STREAMS research projects are multi-disciplinary and collaborative in nature, involving participants and institutions from the U.S. and around the world. We promote partnerships that address significant, real world problems and disseminate information and analysis to decision-makers and the public.
Much of our work focuses on small, wadeable headwater stream systems in the Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico watersheds of the U.S. However, we have provided technical assistance and training all of over the world including the South Africa, Taiwan, Austrailia, Canada and France.
The Academic Programs and Research pages are meant to highlight research, applied projects, and academic and outreach activities devoted to streams and other water-related issues at The Ohio State University's Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering.
Research
Ward, A.D., Tank, J. (University of Notre Dame), Moore, R. and J. Witter. A. Watershed scale evaluations in a tri-state region of the water quality benefits of self-forming and two-stage channel systems, USDA, 2008-2011.
Ward, A.D. and J. D’Ambrosio. The Fish Creek two-stage ditch project. The Nature Conservancy, 2007-2009.
Witter, J. and A.D. Ward. Demonstrating the effectiveness of community watershed-based planning. Chagrin River Watershed Partners, 2007-2009.
Witter, J. and A.D. Ward. A scientific investigation to better understand, evaluate, and predict in-stream processes in natural, modified, and constructed streams in Ohio. Ohio Water Development Authority, 2007-2012.
Ward, A.D., Williams, L.R. (University of Texas-Tyler), Allan, D. (University of Michigan), and E. Herricks (University of Illinois-Champaign). Understanding Ecological Processes in Channelized Headwater Systems is a Key to Ecosystem Protection while Maintaining Crop Production. USEPA REMAP, 2006-2010.
Fry, B., Ward, A.W. and K. King (USDA-ARS). The frequency and magnitude of out-of-bank discharges in a tributary of Upper Big Walnut Creek, Ohio. Master's Thesis Project. 2006.
Jayakaran, A.D. and A.D. Ward. The Formation of Benches in Agricultural Channels in Ohio. Doctoral Dissertation Project. 2006.
Powell, G.E., Ward, A.D., Brown. L.C., Bouchard, V.,Williams, L.R. (University of Texas-Tyler). Examination, Application, and Evaluation of Geomorphic Principles and Resulting Water Quality in Midwest Agricultural Streams and Rivers. 2006. Doctoral Dissertation Project. 2006.
Witter, J.D., Ward, A.D., Williams, L.R. (University of Texas-Tyler), Brown. L.C., and K. King (USDA-ARS). Water Quality, Geomorphology, and Aquatic Life Assessments for the Olentangy River TMDL Evaluation 2006. Doctoral Dissertation Project. 2006.
Ward A., V. Bouchard, B. Sohngen, P. Richards (Heidelberg College). Fluvial Geomorphology and Nutrient Processes in Low Order Streams in Midwestern Tile-Drained Agricultural Landscapes. USDA/EPA Nutrient Science for Improved Watershed Management Program, 2002-2006.
D'Ambrosio, J. Ward, A.D., Brown. L.C., Williams, L.R. (University of Texas-Tyler), and M. Quigley. An Investigation of Strategies to Predict Flood-Peak Discharges on Variously-sized Watersheds in Ohio. Master's Thesis Project. 2004.
Brown, L.C., A.D. Ward, L.A. Zucker, B. Sohngen, D.E. Mecklenburg, B. Allred, J. Dorsey,V. Bouchard. Demonstration of drainage channel restoration to improve stream integrity and maintain flow capacity. Great Lakes Protection Fund, 2000-2002.
Academic Projects
Developing Sustainable Solutions for Impoverished Communities in South Africa: A Student Centered and Service Learning Capstone Design Experience, 2006-Ongoing.
Globalizing Engineering Education: Lessons Learned from African and USA Partnerships held in Cape Town, South Africa. National Science Foundation, October 2008.
Mad River and Peters Ditch, Zanesfield, Ohio
Rose Run, New Albany, Ohio
Jefferson Ditch, Jefferson Township, Ohio
Pone Creek (Andy Ward, Anora Bentley, Danny Ketzer, Matt Zelin)
McCoy Ditch (Andy Ward, FABE 773 Class)
Applied Projects
Olentangy River Watershed Implementation Project (Andy Ward, Jessica D'Ambrosio, Ken Kreiger, Ann Stearns, Dan Mecklenburg)
Upper Olentangy Watershed Management Plan (Larry Brown, Jon Witter)
Aquatic ecological monitoring in the Wayne National Forest Monitoring (Lance Williams, Andy Ward, Anand Jayakaran, Marsha Williams)
Overwide Ditch Design and Implementation (Dan Mecklenburg, Ohio Department of Natural Resources)
Presentations
Ward, A.D., Mecklenburg, D., Powell, G.E. Jayakaran, A.D., D’Ambrosio, J.L., and J. Draper. 2008. Creating Ditches with Floodplains. Proceedings of 16th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop, Columbus, OH, September 15-18.
Ward, A. D., Powell, E., and Mecklenburg, D. 2006. Spreadsheet Tools for River Evaluation, Assessment and Monitoring: The STREAM Diagnostic Modules. Proceedings of World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, May 21-25, Omaha, Nebraska.
Ward, A.D., and D.E. Mecklenburg. 2005. Design Discharge Procedures in the STREAM Spreadsheet Tools. Electronic Proceedings, ASCE and EWRI World Water & Environmental Resources Congress Anchorage, Alaska, May 15-19.
Ward, A.D., D. Mecklenburg, G.E. Powell, L.C. Brown and A.C. Jayakaran. 2004. Designing Two-Stage Agricultural Drainage Ditches. Proceedings, ASAE 8th International Drainage Symposium. Sacramento, CA, March 21-24.
Ward, A., D Mecklenburg, D Farver, J Witter, and A Jayakaran. 2003. The Variable Nature of Channel and Bank Forming Discharges. Joint Conference of SASAQS & ZSSA. Cape Town, South Africa, June 30- July 4.
Farver D. and A Ward. 2003. Using Biological Assessment Methods to Obtain an Index of the Health of streams in the Midwestern United States. Joint Conference of SASAQS & ZSSA. Cape Town, South Africa, June 30- July 4.
Ward Andy, Dan Mecklenburg, and Larry Brown. 2002. Using Knowledge Of Fluvial Processes To Design Self-Maintaining Agricultural Drainage Ditches In The Midwestern Region Of The USA. Proceeding of the International Conference on Environmental Flows for River Systems, Cape Town, South Africa, March 3-8.
Desmond, Eric, Andy Ward, Scott Bair, Norm Fausey, Stephen Workman. 2001. Spatial and temporal Nitrate Concentrations in an Unconfined Aquifer. In Preferential Flow Water: Movement and Chemical Transport in the Environment, Proc. 2nd Intl. Symp. 3-5 January 2001, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, eds. David Bosch & Kevin King, St. Joseph, Michigan: ASAE. 701P0006, Pp. 189-192.
Dawn A. Farver and Andy Ward. 2003. Using Biological Assessment Methods to Obtain an Index of the Health of Streams in the Midwestern United States. ASAE Annual International Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, July 27-31.
Andy Ward, Dan Mecklenburg, Dawn Farver, Jon Witter, and Anand Jayakaran. 2003. The Variable Nature of Channel and Bank Forming Discharges. ASAE Annual International Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, July 27-31.
Andy Ward, Dan Mecklenburg, John Mathews, Dawn Farver. 2002. Sizing Stream Setbacks to Help Maintain Stream Stability. ASAE Paper 0222-39. ASAE Annual International Meeting / CIGR XVth World Congress, Chicago, Illinois, USA. , July 28- 31.
Mecklenburg, D., and A. Ward. 2002. Quantifying and Managing the Impacts of Urbanization on the Effective Discharge and Stream Stability. Proceeding of the International Conference on Environmental Flows for River Systems, Cape Town, South Africa, March.
Andy Ward, Dan Mecklenburg, and Larry Brown. 2002. Using Knowledge Of Fluvial Processes To Design Self-Maintaining Agricultural Drainage Ditches In The Midwestern Region Of The USA. Proceeding of the International Conference on Environmental Flows for River Systems, Cape Town, South Africa, March
Chen, M., A. Ward, S. Gordon, D. White, and C. Engelmann. 1999. Using an Integrated Model to Evaluate the Hydrological Responses of a Mixed Landuse Watershed. ASAE Paper 99-2069, ASAE International Meeting, Toronto, Canada, July 17-23.
Dalzell, B. J, P. H. Gowda, D. J. Mulla, and A. D. Ward. 1999. Predicting Nonpoint Source Pollution for a Small Agricultural Watershed in Southern Minnesota. ASAE Paper 99-2215. ASAE International Meeting, Toronto, Canada, July 17-23.
Related Publications
Ward, A.D., D’Ambrosio, J., Witter, J. and Sara Kallio. 2009. Baseline Study of McKibben Ditch and Riffle Creek. Final Report. Ohio EPA 319 Grant Program. Agricultural Engineering Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Ward, A., D’Ambrosio, J., and D. Mecklenburg. 2009. Stream Classification. The Ohio State University Extension Factsheet AEX-445-01. Columbus, Ohio.
Ward, A., D’Ambrosio, J., Witter, J., Jayakaran, A. and D. Mecklenburg. 2009. Floodplains and Streamway Setbacks. The Ohio State University Extension Factsheet AEX-445-02. Columbus, Ohio.
Ward, A., D’Ambrosio, J., and J. Witter. 2009. Channel-Forming Discharges. The Ohio State University Extension Factsheet AEX-445-03. Columbus, Ohio.
Ward, A., D’Ambrosio, J., and J. Witter. 2009. Determining Discharge in a Stream. The Ohio State University Extension Factsheet AEX-445-04. Columbus, Ohio.
D'Ambrosio, J., Williams, L. R., Witter, J., and A. D. Ward. 2009. Effects of geomorphology, habitat, and spatial location on fish assemblages in a Midwestern watershed in Ohio. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 148:325-341.
Ward, A. D., A. D. Jayakaran, D. E. Mecklenburg, G. Erick Powell, J. Witter. 2008. Two-Stage Channel Geometry: Active Floodplain Requirements. Encyclopedia of Water Science 2nd Edition, Stanley Trimble (editor), Taylor & Francis, CRC Press.
Jayakaran, A. D. and A.D. Ward. 2007. Geometry of Inset Channels and the sediment Composition of Fluvial Benches in Agricultural Drainage Systems in Ohio Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol. 62(4):296-307.
Powell, G.E., A.D. Ward, D.E. Mecklenburg, A.D. Jayakaran. 2007. Two-stage channel systems Part 1: A practical approach for sizing agricultural ditches. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol. 62(4):277-286.
Powell, G.E., A.D. Ward, D.E. Mecklenburg, J. Draper and W. Word. 2007. Two-stage channel systems Part 2: Case Studies. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol. 62(4):287-296.
Powell, E., D. Mecklenburg, and A. D. Ward. 2006. Evaluating channel-forming discharges: A study of large rivers in Ohio. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Vol. 49(1): 35−46.
Jayakaran, A., D. Mecklenburg, A. D. Ward, L. C. Brown, and A. Weekes. 2005. Formation of Fluvial Benches in headwater Channels in the Midwestern Region of the USA. International Agricultural Engineering Journal, 14(4):193-208.
Ward, Andy, Matthew T. Moore, Virginie L. Bouchard, Kelly Powell, Dan Mecklenburg, Charles M. Cooper and Sammie Smith, Jr. 2004. Water Quality Benefits of Grassed Fluvial Features in Drainage Ditches. Proceedings, The Sixth International Conference on Hydro-Science and Engineering, Brisbane, Australia May 30 – June 3.
Activities/Outreach
Grant-funded Outreach
Ward, A. D. and J. D’Ambrosio. Geomorphology and ecology of stream systems - educational tools and training. Ohio EPA, 2007-2010.
National and International Conferences
October 16-19, 2008. Globalizing Engineering Education: Lessons Learned from US and African Partnerships. Capetown, South Africa.
September 14-18, 2008. 16th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop, Columbus, Ohio. US EPA and Ohio EPA.
September 5-8, 2006. The All Ohio Chapter of the SWCS 50th Anniversary Meeting and Conference on Floodplains, Riparian Zones, and Buffer Strips: Key Components to Aquatic Life Attainment and Self-Sustaining Stream and Watershed Systems." in Columbus, Ohio. US EPA and Ohio SWCS.
September 12-15, 2004. Conference on Self-Sustaining Solutions for Streams, Wetlands, and Watersheds. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Paul, Minnesota.
October 5-8, 2003. STREAMS Channel Protection and Restoration Conference and Workshops. The Ohio State University and Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus, Ohio.
Workshops and Short Courses
Ward, Andy. 2008. Two-stage ditch seminar and field day in Angola, Indiana. The Nature Conservancy. September 23.
Ward, Andy, Witter, Jon, and Jessica D’Ambrosio. 2008. The STREAM Modules: Spreadsheet Tools for River Evaluation, Assessment and Monitoring. 16th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop, Short Course, Columbus, Ohio, September 17.
Ward, Andy and Jessica D’Ambrosio. 2007. The STREAM Modules: Spreadsheet Tools for River Evaluation, Assessment and Monitoring. Northwest Stream Restoration Design Symposium Short Course, Stevenson, Washington State, February 5.
Ward, A., L. Williams, and E. Herricks. 2006. Understanding the Geomorphology and Ecology of Stream Systems. Columbus, Ohio, September 7.
Ward, A., L. Williams, and D. Allan. 2005. Workshop on Measuring and Applying Factors that Influence Stream Function. Monroe, Michigan, August 17-19.
Ward, A., and L. Williams. 2005. Workshop on Understanding the Geomorphology and Ecology of Stream Systems. Columbus, Ohio, June 7.
Ward, A., L. Williams, and E. Herricks. 2005. Workshop on Measuring and Applying Factors that Influence Stream Function. Columbus, Ohio, June 8-10.
Herricks, E. and A. Ward. 2004. Invited Workshop on Ecological Engineering Curricula, Ecohydrology, and Ecohydraulics. Taiwan, July 12-13.
Ward, A. and D. Allan. 2004. Workshop on How Two-Stage Ditches Can Benefit Agricultural and Urbanizing Watersheds. Montpelier, Ohio and Hillsdale County, Michigan, August 25.
Ward, A. 2003. Workshop on Surveys and Measurements for Drainage Channel Restoration. The Ohio State University Overholt Drainage School, Washington Court House, Ohio, March 21.
Ward, A., G. Jennings, D. Farver. 2003. Workshop on Introduction to Stream Geomorphology & Stream System Measurements The STREAMS Channel Protection and Restoration Conference, The Ohio State University and the Ohio department of Natural Resources, October 6.
D. Mecklenburg, A. Ward, and D. Farver. 2003. Workshop on the Rosgen Stream Classification Method. The STREAMS Channel Protection and Restoration Conference, The Ohio State University and the Ohio department of Natural Resources, October 6.
D. Mecklenburg, A. Ward, and D. Farver. 2003. Workshop on the ODNR Natural Channel Design Tools. The STREAMS Channel Protection and Restoration Conference, The Ohio State University and the Ohio department of Natural Resources, October 6.
Ward, A., and E. Powell. 2003. Helping Nature Improve the Function of Ditches and Streams. Owosso, Michigan , July 16.