Tatum Fowler’s Capstone Thesis
Lily Jones | October 4, 2023
With great ambition, Tatum Fowler recently completed her capstone thesis on the hydrology of man-made wetlands on campus while focusing on flood prevention in the region. Fowler, Warren Wilson College (WWC) ‘24, is an environmental studies major with a concentration in water and earth resources at WWC.
While she focused on specific wetlands on and around campus, Fowler aims to continue her work and research in her home state of Kentucky. Fowler's thesis work focuses on water quality preservation and the creation and restoration of natural and man-made wetlands.
"I hope to restore and create wetlands specifically in Kentucky to help prevent flooding in areas affected by coal mining," Fowler said.
Fowler credits Mark Brenner, professor of environmental studies and biology, as her mentor and inspiration for her wetlands research and thesis.
"I took Mark Brenner's wetlands class and fell in love with these ecosystems," Fowler said.
She expressed passion for the importance of biodiversity and the services wetlands provide to ecosystems. Acting as a nursery for biodiverse species of organisms, wetlands are a crucial element in water purification and biodiversity.
Fowler hopes that by restoring natural wetlands this will aid in not only flood prevention but also water quality issues in Kentucky. The Green River located in Kentucky currently has an arsenic pollution level between eight and 25 times higher than the drinking water standard.
According to Louisville Public Media, “Over the last two years, state inspectors repeatedly found streams of coal ash waste flowing from the landfill’s slopes at rates up to 60 gallons per minute, even on sunny days, records show. They also tested groundwater underneath the landfill. All five monitoring wells showed evidence of coal ash pollution.”
On campus, Fowler works on the Landscaping Crew and enjoys being able to work on the land she studies. The pond behind The Villages on campus is her favorite place to study and relax after a long day of research.