Debabrata Sahoo, Ph.D., P.E., P.H

Associate Professor-Sustainable Water Resources Engineering
Extension Specialist
Water Resources Program Team, Agricultural Sciences Department

Office: 509 Westinghouse Road, Pendleton, SC 29670
Phone: 864-646-2145

Email: dsahoo@clemson.edu
Personal Website: https://www.sahoo-sase-lab.com/

Educational Background

Ph.D Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Texas A&M University 2008

M.S Biological and Agricultural Engineering
University of Arkansas 2004

B.S Agricultural Engineering
Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology 2000

Courses Taught

Guest Lectured-
1. Ecological Engineering
2. Hydrologic Analysis and Design
3. Watershed Modeling
4. Stormwater Management
5. Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
6. Data Acquisition, Management, Analytics and Visualization
7. Water Quality Sampling and Analysis
8. Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology

Profile

Mission Statement: Dr. Sahoo’s research is focused on developing strategies for sustainable water resources for competing and conflicting users (e.g., MS4s, agricultural communities) in the State of South Carolina and beyond. The strategies would assist in defining and developing the next-generation regulations and policies. He believes that sustainable water issues could be addressed by understanding ecosystem and human needs. Evaluation of ecosystem issues can require an understanding of the biogeochemical cycles in aquatic systems that control the fate and transport of pollutants, by effective experiments, monitoring and computational technologies. In his career, Dr. Sahoo has applied several approaches to quantify the impacts of anthropogenic activities such as land-use changes, agriculture, urban growth and natural variabilities on aquatic ecosystems. He takes a multi-disciplinary approach to address watershed issues in coupled human-natural systems. With an understanding of various lotic and lentic processes, he recommends a range of non-structural and structural best management practices in rural and urban watersheds to reduce the export of the pollutant of concern, improve water quality, and minimize ecological degradation.

Beyond Academia: Dr. Sahoo began his career in the private sector intentionally to gain deeper insights into societal issues. To bridge the gap between research and its application, he had spent more than a decade (2008-2020) in understanding the impacts of stormwater on aquatic ecosystems through high-frequency data collections, data management, big-data-driven assessments, statistical and numerical modeling. During those years, he had assisted various municipalities, cities, counties and local governments in South Carolina with a variety of water resources topics such as: TMDL compliance, LID modeling, green infrastructure solutions, economic analysis, water quality monitoring, watershed/water quality modeling, NPDES permits, water resources regulations and policy formation. Based on his professional engineering experiences, he believes that integrated research and extension are key components in solving the grand societal water challenges of both today and the future.

Laboratory: Sustainable Aquatic Sciences and Engineering (SA-SE, https://www.sahoo-sase-lab.com/)
Undergraduate students, Graduate Students (M.S/Ph.D), Post-Docs: To join the SWRL group, please email me at dsahoo@clemson.edu.

Research Interests

HABs-CHABs, Stormwater Management, Ecological Engineering, Watershed/Water Quality Modeling, Watershed Instrumentation and Monitoring, In-stream processes, Biogeochemistry, Water sensor applications, Big Data, Data Management and Data Communication, SMART Systems, Live Modeling, Technologies (WQ databases, dashboards), TMDLs, NPDES, Policies and Regulations.

Extension and Outreach

Dr. Sahoo’s vision is to create an ecosystem for sustainable water resources in the State of South Carolina and to complement the University’s land-grant mission of engineering research, educating students and stakeholders and coordinating/collaborating with the water resources industry. He firmly believes that research should travel beyond the labs and the classrooms. Research is effective when its outcomes are applied by stakeholders through outreach and extension activities.

Dr. Sahoo collaborates with the water agents across the state. In the past, Dr. Sahoo has participated in educating K-12 students on different aspects of water engineering in the midlands of South Carolina encouraging youths in engineering. He has assisted schools and students in Lego-Robotics competition. He is actively engaged in the 5R Modeling efforts to address algal issues and other associated nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, in the Reedy River Watershed (http://cleanreedy.org/), collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including the regulators.

Publications

SELECT JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
1. Davis, P., D. Park, B. T. Russell, and D. Sahoo. 2026. Nutrient profiling and water repellency of cover crop residues in the southern United States agroecosystems. Soil Systems, 10, 40. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10030040

2. Lachica, C., A. H. Hagan, K. Barrett, D. Sahoo, C. Sawyer, and J. Pike. 2026. Bioindicators enhance stream assessment: Physicochemical parameters’ effect on salamander abundance. Ecologies 2026, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies7010019

3. Badrudeen, A. T, D. Sahoo, C. B. Sawyer, J. W. Pike and R. D. Harmel. 2026. A critical review of statistical, signal processing and machine learning methods for continuous and high-frequency water quality data improvement. Ecological Informatics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2026.103619

4. Moreira, G., A. Shaw, N. Amin, W. Gao, D. Sahoo, and E. McLamore. 2026. A dip-and-read capacitive electrochemical sensor for orthophosphate monitoring. Sustainability Science and Technology. 10.1088/2977-3504/ae3d3b

5. Sahoo, D. S. Mehan, and S. Hunt. 2025. Digital water: Computing tools, technologies and trends. Journal of Natural Resources and Agricultural Ecosystems, 3(4), 201-206. https://doi.org/10.13031/jnrae.16475

6. Fatunmbi, M., D. Sahoo, A. E. Scaroni, S. A. White, C. Sawyer, and E. Smith. 2025. Pond age and cycling of phosphorus within water and sediment of coastal stormwater ponds. Journal of Ecological Engineering Design, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.70793/jeed.26

7. Medina, N., M. R. Rad, S. Nozari, J. F. Suter, R. T. Bailey, and D. Sahoo. 2025. Water scarcity compounds the negative effects of salinity on irrigated agriculture. Water Resources Research, 61. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024WR038504

8. Strickland, G., D. Sahoo, M. Vassalos, H. Nix, and S. W. White. 2025. Evaluation of South Carolina’s Extension and Outreach Agents’ Knowledge of Harmful Algal Bloom Management and the Impacts of One-Day Training. Journal of Extension, 63(3), Article 16. https://open.clemson.edu/joe/vol63/iss3/16

9. Agunbiade, G., D. Sahoo, L. O’Halloran, L. Silva, and H. Malcomson. 2025. Impact of silvopasture on soil health and water quality in the southeast USA: A review. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 59, 102448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102448

10. Jordan, E. N., D. Sahoo, C. B. Sawyer, J. W. Pike, D. M. Park, S. A. White, and B. E. Haggard. 2025. Nutrient dynamics in restored and unrestored urban streams: A study in the piedmont ecoregion of South Carolina. Frontiers: Environmental Science, 13. https://doi:10.3389/fenvs.2025.1549218

For the rest of the publications, please visit Dr. Sahoo’s Google Scholar webpage
SELECT PEER-REVIEWED EXTENSION JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
1. Severino da Silva, L., L. O’Halloran, L., D. Sahoo, J. Steele, M. Motallebi, J. Ureta, C. Ureta, G. Agunbiade, I. Busari, H. Malcomson, and D. Phinney. 2025. Establishment and management of silvopasture in South Carolina. A silvopasture handbook, Clemson Extension, Clemson University.

2. Silva, L., S. A White, H. B. Nix, and D. Sahoo. 2023. Plants for livestock pond buffers. Land Grant Press, Clemson University.

3. Busari, I., D. Sahoo and C. Privette. 2023. Introduction to Watershed Water Quality Models. Land Grant Press, Clemson University.

4. White, S., E. Bores, J. Hains, H. Nix, and D. Sahoo. 2023. Harmful Algal Blooms: A pocket field guide for South Carolina. Clemson University. https://dc.statelibrary.sc.gov/handle/10827/51956

5. Brock, M., D. Sahoo, C. Sawyer, and J. Pike. 2023. Streamflow: What is it and how do we measure it? Land Grant Press, Clemson University.

6. Nix, H., D. Sahoo, S. A. White, J. Hains, and I. Busari. 2022. Harmful Algal Blooms-Prevention, Response, and Avoidance Manual. Clemson Extension, Clemson University https://dc.statelibrary.sc.gov/handle/10827/51960

7. Sahoo. D. 2022. Digital Water: Technologies to understand water as an integrated system. Resource Magazine. 29(4).

8. Busari, I., D. Sahoo, H. B. Nix, C. G. Wallover, S. A. White and C. B. Sawyer. 2022. Introduction to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in South Carolina Freshwater Systems. Land Grant Press, Clemson University.

9. Sahoo, D., M. Yazdi, J. Owen, and S. White. 2021. The Basics of Irrigation Reservoirs for Agriculture. Land Grant Press, Clemson University.

10. Scaroni, A. E., D. Sahoo and C. G. Wallover. 2021. An introduction to stormwater ponds in South Carolina. Land Grant Press, Clemson University.

BOOK CHAPTERS
1. Panda, S., D. Sahoo, P. Jat, and R. Mohanty 2024. Remote Measurement of Potential Water Loss through Evapotranspiration of Kadzu during the Growing Season with Artificial Intelligence-based Decision Support Tool in Evapotranspiration in agro-ecosystems and forestry-spatio-temporal applications. Elsevier Publications

2. Mishra, A. R., E. P. Mishra, and D. Sahoo. 2024. Vegetation Dynamics and Crop Stress. Chapter 13: Applications of hyperspectral imaging and spectroscopy in agriculture. Elsevier Publications.

3. Busari, I., and D. Sahoo. 2023. Hydro-Environmental Impact Assessment of Climate and Land Use Change on Watersheds for Sustainable Development. Chapter-Climate and Land Use Change Impacts on Harmful Algal Blooms in Freshwater Systems, Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

4. Sahoo., D and John Schooler. 2020. Stormwater, Watershed, and Receiving Water Quality Modeling. Appendix A, Appendix B and Appendix C, Water Environment Federation.

SELECT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
1. Getting smart about clean water, 2018. D. Sahoo, B. Hammond, and M. Davis. https://woolpert.com/resource/getting-smart-about-clean-water/

2. How can stormwater be smart, 2018. D. Sahoo. https://woolpertlabs.com/2018/07/how-can-stormwater-be-smart/

3. Getting more bang for your buck: How to select a TMDL compliance Tool, 2017. D. Sahoo, H. Clarkson, B. Hammond, G. Inouye, C. Muller, and N. Turek. https://woolpertlabs.com/2017/03/getting-more-bang-for-your-buck-how-to-select-a-tmdl-compliance-tool/

SELECT TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS/SCIENTIFIC REPORTS/FACTSHEETS
1. Sahoo, D and others. Significant contribution in “Continuous watershed monitoring data analysis and interpretation, 2016: Greenville County Public Works Department”. Report submitted to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

2. Sahoo, D and others. Significant contribution in “Continuous watershed monitoring data analysis and interpretation, 2015: Greenville County Public Works Department”. Report submitted to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

3. Sahoo, D and others. Significant contribution in “Water Quality Monitoring Report, 2015: City of Columbia, Utilities and Engineering Department”. Report submitted to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

4. Sahoo, D and others. Significant contribution in “Water Quality Monitoring Report, 2013: City of Columbia, Utilities and Engineering Department”. Report submitted to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

5. Sahoo, D and others. Significant contribution in “Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Sampling and Analysis for Greenville County, South Carolina, Continuous Water Quality Monitoring Network. 2011. QAPP submitted to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environment.


SELECT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
1. Chaudry, M. H., S. L. Whitmire, D. Sahoo, and S. E. Waickowski. How do different plastic polymer types impact the periphyton dynamics of coastal stormwater ponds? SETAC, 46th Annual Meeting, Portland, Oregon, 11/16/2025-11/20/2025.

2. Neupane, J., D. Sahoo, S. Waickowski, I. Busari, and J. Ryder. Early prediction of harmful algal blooms (HABs) using a deep learning model. NALMS Conference, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 11/04/2025-11/07/2025.

3. Busari, I., D. Sahoo, K. Kirk, H. Nix, J. Hains, and F. McAlhany. A web app to combat harmful algal blooms in ponds. NALMS Conference, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 11/04/2025-11/07/2025.

4. Badrudeen, A., D. Sahoo, C. B. Sawyer, C. Post and J. Pike. Application of EEMD and VMD hybrid to denoise high-frequency water quality sensor data. 4th annual CAFLS graduate research symposium, Edisto REC, 10/14/2025.

5. Gafar, A., D. Sahoo, Q. Su, L. O’Halloran, L. Silva, and M. Hannah. Evaluating the ecohydrological impact of silvopasture systems on soil health and water quality: A field-to-model approach. 4th annual CAFLS graduate research symposium, Edisto REC, 10/14/2025.

6. Sahoo, D. I. Busari and N. Das. Improving algal bloom forecasts through machine learning and data assimilation integration. ASABE, AIM 2025, Toronto, Canada, 07/13/2025-07/15/2025

7. Sahoo, D., C. Sawyer, J. Pike and E. Jordan. Understanding the impact of short in-stream disturbances on nutrient dynamics in two contrasting streams. ASABE, AIM 2025, Toronto, Canada, 07/13/2025-07/15/2025.

8. Davis, P., D. Park, B. Russell, D. Sahoo, A. Poncet, and N. Jiménez-Morillo. Can cover crops influence soil water repellency in Southern United States soils? EuroSoil Conference 2025, Spain, 09/09/2025-09/12/2025.

9. Davis, P., D. Park, B. Russell, and D. Sahoo. Short-term influence and potential long-term impacts of cover corps on the health of Southern United States inceptisols. TERRAenVISION 2025, Spain, 07/08/2025-07/11/2025.

10. Sahoo, D., C. Sawyer, J. Pike and E. Jordan. Nutrient dynamics in response to short-term in-stream disturbances in contrasting stream environments. AEES 2025 Annual Meeting, Athens, Georgia, 05/28/2025-05/30/2025.

SELECT INVITED TALKS/WEBINARS: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL/PANEL DISCUSSIONS
1. Invited presentation “Pond construction, maintenance, and renovation”. Pond Management Workshop, organized by South Carolina State University, Lake Warren State Park. 02/26/2026.

2. Invited presentation “Wet pond design, maintenance, and emerging trend in sustainable management”. South Carolina Aquatic Plant Management Society, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 10/14/2025.

3. Invited podcast style webinar organized by Soil and Water Conservation Society, USA on “AI tools for the people who power conservation”: Conservation professionals’ week. 08/26/2025.

4. Invited presentation “Industry and academic perspectives on AI tools. In the session: AI and Digital Tools for the Classroom, Extension, and Industry Continuing Education”. NRES Distinguished Lecture Series at ASABE, AIM 2025, Toronto, Canada. 07/14/2025.

5. Invited presentation “Harmful Algal Blooms: What they are and What to do about them”. SCASM second quarter meeting, Columbia, SC. 06/12/2025.

6. Invited presentation “Are stormwater ponds fulfilling their role in phosphorus cycling? Invited presentation at the Grand Strand Stormwater Pond Management Conference, Georgetown, SC. 02/19/2025.

7. Invited presentation “Are stormwater ponds fulfilling their role in phosphorus cycling? at the Grand Strand Stormwater Pond Management Conference. Georgetown, SC. 02/19/2025.

8. Invited presentation “So how are stormwater ponds and restored streams treating phosphorus in urban watersheds” South Carolina Association of Stormwater Managers (SCASM), Third quarter, Columbia, SC. 9/5/2024

9. Invited presentation “Impact of stream restoration on nutrient dynamics. Invited speaker at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India. 03/09/2024.

10. Invited presentation “Understanding nutrient dynamics in two contrasting urban streams”. ASABE AIM 2023 meeting at Omaha, Nebraska. 07/08/2023-07/12/2023.

Links