UA Expands Water Research To The Wiregrass Region
Water is the essential compound that makes life on Earth possible. It also can be detrimental to life when too much of it floods and too little of it leads to drought. The importance of water brought the National Water Center, U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic and Instrumentation Facility and Alabama Water Institute to the University of Alabama campus and made it a critical water research and monitoring center.
UA is expanding its water research to the Wiregrass Region of Southeast Alabama with the development of the Critical Response and Information Management System for Operational Needs, or CRIMSON, Water Initiative. A UA press release says the soon to be operational program will, "...provide access to UA’s water-related expertise for communities across southeast Alabama. The CRIMSON Water Initiative will use data analysis and forecasting tools to help communities prepare for and rapidly respond to floods, droughts and other water-related challenges."
“The opening of the UA Wiregrass Hub represents another major step in The University of Alabama’s commitment to strengthening innovation and economic development across our state,” UA President Peter J. Mohler was quoted as saying in the release. “By expanding nationally recognized expertise in water research and planning directly into Southeast Alabama, we are continuing our mission as an institution that serves every region of our state.”
Federal Emergency Management Agency statistics point to flooding and other water hazards as comprising more than 75% of presidential disaster declarations nationwide.
The U.S. has seen devastating flash floods throughout its history, but rising global temperatures today are increasing the risk of flooding as reported by the Journal of Geography & Natural Disasters.
The Wiregrass and south Alabama region of the state are susceptible to flooding from tropical weather and severe thunderstorms. The area remains in a significant drought. This makes locating CRIMSON in downtown Enterprise a perfect location. It is expected to open in fall of 2026.
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