrachloro-metal anions and simultaneously destroying PFAS with an ultraviolet (UV)/sulfite treatment. The goal of this project is a more sustainable and cost-effective system that allows for reuse of the resins. Read about Dr. Sun’s past research on improving total organic fluorine analysis, a method for determining PFAS concentration in drinking water, and on determining methods to remove PFAS from wastewater using ion exchange, UV light, and sulfite.