Rebecca Muenich grew up in the rapidly-urbanizing area of Northwest Arkansas where the local conflicts between urban growth, food production and environmental quality were at the forefront of local and national news. Influenced by these ongoing struggles between human-needs and the environment, she chose to direct her personal career path towards understanding how to address human-induced environmental problems.
Muenich is a watershed modeler focused on surface hydrology and water quality, especially in agricultural ecosystems. She focuses on evaluating the impact of land management decisions within the food-energy-water nexus.
Education
Ph.D. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University 2015
M.S. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University 2011
B.S. Biological Engineering, University of Arkansas 2009
Miralha L, Sidique S, Muenich RL. (2022). The spatial organization of CAFOs and its relationship to water quality in the United States. J. Hydrol., In press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128301
Shea K, Schaffer-Smith D, Muenich RL. (2022). Using remote sensing to identify liquid manure applications in eastern North Carolina. J. Environ. Mgt.:317:115334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115334
Kujawa H, Kalcic M, Martin J, Apostel A, Kast J, Murumkar A, Evenson G, Aloysius N, Becker R, Boles C, Confesor R, Dagnew A, Guo T, Muenich R, Redder T, Wang Y-C, Scavia D. (2022). Using a multi-institutional ensemble of watershed models to assess agricultural conservation effectiveness in a future climate. J. Amer. Wat. Resour., Accepted.
Zhu Y, Myint SW, Schaffer-Smith D, Muenich RL, Tong D, Li Y. (2022). Formulating Operational Mitigation Options and Examining Intra-Urban Social Inequality Using Evidence-Based Urban Warming Effects. Front. Environ. Sci., 9. DOI: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fenvs.2021.795474
Miralha L, Muenich RL, Schaffer-Smith D, Myint W. (2021). Spatiotemporal land use change and environmental degradation surrounding CAFOs in Michigan and North Carolina. Sci. Tot. Environ., 800: 149391. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149391
Calder R, Grady C, Jeuland M, Kirchhoff C, Hale R, Muenich RL. (2021). COVID-19 reveals vulnerabilities of the food-energy-water nexus to viral pandemics. Environ. Sci. & Technol. Letters, in press, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00291.
Finn D, Maldonado J, de Martini F, Yu J, Penton CR, Fontenele RS, Schmidlin K, Kraberger S, Varsani A, Gile G, Barker B, Kollath DR, Muenich RL, Herckes P, Fraser M, Garcia-Pichel F. (2021). Agricultural practices drive biological loads, seasonal patterns and potential pathogens in the aerobiome of a mixed-land-use dryland. Sci. Tot. Environ., 798: 149239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149239
Son J-Y, Muenich RL, Schaffer-Smith D, Miranda ML, Bell ML. (2021). Distribution of environmental justice metrics for exposure to CAFOs in North Carolina, USA. Environ. Res., 195: 110862. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.110862
Miralha L, Muenich RL, Scavia D, Wells K, Steiner AL, Kalcic M, Apostel A, Basile S, Kirchhoff CJ. (2021). Bias correction of climate model outputs influences watershed model nutrient load predictions. Sci. Tot. Environ., 759: 143039. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143039
Apostel A, Kalcic M, Dagnew A, Evenson G, Kast J, King K, Martin J, Muenich RL, Scavia D. (2021). Simulating internal watershed processes using multiple SWAT models. Sci. Tot. Environ., 759: 143920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143920
Scavia D, Wang Y-C, Obenour DR, Apostel A, Basile SJ, Kalcic MM, Kirchhoff CJ, Miralha L, Muenich RL, Steiner AL. (2021). Quantifying uncertainty cascading from climate, watershed, and lake models in harmful algal bloom predictions. Sci. Total Environ., 759: 143487. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143487
Martin JF, Kalcic MM, Aloysius N, Apostel AM, Brooker MR, Evenson G, Kast JB, Kujawa H, Murumkar A, Becker R, Boles C, Confesor R, Dagnew A, Guo T, Long CM, Muenich RL, Scavia D, Redder T, Robertson DM, Wang Y-C. (2021). Evaluating management options to reduce Lake Erie algal blooms using an ensemble of watershed models. J. Environ. Mgt., 280: 111710. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111710
Evenson GR, Kalcic M, Wang Y-C, Robertson D, Scavia D, Martin J, Aloysius N, Apostel A, Boles C, Brooker M, Confesor R, Dagnew AT, Guo T, Kast J, Kujawa H, Muenich RL, Murumkar A, Redder T. (2021) Uncertainty in critical source area predictions from watershed-scale hydrologic models. J. Environ. Mgt., 279: 111506. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111506
Kast JB, Apostel AM, Kalcic MM, Muenich RL, Dagnew A, Long CM, Evenson G, Martin JF. (2021). Source contributions to phosphorus loads from the Maumee River watershed to Lake Erie. J. Environ. Mgt., 279: 111803. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111803
Grebitus C, Chenarides L, Muenich RL, Mahalov A. Consumers’ Perception of Urban Farming—An Exploratory Study. Frontiers in Sustain. Food Syst., 4(79). DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2020.00079
Schaffer-Smith D, Myint SW, Muenich RL, Tong D, DeMeester JE. Repeated hurricanes reveal risks and opportunities for social-ecological resilience to flooding and water quality problems. Environ. Sci. & Technol., 54(12): 7194-7204. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b07815
Pyron M, Muenich RL, Casper AF. The Conservation Potential of Large Rivers: A Legacy of Research on the Wabash River. Fisheries and Aquatic Sci., 23(15). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41240-020-00160-z
Kujawa H, Kalcic M, Martin J, Aloysius N, Apostel A, Kast J, Murumkar A, Evenson G, Becker R, Boles C, Confesor R, Dagnew A, Guo T, Muenich RL, Redder T, Scavia D, Wang Y-C. The hydrologic model as a source of nutrient loading uncertainty in a future climate. Sci. Total Enviorn., 724: 138004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138004
Hamilton KA, Ahmed W, Rauh E, Rock C, Mclain J, Muenich RL. (2020). Comparing microbial risks from multiple sustainable waste streams applied for agricultural use: Biosolids, manure, and diverted urine. Curr. Opinion in Environ. Sci. & Health, 14: 37-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2020.01.003
Kast J, Long CM, Muenich RL, Martin J, Kalcic MM. Manure Management at Ohio Confined Animal Feeding Facilities in the Maumee River Watershed.J. Great LakesRes., in press.
Scavia D, Bocaniov S, Dagnew A, Hu Y, Kerkez B, Long CM, Muenich RL, Read J, Vaccaro L, Wang Y-C. Detroit River Phosphorus Loads: Anatomy of a Binational Watershed. J. Great LakesRes., in press.
Kalcic MM, Muenich RL, Basile S, Steiner AL, Kirchhoff C, Scavia D. (2019). Climate Change and Nutrient Loading in the Western Lake Erie Basin: Warming Can Counteract a Wetter Future. Environ. Sci. & Technol., 53(13): 7543-7550. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01274
Dagnew A, Scavia D, Wang Y-C, Muenich RL, Kalcic MM. (2019). Modeling phosphorus reduction strategies from the international St. Clair-Detroit River system watershed. J. Great Lakes. Res., 45(4): 742-751. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2019.04.005
Dagnew A, Scavia D, Wang Y-C, Muenich RL, Long, CM, Kalcic MM. (2019). Modeling Flow, Nutrient and Sediment Delivery from a Large International Watershed using a Field-Scale SWAT model. J. Amer. Wat. Resourc. Assoc., in press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12779
Li P, Muenich RL, Chaubey I, Wei X, (2019). Evaluating Agricultural BMP Effectiveness in Improving Freshwater Provisioning Under Changing Climate. Wat. Resour. Mgt., 33(2): 453-473.DOI: 10.1007/s11269-018-2098-y
Giudice DD, Muenich RL, Kalcic MM, Bosch NS, Scavia D, Michalak AM. (2018). On the practical usefulness of least squares for assessing uncertainty in hydrologic and water quality predictions. Environ. Model. & Software, 105: 286-295. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.03.009
Long CM, Muenich RL, Kalcic MM, Scavia D. (2018). Use of manure nutrients from concentration animal feeding operations. J Great Lakes Res., 44(2): 245-252. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2018.01.006
Muenich RL, Kalcic MM, Winsten J, Fisher K, Day M, O’Neil G, Wang Y-C, Scavia D. (2017). Pay-for-performance conservation using SWAT highlights need for field-level agricultural conservation. Trans. ASABE., 60(6): 1925-1937. DOI: 10.13031/trans.12379
Raj C, Chaubey I, Muenich RL, et al. (2017). Influence of bioenergy crop production and climate change on ecosystem services. J. Amer. Water Resour. Assoc., 53(6). DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12591
Xu X, Wang Y-C, Kalcic M, Muenich RL, Yang Y-C E, Scavia D. (2017). Evaluating the impact of climate change on fluvial flood risk in a mixed-use watershed. Environ. Model. & Software. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.07.013
Scavia D, Kalcic MM, Muenich RL, et al. (2017). Multiple models guide strategies for agricultural nutrient reductions. Frontiers in Ecol. & Environ., 15(3):123-132. DOI: 1002/fee.1472.
Muenich RL, Kalcic M, Scavia D. (2016). Evaluating the impact of legacy P and agricultural conservation practices on nutrient loads from the Maumee River Watershed. Environ. Sci. & Technol., 50(15). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01421.
Muenich RL, Chaubey I, Pyron M. (2016). Evaluating potential water quality drivers of a fish regime shift in the Wabash River using the SWAT model. Ecol. Modelling, 340: 116-125. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.09.010
Muenich RL, Bowling LC, Peel S, et al. (2016). The Wabash sampling blitz: A study on the effectiveness of citizen science. Citizen Sci. Theory & Practice, 1(1): 3, 1-15. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/cstp.1
Kalcic M, Kirchhoff C, Bosch N, MuenichRL, et al. (2016). Engaging stakeholders to define feasible and desirable agricultural conservation in Western Lake Erie watersheds. Environ. Sci. & Technol., 50(15). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01420.
Dennedy-Frank PJ, Muenich RL, Chaubey I, Ziv G. (2016). Comparing two tools for ecosystem service assessments regarding water resources decisions. J. Environ. Mgt., 177: 331-340. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.03.012
Li P, Chaubey I, Muenich RL, Wei X. (2016). Evaluation of freshwater ecosystem service provision in the Upper Mississippi River Basin: current status and drivers. Water 8(7):288. DOI: 10.3390/w8070288
Logsdon RA, Kalcic MM, Trybula EM, Chaubey I, Frankenberger J. (2015). Ecosystem services and Indiana agriculture: Farmers’ and conservationists’ perceptions. Interntl. J. Biodiv. Sci., Ecosys. Services & Mgt. 11(3): 262-282. DOI: 10.1080/21513732.2014.998711.
John Sabo (PI), Rebecca Muenich (ASU PI), Kasim Candan (Co-I), Li Huang (Co-I), Reepal Shah (Co-I). Designing nature to enhance resilience of built infrastructure in western U.S. land. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 8/1/2021 - 7/31/2024.
Christine Kirchhoff (PI), Rebecca Muenich (Co-PI), Sylvia Newell (Co-PI), David Kaiser (Co-PI), Robyn Wilson (Co-PI), Hans Pearl (Senior Personnel), Mark McCarthy (Senior Personnel), Tina Andarge (Senior Personnel), Tim Davis (Senior Personnel). DISES: Coproducing Actionable Science to Understand, Mitigate, and Adapt to Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (CHABS). NSF DISES. 1/1/2022 - 12/31/2025.
Vinayak Shedekar (PI), Margaret Kalcic (Co-PI), Rebecca Muenich (Co-PI), Chad Penn (Co-PI), James Camberato (Co-PI), Sushant Mehan (Co-PI), Michael Brooker (Co-PI). 1/1/2022 – 12/31/2025. $749,997
Otakuye Conroy-Ben (PI), Rebecca Muenich (Co-PI), Rolf Halden (Co-PI), Erin Driver (Co-PI). RAPID: Tribal capacity to evaluate COVID-19 using wastewater-based epidemiology. NSF Rapid, Award # 2038372. 7/1/2020 – 6/30/2021.
Enrique Vivoni (PI), Rebecca Muenich (Co-PI), Jaime Garatuza Payan (Co-PI), Enrico Yepez (Co-PI). US-Mexico Training in Environment, Agriculture and Management (TEAM). 100,000 Strong in the Americas. 9/1/2020 – 8/31/2021.
Kerry Hamilton (PI), Rebecca Muenich (Co-PI), Treavor Boyer (Co-PI), Clinton Williams (Co-PI). Accelerating Water and Nutrient Recycling: Evaluating risk trade-offs to develop best management practices for nontraditional agricultural waste stream use. USDA NIFA. 2/1/2020 – 1/31/2023.
Rebecca Muenich (PI), Kerry Hamilton (Co-PI), Tianfang Xu (Co-PI). Quantifying trade-offs in water quantity and quality in a managed aquifer recharge system. Phoenix/Scottsdale Groundwater Contamination Endowment for Research on the Risks and Mitigation of Chemical Releases to the Environment. 1/1/2020 – 12/31/2021.
Rebecca Muenich (PI), Clinton Williams (Co-PI), Otakuye Conroy-Ben (Co-PI), Peter Conden (Co-PI). The nexus of agricultural and urban trade-offs: Enhancing interdisciplinary education and research to create emerging opportunities in Urban Agriculture. USDA Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Building Capacity Grants, Project 1017146, Grant 2018-70001-28751. 10/1/2018 – 9/30/2022.
Completed Awards
Rebecca Muenich (PI), Rebecca Hale (PI). Characterizing FEW system typologies across the continental U.S. for informed FEW research. Socio-environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) Pursuit. 1/1/2020 – 12/31/2021.
Allison Steiner (PI), Donald Scavia (Co-PI), Maria Carmen-Lemos (Co-PI), Frank Lupi (Co-PI), Christine Kirchhoff (Co-PI), Daniel Obenour (Co-PI), Rebecca Muenich (ASU PI/Senior Personnel), Margaret Kalcic (Senior Personnel). Enhancing sustainability in coastal communities threatened by harmful algal blooms by advancing and integrating environmental and socioeconomic modeling. NSF Coastal SEES. Award # 1600012. 9/1/2017–6/30/2020.
Ric Lawson (PI), Margaret Kalcic (Co-PI), Ronald Doetch (Co-PI), Rebecca Muenich (ASU PI/Senior Personnel). Agricultural nutrient reduction in the Huron River Watershed. EPA Great Lakes Research Initiative. 1/1/2018 –12/31/2019 (on no-cost extension).
Glenn O’Neil (PI), Margaret Kalcic (Co-PI), Rebecca Muenich (Co-PI). SWAT modeled forecasts of nutrient loading to Lake Erie from the River Raisin Watershed. USGS. Project # 2018MI251B. 3/1/2018 – 2/28/2019.
Rebecca Muenich (PI). Evaluating ecosystem service change in a future climate in the Himalayas. CRDF Global. 5/1/2018 – 12/31/2018.