IN PROGRESS | Keeping Freshwater Fresh

IGC Capstone Project | Interfaces of Global Change

Keeping Freshwater Fresh:  A Community Outreach Project on the Drivers and Impacts of Saltwater Intrusion in Coastal Areas

Student Members:

• Ying-Xian Goh, Civil and Environmental Engineering 
• Nivedita Priyadarshini Kamaraj, Geosciences
• Sadia Afrin Khan, Biological Systems Engineering
• Benedicta Ottairoegbu, Biological Sciences

Faculty Mentor:

• Dr. Jonathan Czuba, Biological Systems Engineering

Saltwater intrusion in coastal freshwater aquifer systems and soils has become a significant concern for water and food security in coastal areas worldwide. While several natural phenomena, such as cyclones and storm surges, prolonged droughts, tidal variations, and reduced upstream river discharge, contribute to this issue, its extent has been amplified in recent decades by numerous anthropogenic factors, including sea-level rise, excessive groundwater extraction, construction of dams and barrages, and land-use changes. These combined influences are contributing to the scarcity of freshwater for human consumption, agriculture, and ecosystems, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. Moreover, they are causing adverse health impacts, exacerbating poverty, driving livelihood shifts and migrations, and many other cascading impacts in coastal communities. Considering these multi-dimensional impacts of saltwater intrusion on coastal societies and economies, it is important to educate and prepare future generations about the causes, implications, and possible mitigation strategies, so that they can better understand and manage the associated challenges.

In this regard, their project will develop and deliver science outreach materials that introduce school students and the public to the causes, consequences, and societal implications of saltwater intrusion in coastal areas. As a part of their project, they plan to conduct a few case studies in selected coastal areas from different parts of the world to illustrate the key drivers of saltwater intrusion in freshwater systems, their overarching impacts, how researchers are quantifying these aspects, as well as what can be done to inform adaptation strategies, by creating engaging educational tools, such as story maps, visuals, and interactive demonstrations. They will present these materials at a minimum of two outreach events (e.g., Hokie for a Day, College of Sciences Summer Camp) to educate and empower school students who will be future scientists, leaders, and policy-makers, so that they can think critically and act responsibly toward a more sustainable future that preserves our freshwater resources.