Potomac Environmental Research Laboratory

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Potomac EnvironmentalResearch Laboratory
Department of Environmental Science and
Policy George Mason University

• Belmont Bay
• Prince William County, Virginia

An Environmental Research and Education Center
for the Potomac River Basin
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Department of Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty and Staff Resources
Degree Programs

• Ph.D in Environmental Science and Public Policy
• M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy
• B.S. in Earth Science
• Proposed B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy

• 12 tenured faculty
• 8 tenure-track faculty
• 6 term faculty
• Part-time faculty
• 14 graduate TAs
• 4 full-time staff
• Wage staff

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Our Mission

• To utilize the tools of scientific research,
  restoration, education, and policy analysis to
  help society understand and sustain natural
  processes in ecosystems, watersheds, and
  landscapes.

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Potomac Environmental Research LaboratorySpecific
Research Foci

• Restoration of Potomac River Chesapeake Bay
• Sustainability of Natural Ecosystems in Suburban
  Areas
• Impact of Global Climate Change on Management of
  Aquatic Ecosystems
• Use of Molecular Techniques to Study Biodiversity
  and Biocomplexity of Natural Ecosystems

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Restoration of the Potomac River and Chesapeake
Bay

• New Bay Agreement
• Important research questions remain
• The effect of nutrients on Bay organisms
• Greater understanding of tidal freshwater
  oligohaline ecosystems
• The role of wetlands in protecting the Bay
• The recovery of Bay communities when stresses are
  removed

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Suburban Sustainability

• Northern Virginia is one of the most rapidly
  growing regions of the Country
• How does this rapid growth impact our ecosystems?
• What are the growth and development strategies
  that can lessen that impact and allow us to
  retain a greater variety of organisms?

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Global Climate Change and Management of Natural
Ecosystems

• Role of wetlands and uplands in affecting global
  carbon balance
• Carbon storage and how it will change under
  climate change
• Using managed landscapes to store carbon carbon
  credits

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Use of Molecular Techniques to Study Biodiversity
and Biocomplexity of Natural Ecosystems

• Microbial diversity in salt marshes
• Microbial communities associated with Bay anoxia
• Toxic algal bloom agents

• Picture here.

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Belmont A Great Opportunity for Environmental
Science and Policy

• At the mouth of the tidal Occoquan River
• 30 minute drive from the Fairfax campus
• Convenient to eastern PW, so. Fairfax, Spring-
  field, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, points south

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Immediate Vicinity

• Adjacent to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
  Virginia Science Museum site
• Near Mason Neck, PW Forest National Park and
  other natural areas
• Convenient to I-95, Rt. 1, Rt. 123, Fairfax
  Campus
• Adjacent to VRE commuter rail station
• In mixed use development including retail,
  convention center, housing

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Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge

• 580 acres of tidal marshes and upland meadows
• A wide variety of plants and animals
• Access for class field trips, observational
  research

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Dockage Facilities on the Tidal Occoquan River

• Facilitate access for research on the tidal
  Freshwater Potomac River, a major subestuary of
  the Chesapeake Bay
• Allow K-12 program to take whole classes out on
  the river

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Potomac Environmental Research Laboratory

• Cluster of eight professors with research and
  office space
• Support facilities for field and laboratory
  studies of ecology and environmental science
• Graduate and undergraduate student researchers
• Classroom space for graduate and undergraduate
  classes in Environmental Science and Policy,
  Biology other subjects
• Space for K-12 environmental education programs
  to be developed in concert with local school
  systems.
• Publicly accessible environmental resource center
  with space to host community and regional public
  meetings

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Facilities Anticipated at Belmont

• 8 research labs (with viewing walls)
• 4 teaching lab
• 14 support rooms
• 3 Lecture Rooms (30-50 seat)
• 1 Large Assembly Room (80 seat)
• 10 Offices

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Facilities Anticipated at Belmont

• Library/Resources Center
• GIS/Graphics Facility
• Conference Room
• Classrooms for general university courses

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Specific Benefits of Proposed Facility

• Laboratory and office space freed up on Fairfax
  Campus
• Increased capacity for research and graduate
  training in environmental science
• Increased grant activity and overhead generation
• Potential for new courses in environmental
  science, earth science, and biology
• Increased visibility for GMU environmental
  programs

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Education Programs

• Serve as a focus of activity for Environmental
  programs at GMU
• Graduate programs in Environmental Science and
  Public Policy
• Certificates in Environmental Management
• Courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology,
  Geography, Human Ecology
• General Education course in Environmental Science

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K-12 and Community Programs

• Work with local schools to implement watershed
  and bay ecology educational programs incorporated
  into basic science curriculum
• Conduct ecology camps
• Serve as a resource for local government and
  citizens

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Space Opened

• Robinson
• 2000 sq ft of lab space
• King
• 500 sq ft of lab
• 500 sq ft of office

• Krug
• 1200 sq ft of lab
• Boat Yard

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Enhanced Visibility for GMU

• Would move GMU into front ranks of schools with
  active environmental programs
• Would establish GMU as center of research on the
  Potomac River and its watershed
• Would establish GMU as a center of research on
  suburban sustainability
• Strongly endorsed by recent external review of
  GMU programs in Biology and ESPP
• The Belmont complex would provide a venue for
  state and national conferences and workshops on
  environmental issues

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A Great Opportunity

• The location is ideal
• The research agenda is topical and significant
• The faculty and programs are a good fit
• The educational opportunities are exciting
• Some significant benefits will accrue to the
  university
• The costs are affordable