The following listing contains potential topics for research that have come up in the course of either other research or readings. As of January 2004, this list is entirely my own and is is very limited, but I intend to ask other faculty to contribute to it and will likely expand the range of topics as well.
Stream Water Quality and Ecology - Local Streams & Groundwater
Hydrology
What is the base flow contribution to stream flow?
How do discharge hydrographs compare among local streams?
What is the spatial distribution of riffles and ponds in local streams and is it changing with time?
What factors control temperature variations in local streams?
Chemistry and Pollution
What are the forms of phosphate input?
How are metals partitioned? (Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Cd)
How is Hg partitioned?
What is the distribution and partitioning of organic pollutant input?
Aquatic Biology
What is the ecological impact of hydrologic change?
What is the ecological impact of chemical change?
How effective are stream restoration efforts?
What are the microbiological ecosystem characteristics of local streams?
What are the macrophyte characteristics of local streams?
Interactions
What effect does the input of hydrocarbons have on aquatic biota?
What are the mechanisms of ecosystem decline in local streams?