Forecasting a critical watershed’s uncertain future

The Schuylkill River is more than just a tranquil aesthetic along one of the most brutal highways into and out of Philadelphia. It’s a vital tributary within the Mid-Atlantic corridor of the United States, serving other key waterways as well. With ever-changing environmental factors acting as a backdrop, Drexel University Associate Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Dr. Mira Olson was one of the lead researchers for a recently-completed study that forecasts how the Schuylkill Watershed will behave over the next 20 years, and what the subsequent ramifications there could be on drinking, irrigation, transportation, energy, recreation, and ecosystem demands in the Philadelphia region and beyond.