Associate Professor of Hydrology
Earth and Space Sciences
Engineering, Natural Sciences
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, SUNY at Buffalo, 2016
M.S., Environmental Science and Policy, Johns Hopkins University, 1999
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 1993
Biography
Dr. Stacey Sloan Blersch has over 20 years experience working in ecological restoration
& watershed planning in private, government, and academic sectors. She joined Columbus
State University in 2016, and serves as an associate professor of hydrology in the
Department of Earth and Space Sciences. She currently is coordinator for the MS Natural
Science environmental science track, as well as a representative on the Georgia Climate
Project's academic committee. She is engaged with research on measuring ecosystem
restoration effectiveness in headwater streams (The Nature Conservancy of Georgia)
and determining climate resiliency strategies for Fort Benning as part of UGA's Engineering
with Nature Initiative.
Academic Areas
Hydrology
Environmental Science
Sustainability
Water resources management
Aquatic ecosystem restoration
Environmental Protection and Compliance
Climate Change Resiliency
Research Interests
• Predicting shifts in hydrologic cycle due to climate change and its effect on the
structure and function of streams and rivers.
• Developing climate resiliency strategies for mitigating impacts due to increased
risks of flooding, droughts, and storm impacts.
• Defining and measuring ecosystem services of freshwater aquatic ecosystems to inform
watershed management policy decisions.
• Design constraints and life cycle analysis of ecosystem restoration techniques (streams,
wetlands, riparian zone).
• Restoring natural infrastructure for stormwater and nutrient management in various
landscapes (urban, suburban, rural) and at various scales (reach to watershed level).
• Developing predictive tools and management techniques that link changes in abiotic
conditions to ecosystem services of freshwater ecosystems.
