Thomas M Isenhart

Dr. Thomas M Isenhart serves as Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Iowa State University, where he leads research on agricultural water quality improvement through innovative conservation practices.

His educational background includes:

• B.S. in Botany and Environmental Studies (Iowa State University, 1983)
• M.S. in Water Resources (Iowa State University, 1988)
• Ph.D. in Water Resources (Iowa State University, 1992)

Dr. Isenhart specializes in stream and riparian management, focusing on conservation buffers, bioreactors, and saturated buffers to mitigate nutrient pollution in agricultural watersheds. His work integrates field hydrology, erosion dynamics, and land-use planning to address nonpoint source pollution, with particular emphasis on phosphorus and nitrogen transport mechanisms in Iowa's agricultural landscapes.

Analysis of his recent publications (2007-2013) reveals consistent focus on quantifying buffer effectiveness, streambank erosion contributions, and conservation practice synergies at watershed scales. Key trends include advancing saturated buffer technology, characterizing phosphorus sources from eroding banks, and evaluating multi-species riparian systems for enhanced pollutant removal.

No scientific awards were documented in the source materials. His grant portfolio demonstrates sustained funding for watershed-scale projects examining edge-of-field practices, though specific advising relationships remain unlisted. Current research extends bioreactor applications and spatial scaling of nutrient load predictions, operating through Iowa State's Natural Resource Ecology infrastructure with field sites concentrated in Iowa's priority watersheds.