Characterization and modeling of Nitrogen loading from transportation sources and attenuation by roadside vegetation buffers in an urbanized watershed

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It is anticipated that the agreement that is awarded will involve or relate to geospatial information and will conform to all data requirements for geospatial information. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications proposing innovative approaches to quantify both the generation of ecosystem services from the ecosystems most closely tied to humans in urban environments as well as developing the connectivity networks associate with the production, delivery through the landscape, and consumption of ecosystem services applied to consideration of the value of ecosystem services in environmental decision-making. Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen is now the greatest pollutant source to the watershed and bay and is the focus of a currently active super deposition TMDL assessment study site within the city of Tampa. Research should specifically address the ability of the applicant to quantify the loading of atmospheric nitrogen from transportation sources associated with the Tampa Bay watershed or similar urbanized watershed and be able to assess the potential for road side vegetation buffers to attenuate those loads. Universities are conducting research and using models such as UFORE or I-TREE in urban transition areas to model the ability of plants to provide ecological services and benefits such as nitrogen removal, particulate removal, etc. Proposed research should address research currently being conducted and the availability of existing data sets and information to provide more robust estimates of services in urban transition and transportation zones.

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