Healthy and Resilient Communities Research Webinar Series

June 10, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET

Register on Zoom

The degradation of aquatic ecosystems can have widespread impacts on both aquatic ecosystem function and aquatic organism health. This loss of ecological integrity can negatively affect aquatic ecosystems and can result in impairments to recreational water use or drinking water consumption, loss of fish and wildlife populations, and degraded aesthetics. Beneficial use impairment is presumed to impact human health; however, comprehensive reporting of impacts on health outcomes is lacking. This webinar will present findings on two widespread impairments — degraded aesthetics and water contact resulting from combined sewage overflows — and how the relationship between ecological restoration and human health should be considered in a systems context.

Presenter

Joel Hoffman, Ph.D. — Joel is a biologist and supervisor of the Ecosystem Services Branch within the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division in the Office of Research and Development’s Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure. Joel leads interdisciplinary research that addresses how improving environmental quality improves the benefits people receive from nature. This research is conducted in a social-ecological systems context to support sustainable, ecosystem-based management of coastal ecosystems. Joel has a B.S. in Resource Ecology and Management and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Marine Science from The College of William and Mary.

Certificates of Attendance

Attendees will have the option to receive a certificate of attendance. Acceptance is contingent on organization requirements—EPA cannot guarantee acceptance.