This action provides funding in the amount of $748,985 to auburn university to support their efforts with improving the water quality of the gulf of america

Auburn University received $748,985 in Cooperative Agreement funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 under the Geographic Programs - Gulf of America Program (CFDA 66.475) beginning August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2028. The award supports development and deployment of a low-cost, real-time water quality monitoring network across impaired waterways in coastal Alabama. Auburn University, in collaboration with sub-awardees University of California, Davis and University of South Alabama, will establish 20 physiochemical monitoring deployment sites and collect approximately 3,037 physical water samples for biological analysis. The monitoring network will continuously collect data on temperature, conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH (potential hydrogen), turbidity, and water level, while incorporating in situ meteorological data and site-specific qualitative information including shoreline characteristics and wildlife presence.

The primary deliverables include enhanced water quality datasets designed to improve prediction and mitigation of water quality impairments in the Mobile Bay watershed. Through development and deployment of low-cost sensors and field sampling support, the project will generate actionable intelligence on physiochemical and microbiological conditions to facilitate water quality restoration activities. The monitoring network is designed as an adaptable, scalable model that multiple stakeholder groups can easily adopt and expand, ultimately benefiting residents and communities throughout the Mobile Bay watershed by advancing understanding of environmental conditions contributing to impaired water quality in coastal Alabama.

The purpose of this award is to dramatically increase the collection and availability of water quality data within currently impaired waterways of coastal alabama, through the development of an adaptable, low-cost, real-time monitoring network that is easily adopted and expanded upon by multiple stakeholder groups. Activities:the activities to be performed include developing a real-time physiochemical monitoring network involving the installation of new low-cost water quality monitoring stations. Water samples will be collected for microbiological analysis for the enhanced prediction of water quality impairments and improvement to water quality restoration activities. Subrecipient:subrecipient activities include the development and deployment of low-cost sensors and logistical and field support during the performance of microbial water quality sampling.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes include the collection of approximately 3,037 physical water samples for biological analysis, in situ meteorological data, and land use characteristics and site-specific qualitative data such as shoreline characteristics and wildlife presence. Additionally, continuous physiochemical water quality data will be collected at 20 deployment sites for temperature, conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, PH, turbidity, and water level. The residents and communities located in the mobile BAY watershed of alabama will benefit from a greater understanding of the conditions that contribute to impaired water quality.