Hydrology and Watershed Management

Protecting Our Most Critical Resource

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources has established national and international leadership in hydrology and watershed management research, teaching and outreach. From the pioneering work of Dr. James Gregory on the hydrology of wetland soils in eastern North Carolina to ongoing work on forested catchment ecohydrology in the mountains of North Carolina by Dr. Ryan Emanuel, our program encapsulates the diversity of the state and includes the full spectrum from theoretical to applied work.

Water is arguably the most critical natural resource, and research on how we can best manage water resources moving into an uncertain future of global change will continue as a fundamental component of NC State’s land grant mission. Scholarship in this core strength is related to the interdisciplinary nature of our work. Our research contributes to long-lasting sustainable solutions and make us the go-to place for solutions to society’s grand challenges in natural resources.

Hydrology and Watershed Management Research Features

Study Finds Saltwater Thresholds for Plants in Freshwater Forests

NC state researchers have identified critical levels of soil salinity that can kill plants in freshwater forests. The issue is relevant due to increasing soil salinity in coastal areas as sea levels rise.

Fertilizer Runoff in Streams and Rivers Can Have Cascading Effects, Analysis Shows

Fertilizer pollution can have significant ripple effects in the food webs of streams and rivers, according to a new analysis of global data.

A Coastal Forest Almost 2,000 Years Old is Disappearing

By analyzing ancient wood buried in the soil of a forested wetland in eastern North Carolina, John King and other researchers from NC State have found that the coastal site was a forest almost 1,800 years ago.

Meet Our Hydrology and Watershed Faculty

Interested in Hydrology and Watershed research? Contact our faculty to learn more and get involved.

• Marcelo Ardón, Associate Professor
• Fred Cubbage, Professor
• George Hess, Professor
• John King, Professor
• Katherine Martin, Assistant Professor
• Stacy Nelson, Professor
• Elizabeth Nichols, Professor
• Ted Shear, Associate Professor
• Mirela Tulbure, Associate Professor