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What We Do
Management
Branches
Main Office Location

What We Do

The Watershed & Ecosystem Characterization Division (WECD):

• Conducts to research to help characterize the presence, transport, transformation, sources, and impacts of contaminants in watersheds and ecological systems;
• Develops methods to measure chemical and microbial pollutants in a environmental media such as soil, dust, water, and other biota to support environmental statues (e.g., Superfund and the Clean Water Act);
• Uses ecological monitoring of chemical and biological stressors at multiple scales, characterizing the condition of environmental systems through the development and application of novel field indicators, environmental genomics, and geospatial tools;
• Develops watershed management tools that are applied to both ecological response and economic benefits; and
• Develops methods, tools, and technologies that are used to inform effective watershed management practices and minimize health risks from various chemical and microbial contaminants.

Relevant Research

• EPA Microbiological Methods and Online Publications
• Perfluorinated Chemical (PFC) Research
• Nanomaterials Research
• Harmful Algal Bloom and Cyanobacteria Research
• Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Non-point Sources (BASINS)
• Virtual Beach

Management

Kevin Oshima, Director

• Phone: 513-569-7476
• Email: oshima.kevin@epa.gov

Tom Behymer, Associate Director

• Phone: 513-569-7392  
• Email: behymer.thomas@epa.gov 

Branches

• Biological Measurements Branch
• Ecosystem Condition Branch
• Multimedia Methods Branch
• Watershed Management Branch

Main Office Location

US EPA ORD
Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Mail Code: 587
Cincinnati, OH 4526