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Drought and Drinking Water
 Catherine V. Schmitt
Past Research
Future Research
Current Research:
Drought and Drinking Water
Thesis: The Effects of the
2001-2002 Drought on Maine Surface Water Supplies
Drought is not usually considered a
problem in a state with thousands of lakes, thousands of miles of
coastline, extensive river systems, and one-quarter of its land area
covered by wetlands. Yet as 2001 evolved into the driest year in
Maine’s recorded history, rural homeowners were struggling to find
drinking water as wells went dry, and public water systems already
stressed by summer tourists were implementing conservation measures.
Ambajejus Lake near Millinocket in early 2002.
Note how far the dock is from the
water.
How drought affects water supplies, and in turn how managers of those
systems respond to drought, provides an indication of how predicted
climate changes might affect public water supplies in the future. This
project will use historical climatic data, water level records, and water
quality data to evaluate the sensitivity of surface water supplies to
drought conditions. By identifying relationships between water quantity
and water quality, it might be possible to determine critical minimum
amounts of precipitation necessary to maintain adequate supplies of
drinking water. The results will identify public water systems most
at risk from drought conditions, and will enhance public water suppliers’
ability to predict and prepare for future drought and climate variability.
 This research is part of "A Pilot
Project to Assist Small Water Utilities in Protecting Maine Surface Waters
Used as Public Water Supplies," a collaborative project with the Maine
Drinking Water Program and Maine Water
Utilities Association. Earlier phases of the project developed a
source
water and watershed management program to help community water
suppliers understand the quality of their source water and assess the
risks posed to water quality within the source watershed. The need for
Phase III, "Preparing for Climate Change and Variability,"
emerged while completing Phase II work during the record drought of 2001.
It was apparent that small utilities need guidance to effectively deal
with drought, and to understand the magnitude and impact of other
potential climate-related changes.
Past research
Before moving to Maine I worked as a
research assistant at the University of
Maryland Center for Environmental Science, where I assisted in the
research, writing, editing, and production of scientific publications. One
of these was
Marine Pollution in the United States- Significant Accomplishments, Future Challenges,
a report of the Pew Oceans Commission.
I also worked on the forthcoming Chesapeake
Futures.
Previous experience
includes research in wetlands and coastal ecology from Massachusetts to
the Chesapeake Bay. As a student
research assistant at The Ecosystems
Center, I investigated sedimentation and
vegetation patterns in the Plum Island Estuary,
Massachusetts. I have also worked in wetlands in western Massachusetts
and Cape Cod.
Other Research Interests
I am interested in
science communication and journalism, including how scientists and
scientific issues are portrayed by the media. As a freelance science and
environmental writer, I hope to make science more accessible to the
public, and improve understanding of the science behind environmental
issues.
Click here
for a list of articles, essays, and other published work.
As part of future
research, I would like to look at the vulnerability of water resources in
the coastal zone, including the effects of decreased freshwater inputs to
bays and estuaries, the potential for sea level rise and salt water
intrusion into coastal water supplies, and effects of population and
development pressures on coastal water supplies. |
