Heidelberg College

Heidelberg College is a private liberal arts college in Tiffin, Ohio. It is best known for the 'Heidelberg College Water Quality Laboratory', a world-renowned water research center, focused on the Great Lakes and Lake Erie in particular.

Heidelberg College's Water Quality Laboratory (WQL)

The Water Quality Laboratory (WQL) was founded in 1969 by Dr. David B. Baker, Professor of Biology at Heidelberg College. Initiated as the Sandusky River Project, the WQL began studies of nutrients and sediment transport in 1974 with initial focus on two major tributaries to Lake Erie, the Maumee River and Sandusky River.

Related Topics:
Lake Erie - Maumee River - Sandusky River

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In 1978, the Water Quality Laboratory became involved in the Lake Erie Intensive Surveillance Program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office. This multi-institutional effort to study the quality of Lake Erie's water and sediments was one response to the degraded condition of Lake Erie that became evident in the 60's and early 70's.

Related Topics:
Environmental Protection Agency - Lake Erie

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Monitoring of tributaries to both Lake Erie and the Ohio River has grown over the years such that today, the WQL manages the Ohio Tributary Monitoring Program covering over half of the state of Ohio with ten gauges and another one on the River Raisin in southeastern Michigan. Collectively, these studies now provide the longest and most detailed record of nonpoint source pollution available for any river system in the United States. Thus, numerous organizations, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, have come to rely on the data and analyses that the WQL produces.

Related Topics:
Lake Erie - Ohio River - Michigan - Environmental Protection Agency - Department of Agriculture - Ohio Department of Natural Resources

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The biological branch of the WQL offers expertise in applied limnology, with an emphasis on Lake Erie and wetlands ecology. The area of bioassessment is growing rapidly, particularly with current emphasis on the development of total maximum daily loads or TMDLs.

Related Topics:
Lake Erie - Wetlands - Ecology

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Since 1986, the WQL has studied groundwater by testing over 55,000 private wells in 23 states. Today, the WQL has the analytical equipment and expertise to test for a variety of inorganic constituents, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and metals.

Related Topics:
Inorganic - Pesticides - Organic

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The WQL staff includes several full-time and part-time researchers with backgrounds in chemistry, biology, and geology. Additional expertise is expected to be added in 2005 in response to the growing efforts to address nonpoint source pollution and conserve aquatic and terrestrial natural resources.

Related Topics:
Chemistry - Biology - Geology - Pollution - Natural resources

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In January 2005, the WQL moved into the newly constructed Gillmor Science Hall, where it occupies 7,800 square feet of laboratory and office space.

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Currently under the interim direction of Dr. David Baker, the WQL has always been and continues to be supported solely by research grants, contracts for professional services, and donations. Funding sources have included agencies of federal and state governments, nongovernmental agencies, foundations, industries and individuals.

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