Skip to main content

3RQ Research Partners

Led by the West Virginia Water Research Institute at West Virginia University, 3RQ Research Partners conduct monthly sampling to monitor the water quality of the three rivers basin, analyze long-term trends, and provide a valuable baseline dataset. Sampling takes place on the mainstem and mouths of major tributaries of the MonongahelaAllegheny, and Ohio rivers and includes a full detailed laboratory analysis of the samples. This detailed water chemistry and flow information is used to determine the loadings of Total Dissolved Solids and other parameters.


MONONGAHELA RIVER QUEST REGION

Melissa O’Neal
Program Manager
West Virginia Water Research Institute
(304) 293-7006
Melissa.O’Neal@mail.wvu.edu

Researchers

Current: Rachel Spirnak, Eliza Siefert

Former: Sarah Cayton, Benjamin Mack, Benjamin Pursglove, Aaron Beam, Chance Chapman, Dave Saville, Glenn Waldron

Graduate Students 

Current: Joseph Kingsbury 

Former: Maddie Cogar, Alison Anderson, Zac Zacavish

Undergraduate Students 

Current: Adam Gratton

Former: Jude Platz, Loren Gormley, Joshua Ash, Jason Eulberg, Cullen Platz, Reva Dickson, Elizabeth D’Amico, Anthony DiAmario, Kaylynn Kotlar, Ashley Tyler


NORTHERN ALLEGHENY RIVER QUEST REGION

Bruce Dickson
RedHorse Environmental, LLC (PA)
(814) 806-6073
bdickson@redhorseenvironmental.com


SOUTHERN ALLEGHENY RIVER QUEST REGION

Brady Porter 
Duquesne University
(412) 396-5786
porterb@duq.edu

John Stolz
Duquesne University
(412) 396-4367
stolz@duq.edu

Researcher

Beth Dakin 

Students

Current: Riley Williams

Former: Maria Nagle, Lauren Drumm, Oliver Dugas, Emily Day, Emily Valentine, Maria Wheeler-Dubas, Rob Dubas, Josie Harsh, Kim Bischof, Luke Scherer 

Student M.S. thesis research based at least in part on 3RQ data:

Emily (Mashuda) Day, June 2016. Analysis of the water quality of the Kiskiminetas River system and its impacts on the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania. M.S. Thesis, Center for Environmental Research & Education, Duquesne University. https://dsc.duq.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1100&context=etd

Selina Prettner, July 2019. A study of chloride levels in Pine Creek, Allegheny County, PA. M.S. Thesis, Center for Environmental Research & Education, Duquesne University.

Riley Williams, In progress. Working Title: Investigations of water quality imparement in the Little Buffalo Creek watershed, Butler County, PA. M.S. Thesis, Center for Environmental Research & Education, Duquesne University.

Katherine Stupar, In progress. Working Title: Assessment of water quality in Crooked Creek, Armstrong County, PA using fish surveys and water chemistry. M.S. Thesis, Center for Environmental Research & Education, Duquesne University.


UPPER OHIO RIVER QUEST REGION

James Wood 
West Liberty University  
(304) 336-8884
james.wood@westliberty.edu

Memorial Partner

Benjamin Stout III
Wheeling Jesuit University

Researcher

Dave Saville

Graduate Students

Abigail O'Connor, Garrett Hoover

Undergraduate Students

Emily Huff, Elizabeth Cika

Partners

Logo
Logo
Red Horse Environmental logo
Duquesne University logo
Colcom Foundation logo
Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds