Kyle Blount, assistant professor in the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability and Public Health at the University of Illinois Springfield, has been awarded a four-year, $397,498 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study urban water movement and its effects on ecosystems and public health. The research will focus on how irrigation and water restrictions influence the urban water cycle across different climates and cities.

“I am honored to receive recognition and support from NSF for this critical work,” said Blount. “As climate change and urban growth place new pressures on limited water resources, this work is necessary to inform environmental management and the development of sustainable and resilient cities. This grant will allow me to build my research program by hiring undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers, and promote better education and public awareness of hydrology in cities.”

Blount’s study will explore urban water dynamics, particularly how irrigation of lawns and parks affects water movement and mitigates extreme heat, which is a leading weather-related public health risk in the U.S. While systems like stormwater and wastewater management are well-studied, the natural flow of water through soils, plants and the atmosphere is often overlooked. Research will be conducted at four field sites in Illinois, Colorado and Washington.

The project aims to identify the impact of irrigation on water movement through soils, plants and the atmosphere across various climates and time periods. It will also evaluate how drought-related or policy-driven water restrictions influence urban water cycling.

The grant will enhance UIS’ undergraduate education in hydrology by integrating curriculum development and providing research opportunities.

“UIS students will have the opportunity to gain experience with fieldwork and data analysis through direct involvement with the project as research assistants and through coursework,” said Blount. “Because the project includes two field sites in Springfield and will require extensive data analysis, UIS students across several courses at the university will have the opportunity to help pilot a new undergraduate curriculum in hydrology and to participate in fieldwork and help collect and analyze data, gaining highly marketable skills.”

According to the grant announcement, the award reflects NSF’s dedication to funding research with significant intellectual merit and broad societal impact.