Water in the Anthropocene
Advancing Water System Science for a Sustainable Future
We study how human activity shapes water quality and ecosystem resilience in a changing climate. By combining field data, remote sensing, and advanced modeling, our team develops open datasets and tools that inform policy, restoration, and sustainable water management from local to continental scales.
Research Highlights
We investigate how human activity reshapes water systems and translate that knowledge into actionable insights. The highlights below show how our work connects cutting-edge methods, open data, and stakeholder engagement to protect and restore freshwater resources.
Water Quality and Nutrient Legacies
We reveal how long-term stores of nitrogen and phosphorus in soils and groundwater—"nutrient legacies"—delay water-quality recovery. Our models and data show why conservation measures take time to work and how policy can address these hidden barriers.
Publications in Science, Nature Geoscience, Environmental Research Letters. Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and Chesapeake Bay applications.
Wetland Function, Mapping, and Restoration in Human-Impacted Landscapes
Using remote sensing and historical analysis, we quantify wetland loss and its impact on water quality. Our research identifies restorable wetlands and demonstrates how targeted restoration can reduce nutrient loading and enhance ecosystem resilience.
Publications in Science, Nature Geoscience • Gulf of Mexico & Great Lakes applications
Continental-Scale Nutrient Inventories
Nutrient pollution is shaped not only by what we put on fields today, but also by the long history of fertilizer, manure, and waste inputs across the landscape. To capture this history, we developed the TREND-N and TREND-P datasets — the most comprehensive reconstructions of nitrogen and phosphorus fluxes ever assembled for the United States. These inventories track inputs and outputs of nutrients from 1930 to the present, integrating thousands of data sources: fertilizer use, livestock manure, atmospheric deposition, biological fixation, crop harvest, and human waste. We've also downscaled these data to fine spatial grids, making it possible to link national patterns to local watersheds. Together, these datasets provide an essential foundation for understanding nutrient legacies, forecasting water quality, and designing policies that account for decades of accumulated change.
TREND datasets widely adopted • North American Nutrient Budget Working Group
Next-Generation Modeling: Bridging Machine Learning & Process Understanding
We combine machine learning with process-based science to improve water-quality forecasting—from random forests to multi-model ensembles. Our work brings advanced analytics to watersheds such as the Chesapeake Bay while training the next generation of scientists.
Road Salt and Chloride Legacies
Decades of road-salt use have created a persistent "chloride legacy" in groundwater and surface waters. Our studies show why short-term fixes aren't enough and provide a new lens for managing chloride pollution at regional scales.
Regional chloride management strategies • Urban water quality solutions
This research has been featured in national media and adopted by U.S. agencies including USDA and USGS, positioning Dr. Van Meter as a leader in linking cutting-edge science to actionable solutions for water sustainability.
Latest Research Videos
Stay updated with our latest publications, field research, and collaborative projects through our video content series.
Breaking: New Water Filtration Technology Published in Nature
Our groundbreaking research on bio-inspired water filtration systems has been featured in Nature, showing 99.9% efficiency in removing microplastics.
Arctic Lake Study: Climate Impact Assessment
Join our expedition to remote Arctic lakes where we study the effects of rapid climate change on freshwater ecosystems and permafrost interactions.
Collaborative Project: Global Water Security Initiative
Learn about our international collaboration with researchers from 15 countries, addressing water security challenges through innovative monitoring technologies.
Lab Tour: Advanced Water Analysis Techniques
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of our state-of-the-art water analysis laboratory, featuring cutting-edge spectrometry and molecular analysis equipment.
Our Impact at a Glance
Our commitment to excellence has resulted in significant contributions to the field of water science and environmental research.
Publications in Leading Journals
Articles in Science, Nature, Nature Geoscience, and Global Biogeochemical Cycles on nutrient legacies, wetland function, and water-quality modeling.
National-Scale Open Datasets
Creator of TREND-N, TREND-P, and Historical Wetland Maps — foundational resources adopted by USDA, USGS, and international partners.
$6M+ in Competitive Research Funding
Principal Investigator on NSF CAREER, NASA, USDA, and EPA/Chesapeake Bay Program awards advancing data-driven water science.
40+ Graduate & Early-Career Scholars Mentored
Including the Chesapeake Summer Water Institute, which trains diverse next-generation water scientists.