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Rebecca Muenich

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School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment
Asst Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 3005
Global Futures Scientists and Scholars
Senior Global Futures Scientist
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 3005
Biography: 

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
Research Website URL: 
http://muenichlab.com/
Google Scholar URL: 
Google Scholar Profile
Experts.asu URL: 
Experts.asu Profile
Research Interests: 

Research Gate

  • Watershed and environmental modeling
  • Agricultural ecosystem managment
  • Urban agriculture
  • Food-energy-water nexus
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Climate and land management impacts on surface water hydrology and water quality
  • Multifunctional landscapes to enhance ecosystem services
Research Group: 

Current Lab Group:

  • Danica Schaffer-Smith, Research Assistant Professor
  • Ting Liu, Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Lorrayne Miralha, Ph.D. Candidate
  • Eleanor Rauh, Ph.D. Candidate
  • Maria Elena Menchu Maldonado, Ph.D. Student
  • Emma Bonham, M.S. Student
  • Tannis Breure, Undergraduate Researcher
  • Hannah Collins, Undergraduate Researcher
  • Dula Karakozis, Undergraduate Researcher
  • Suraya Sidique, Undergraduate Researcher
  • Ander Zamora, Undergraduate Researcher
Publications: 
  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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  
  8. 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  
  9. 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   
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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   
  13. 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
  14. 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  
  15. 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 Lakes Res., in press.
  16. 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 Lakes Res., in press.
  17. 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​
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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​​
  21. 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​​​
  22. 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 
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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 
  26. 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.
  27. Steinman AD, et al., and Muenich RL. (2017). Ecosystem services in the Great Lakes. J.Great Lakes Res., 43(3): 161-168. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2017.02.004
  28. 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.
  29. 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
  30. 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
  31. Kalcic M, Kirchhoff C, Bosch N, Muenich RL, 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.
  32. 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
  33. 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
  34. 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.
  35. Logsdon RA, Chaubey I. (2013). A quantitative approach to evaluating ecosystem services. Ecol. Modelling, 257: 57-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.02.009
Research Activity: 

Active Awards

  1. 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.
  2. Otakuye Conroy-Ben (PI), Rolf Halden (PI), Kerry Hamilton (PI), Rebecca Muenich (Co-I), Erin Driver (Co-I), Marcus Denetdale (Co-I). SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance in Tribal Communities. NIH RADX, Project # 1U01DA053976-01. 12/1/2020 – 11/30/2022. 
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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. 
  6. 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. 
  7. 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. 
  8. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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). 
  3. 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. 
  4. Rebecca Muenich (PI). Evaluating ecosystem service change in a future climate in the Himalayas. CRDF Global. 5/1/2018 – 12/31/2018. 
Fall 2021
Course NumberCourse Title
EVE 394Special Topics
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
EVE 492Honors Directed Study
EVE 493Honors Thesis
EVE 571Water Quality Modeling
GRD 598Special Topics
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
CEE 799Dissertation
Summer 2021
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 590Reading and Conference
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
CEE 799Dissertation
Spring 2021
Course NumberCourse Title
EVE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 493Honors Thesis
EVE 493Honors Thesis
EVE 494Special Topics
CEE 592Research
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
CEE 799Dissertation
Fall 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
EVE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 591Seminar
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
CEE 799Dissertation
Summer 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 590Reading and Conference
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
CEE 799Dissertation
Spring 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
EVE 214Envr Engineer Mechanics
CEE 493Honors Thesis
EVE 494Special Topics
EVE 499Individualized Instruction
CEE 591Seminar
CEE 592Research
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
CEE 799Dissertation
Fall 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
EVE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 598Special Topics
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
Summer 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 590Reading and Conference
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
Spring 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
EVE 214Envr Engineer Mechanics
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
CEE 799Dissertation
Fall 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
EVE 394Special Topics
CEE 494Special Topics
EVE 494Special Topics
CEE 598Special Topics
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
Summer 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 790Reading and Conference
Spring 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
EVE 214Envr Engineer Mechanics
Fall 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 598Special Topics
Honors / Awards: 
  1. Outstanding Faculty Mentor, ASU Faculty Women's Association, 2021
  2. Inductee to the Arkansas Academy of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, 2020
  3. New Face of American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, 2020
  4. France A. Cordova Leadership in Action Award, Purdue University, 2014
  5. ABE Outstanding Service Award, Purdue University College of Engineering, 2014
  6. Emily M. Wadsworth Graduate Mentoring Award, Women in Engineering Program, Purdue University, 2012
  7. Robert E. Stewart Engineering and Humanites Award, American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, 2011
  8. National Science Foundation Gradaute Research Fellowship, 2009
Professional Associations: 
  1. American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers
  2. American Geophysical Union
  3. Association of Environmental Science and Engineering Professors
  4. American Society of Civil Engineers
  5. International Water Association
Service: 
  1. Research Scientist, Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance
  2. International Joint Commission Fertilizer Work Group
  3. Great Lakes Harmful Aglal Blooms Collaboratory
Expertise Areas: 
Agriculture
Ecosystem Services
Food, Water, and Energy Nexus
Water Resource Management
Watershed Hydrology