My current research area is in watershed-scale water quality assessment of natural and managed ecosystems. Specifically, my interests include study of (1) biogeochemical and physical processes impacting nutrient source fate and transport in streams and wetlands, (2) surface and subsurface nutrient runoff at the edge-of-field (EOF)in agroecosystems, and (3) quantifying the impact of management and restoration on nutrient cycling. My research methods include field and laboratory experimentation and monitoring utilizing the most up-to-date stable isotope tracer and nutrient sensing technology. I commonly employ analytical methods such as time series analysis, and numerical modeling. Deterministic watershed modeling is emphasized in my research program and incorporates development, application, and model performance evaluation to constrain uncertainties in estimating complex processes governing nutrient fluxes. The models serve as a tool for analysis of climate, land-use, and management/restoration scenarios.
Research Interests
- Watershed
- Edge-of-Field
- Modeling
- Nutrient Fate and Transport
- Stable Isotopes
Scholars@UK
Establishing performance criteria for evaluating watershed-scale sediment and nutrient models at fine temporal scales
Pandit, A., Hogan, S., Mahoney, D. T., Ford, W. I., Fox, J. F., Wellen, C. & Husic, A., Apr 15 2025, In: Water Research. 274, 123156.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Identifying dissolved reactive phosphorus sources in agricultural runoff and leachate using phosphate oxygen isotopes
Mumbi, R. C. K., Williams, M. R., Ford, W. I., Camberato, J. J. & Penn, C. J., Feb 2025, In: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 269, 104501.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Occurrence, transformation, and transport of PFAS entering, leaving, and flowing past wastewater treatment plants with diverse land uses
Sigler, K., Messer, T. L., Ford, W. & Sanderson, W., Dec 2024, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 371, 123129.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Subsurface Sediment Transport in the Shallow Vadose Zone of Fine-Textured Soils With Heterogenous Preferential Flows
Ford, W., Williams, M. & Mumbi, R., Nov 2024, In: Hydrological Processes. 38, 11, e15327.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Preferential flow in the shallow vadose zone: Effect of rainfall intensity, soil moisture, connectivity, and agricultural management
Williams, M. R., Ford, W. I. & Mumbi, R. C. K., Dec 2023, In: Hydrological Processes. 37, 12, e15057.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
IMPACTS OF AQUATIC VEGETATION DYNAMICS ON NITRATE REMOVAL IN KARST AGRICULTURAL STREAMS: INSIGHTS FROM UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND IN SITU SENSING
Agioutanti, R., Ford, W. I., Sama, M. P. & McGill, T., 2024, In: Journal of the ASABE. 67, 2, p. 89-104 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
EXTREME LEARNING MACHINE PREDICTS HIGH-FREQUENCY STREAM FLOW AND NITRATE-N CONCENTRATIONS IN A KARST AGRICULTURAL WATERSHED
McGill, T. & Ford, W. I., 2024, In: Journal of the ASABE. 67, 2, p. 73-87 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Instream sensor results suggest soil–plant processes produce three distinct seasonal patterns of nitrate concentrations in the Ohio River Basin
Gerlitz, M., Fox, J., Ford, W., Husic, A., Mahoney, T., Armstead, M., Hendricks, S., Crain, A., Backus, J., Pollock, E., Ren, W., Tao, B., Riddle, B. & White, D., Aug 2023, In: Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 59, 4, p. 635-651 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Impact of flow pathway and source water connectivity on subsurface sediment and particulate phosphorus dynamics in tile-drained agroecosystems
Nazari, S., Ford, W. I. & King, K. W., Jul 1 2022, In: Agricultural Water Management. 269, 107641.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Considerations on the use of carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios for sediment fingerprinting
Riddle, B., Fox, J., Mahoney, D. T., Ford, W., Wang, Y. T., Pollock, E. & Backus, J., Apr 15 2022, In: Science of the Total Environment. 817, 152640.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Impact of water source dynamics on dissolved reactive phosphorus loadings in heterogenous karst agroecosystems with phosphatic limestones
Radcliff, C., Ford, W. I., Nazari, S. & Shepard, C., Nov 2021, In: Hydrological Processes. 35, 11, e14422.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Quantifying hydrologic pathway and source connectivity dynamics in tile drainage: Implications for phosphorus concentrations
Nazari, S., Ford, W. I. & King, K. W., Sep 1 2021, In: Vadose Zone Journal. 20, 5, e20154.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Effect of watershed disturbance and river-tributary confluences on watershed sedimentation dynamics in the Western Allegheny Plateau
Pickering, C. & Ford, W. I., Nov 2021, In: Journal of Hydrology. 602, 126784.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Seasonality of Recharge Drives Spatial and Temporal Nitrate Removal in a Karst Conduit as Evidenced by Nitrogen Isotope Modeling
Husic, A., Fox, J., Al Aamery, N., Ford, W., Pollock, E. & Backus, J., Oct 2021, In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. 126, 10, e2021JG006454.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Carbon fate in lowland rivers
Ford, W. & Fox, J., Nov 2021, In: Nature Geoscience. 14, 11, p. 802-803 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
Reach-scale model of aquatic vegetation quantifies N fate in a bedrock-controlled karst agroecosystem stream
Bunnell, N. L., Ford, W. I., Fogle, A. W. & Taraba, J., Sep 2020, In: Water (Switzerland). 12, 9, 2458.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Improving in-stream nutrient routines in water quality models using stable isotope tracers: A review and synthesis
Jensen, A., Ford, W., Fox, J. & Husic, A., 2018, In: Transactions of the ASABE. 61, 1, p. 139-157 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Sensitivity analysis of the agricultural policy/environmental eXtender (APEX) for phosphorus loads in tile-drained landscapes
Ford, W., King, K., Williams, M., Williams, J. & Fausey, N., 2015, In: Journal of Environmental Quality. 44, 4, p. 1099-1110 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Sediment bed dynamics resulting from hydraulic forcing and its impacts on biogeochemical processes in a lowland fluvial system
Ford, W. I. & Fox, J. F., 2012, World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2012: Crossing Boundaries, Proceedings of the 2012 Congress. p. 1613-1623 11 p. (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2012: Crossing Boundaries, Proceedings of the 2012 Congress).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
Testing assumptions for nitrogen transformation in a low-gradient agricultural stream
Ford, W. I., Fox, J. F., Pollock, E., Rowe, H. & Chakraborty, S., Aug 1 2015, In: Journal of Hydrology. 527, p. 908-922 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Prediction and Early Identification of Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) in Riverine Systems Scope
Ford, W. (PI) & Fox, J. (CoPI)
Marshall University Research Co
10/29/24 → 10/28/27
Project: Research project
Legacy Phosphorus Assessment in the Western Lake Erie Basin – Phase 2 (FY25 UK)
Ford, W. (PI)
6/1/25 → 8/31/28
Project: Research project
Prediction and Early Identification of Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) in Riverine Systems
Marshall University Research Co
10/29/24 → 10/28/27
Project: Research project
Determining Environmental Triggers of Harmful Algal Blooms and Toxin Production for the Purposes of HAB Prediction, Detection, and Management (HAP-PDM)
Ford, W. (PI) & Fox, J. (CoPI)
Marshall University Research Co
10/1/22 → 9/26/25
Project: Research project
Determining Environmental Triggers of Harmful Algal Blooms and Toxin Production for the Purposes of HAB Prediction, Detection, and Management (HAP-PDM)
Fox, J. (PI) & Ford, W. (CoPI)
Marshall University Research Co
10/1/22 → 9/26/25
Project: Research project
Participant Support Costs: BPE-Track 3: Inclusive Mentoring Hub for Enabling Pathways from Inner-City and Rural Appalachian Households to Engineering in Kentucky and West Virginia - Scope 5 Fox
Fox, J. (PI), Dadi, G. (CoI) & Ford, W. (CoI)
7/15/22 → 6/30/27
Project: Research project
Participant Support: BPE-Track 3: Inclusive Mentoring Hub for Enabling Pathways from Inner-City and Rural Appalachian Households to Engineering in Kentucky and West Virginia - Scope 3 Dadi
Dadi, G. (PI), Ford, W. (CoI) & Fox, J. (CoI)
7/15/22 → 6/30/27
Project: Research project
Participant Support: BPE-Track 3: Inclusive Mentoring Hub for Enabling Pathways from Inner-City and Rural Appalachian Households to Engineering in Kentucky and West Virginia - Scope 4 Ford
Ford, W. (PI), Dadi, G. (CoI) & Fox, J. (CoI)
7/15/22 → 6/30/27
Project: Research project
BPE-Track 3: Inclusive Mentoring Hub for Enabling Pathways from Inner-City and Rural Appalachian Households to Engineering in Kentucky and West Virginia - Scope 1 Dadi
Dadi, G. (PI), Ford, W. (CoI) & Fox, J. (CoI)
7/15/22 → 6/30/27
Project: Research project
BPE-Track 3: Inclusive Mentoring Hub for Enabling Pathways from Inner-City and Rural Appalachian Households to Engineering in Kentucky and West Virginia - Scope 2 Ford
Ford, W. (PI), Dadi, G. (CoI) & Fox, J. (CoI)
7/15/22 → 6/30/27
Project: Research project
Predicting the Impact of H2Ohio Practices on Edge-of-Field Water Quality
Ford, W. (PI)
5/15/22 → 8/31/26
Project: Research project
BPE-Track 3: Inclusive Mentoring Hub for Enabling Pathways from Inner-City and Rural Appalachian Households to Engineering in Kentucky and West Virginia
Fox, J. (PI), Dadi, G. (CoI) & Ford, W. (CoI)
7/15/22 → 6/30/27
Project: Research project
Scope: Coupled Impacts of Agricultural Runoff and Ethanol Pollution on Dissolved Oxygen in Streams
Ford, W. (PI) & Messer, T. (CoI)
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
9/30/16 → 9/29/22
Project: Research project
Scope 3-Tiffany Messer-104B Water Resources Research Institute Annual Base Program 2021-2026
Messer, T. (PI), Ford, W. (CoI) & Ormsbee, L. (CoI)
9/1/21 → 8/31/22
Project: Research project
The Kentucky & West Virginia SENSE Program: Sensing and Educating the Nexus to Sustain Ecosystems
Ford, W. (PI), Fox, J. (CoI) & Wang, Y. (CoI)
8/1/16 → 7/31/21
Project: Research project
104B Water Resources Research Institute Annual Base Program 2021-2026
Unrine, J. (PI), Ormsbee, L. (Former PI), Arpin, S. (Former CoI), Barton, C. (Former CoI), Brewster-Barnes, T. (Former CoI), Byrne, D. (Former CoI), Crofcheck, C. (Former CoI), D'Angelo, E. (Former CoI), Durham, R. (Former CoI), Erhardt, A. (Former CoI), Evans, S. (Former CoI), Ford, W. (Former CoI), Fryar, A. (Former CoI), Koyagi, E. (Former CoI), Lee, B. (Former CoI), Messer, T. (Former CoI), Moe, L. (Former CoI), Sena, K. (Former CoI), Shelley, A. (Former CoI), Shultis, A. (Former CoI), Tobin, B. (Former CoI) & Weisrock, D. (Former CoI)
9/1/21 → 8/31/26
Project: Research project
Education
- Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky, 2014
- M.S., Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky, 2011
- B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky, 2010
Associated Departments