Digital Commons Network^™

Storm And Base Flow Water Quality For Bear, Calf, And Tomahawk Creeks, Kenneth F. Steele, David N. Mott

Technical Reports

Because of the conversion of 92,780 acres of forest to pasture land in the Buffalo River watershed over a 27 year period, there is concern about the affect of agricultural activities on the water quality of the river. Three tributaries (Bear, Calf and Tomahawk creeks) located about mid-length of the Buffalo River were chosen to investigate the affect of agricultural activity on water quality because these streams provide the greatest amounts of fecal bacteria, nitrate+nitrite and phosphorus to the river, despite comprising only 13% of the watershed.

Interagency Lake Mead And Las Vegas Wash Monitoring Program: Standard Operating Procedures Manual, Bureau Of Reclamation, City Of Henderson Water Reclamation Facility, City Of Las Vegas Water Pollution Control Facility, Clark County Sanitation District, Nevada, Southern Nevada Water Authority

Publications (WR)

A number of agencies sample Lake Mead and the Las Vegas Wash on a routine basis at several locations. In order to share and properly interpret the data, the Bureau of Reclamation, Southern Nevada Water Authority and the three Wastewater Treatment Facilities (City of Las Vegas, Clark County Sanitation District and City of Henderson) formed a committee to examine sampling and analytical protocols and to share information with the goal of maximizing the data quality. The group first met in April 1997.

It was agreed that an effort should be made to discuss and compare specific sampling and analytical techniques …

Llinois River 1997 Pollutant Loads At Arkansas Highway 59 Bridge, Marc A. Nelson, Thomas S. Soerens

Technical Reports

Automatic water samplers and a USGS gauging station were established in 1995 on the main stem of the Illinois River at the Arkansas Highway 59 Bridge. Since that time, continuous stage and discharge measurements and water quality sampling have been used to determine pollutant concentrations and loads in the Arkansas portion of the Illinois River. This report represents the results from the measurement and sampling for January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997.

Specific Absorption And Backscatter Coefficient Signatures In Southeastern Atlantic Coastal Waters, Charles R. Bostater

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Measurements of natural water samples in the field and laboratory of hyperspectral signatures of total absorption and reflectance were obtained using long pathlength absorption systems (50 cm pathlength). Water was sampled in Indian River Lagoon, Banana River and Port Canaveral, Fl. Stations were also occupied in near coastal waters out to the edge ofthe Gulf Stream in the vicinity of Kennedy Space Center, Fl. and estuarine waters along Port Royal Sound and along the Beaufort River tidal area in South Carolina. The measurements were utilized to calculate natural water specific absorption, total backscatter and specific backscatter optical signatures. The resulting …

Vegetated Filter Strip Removal Of Cattle Manure Constituents In Runoff, Teng T. Lim, Dwayne R. Edwards, Stephen R. Workman, Brian T. Larson, Lloyd Dunn

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Pasture runoff can contribute to elevated concentrations of nutrients, solids, and bacteria in downstream waters. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of vegetative filter strip (VFS) length on concentrations and transport of nitrogen, phosphorus, solids and fecal coliform in runoff from plots treated with cattle manure. Three plots with dimensions of 2.4 × 30.5 m were used. The upper 12.2 m of each plot was treated with cattle manure, while the lower 18.3 m acted as a VFS. Runoff produced by rainfall simulators was sampled at VFS lengths of 0, 6.1, 12.2, and 18.3 m and …

Maine, Volume 79, Number 1, Spring 1998, University Of Maine General Alumni Association

UMaine Alumni Magazines - All

Contents:

Goal, Lorenz! UMaine's Women's Hockey Star --- Too Much Mercury: UMaine Researchers Have Been Warning About Mercury Concentrations in Maine Waters for Decades --- Lighting 'The Lion King': UMaine Forestry Graduate Don Holder '80 Makes It to the Big Time as the Lighting Designer For One of Broadway's Biggest Hits --- Forcing Diversity Issues to the Forefront: An Ugly Racial Incident Leads to a UMaine Community Discussion on Making the Campus More Inviting for People of Color --- Supreme Justice: A Profile of Maine's Newest State Supreme Court Justice, Leigh Ingalls Saufley '76

Portland Islands Clam Flat Technical Assistance Project, Normandeau Associates, Inc.

Publications

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Parameter Distributions On Uncertainty Analysis Of Hydrologic Models, C. Thomas Haan, Daniel E. Storm, T. Al-Issa, Sandeep Prabhu, George J. Sabbagh, Dwayne R. Edwards

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Increasing concern about the accuracy of hydrologic and water quality models has prompted interest in procedures for evaluating the uncertainty associated with these models. If a Monte Carlo simulation is used in an uncertainty analysis, assumptions must be made relative to the probability distributions to assign to the model input parameters. Some have indicated that since these parameters can not be readily determined, uncertainty analysis is of limited value. In this article we have evaluated the impact of parameter distribution assumptions on estimates of model output uncertainty. We conclude that good estimates of the means and variances of the input …

Land Use Patterns In Relation To Lake Water Quality In The Great Pond Watershed, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Great Pond (2012, 2010, 1998)

Lakes are natural resources, which have many effects on the land surrounding them, They support adjacent communities by providing water and regulating temperatures, helping to define the surrounding ecosystem, and serving as sources of drinking water as well as recreation. The prolonged presence of human activity in a watershed can disturb the physical and chemical cycles of the lake and its surrounding ecosystems (Henderson-Sellers and Markland 1987). Over time, lakes undergo a process called eutrophication, a natural aging process during which the nutrient levels increase and dissolved oxygen levels decrease (Smith and Smith 1998). As the lake ages or becomes …

Ec98-746 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska's System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk: Introduction, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Groundwater provides nearly all the water for domestic use in rural Nebraska. It’s essential that the quality of our groundwater, along with that of our surface water resources, be protected. It is especially important to protect the drinking water supply on any homesites where a private domestic well is used. The risk to water quality of various activities at homesites and on surrounding lands varies. Identifying high-risk activities can help determine where to use limited financial and management resources. By increasing knowledge and using careful management, you can greatly reduce the risk of water contamination, often with little or no …

Ec98-796 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Worksheet 17: Stormwater Management At Residential Sites, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Stormwater is water from irrigation, rain or melting snow that does not soak into the ground. It flows from rooftops, over paved areas and bare soil, and across sloped lawns. As it flows, this runoff can collect and transport soil, pet waste, livestock manure, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, leaves, litter and other potential pollutants. A heavy rainstorm isn’t needed to send pollutants rushing toward streams, wetlands and lakes. A garden hose alone can supply enough water.

Ec98-754 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Worksheet 7: Hazardous Materials And Waste Management, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Consider the variety of products commonly used in households, on acreages and on farms: paints, solvents, oils, cleaners, wood preservatives, batteries, adhesives, and pesticides. Also consider the amount of these products which goes unused or is thrown away. Some common disposal practices can create an unsafe environment around the home and may contaminate groundwater. Additionally, many of these common disposal practices violate Nebraska law.

Ec98-753 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Fact Sheet 7: Improving Hazardous Materials And Waste Management, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Waste is inevitable. Things which have been outgrown, broken, replaced, or are just no longer needed add to the waste produced at homes, acreages and around farms. Most of the waste accumulated around the farm, acreage and home is solid waste. Solid waste includes all discarded materials — newspapers, empty paint cans, liquids, gases, pickle jars, orange peelings, leftover food, worn out shoes, junk mail — this list is endless. Some of these solid wastes contain potentially hazardous materials.

Ec98-755 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Fact Sheet 13: Improving Milking Center Effluent Treatment, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Effluent from the dairy milking center, including discharges from the milking parlor (manure, feed solids, hoof dirt) and milkhouse (bulk tank and pipeline rinse water and detergent used in cleaning), is commonly disposed of in a variety of ways. Milking center effluent offers several unique challenges due to the presence of: 1. Large volumes of contaminated water which can overwhelm soil absorption systems. 2. Milk solids and fats and manure solids which plug many systems. 3. Cleaning sanitizers which reduce bacterial breakdown of solids. When these systems fail, effluent will become a risk to surface and groundwater quality.

Ec98-765 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 3: Improving Drinking Water Well Condition, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Groundwater protection is an important aspect of farm, ranch and rural homesite management today. Nearly all rural families rely on groundwater for their drinking water. Safeguarding the drinking water depends on where the well is placed on the site, how the well was constructed, how the well is maintained, the siting of new wells, and managing wells no longer in use.

Ec98-771 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 8: Improving Household Wastewater Treatment, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

A properly installed and maintained system for treating and disposing of household wastewater will minimize the impact of that system on groundwater and surfacewater. State and local codes specify how wastewater systems must be designed, installed, and maintained. For example, Title 124 regulates the design, operation, and maintenance of septic tank systems in Nebraska. In addition, federal and state regulations guide the stabilization and land application of wastewater septage.

Ec98-792 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 16: Improving Crop Pesticide Application Management, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Though pesticides are especially harmful to the target pest, they are also potentially harmful to most living and breathing creatures and non-target plant life. Proper handling and application management of pesticides are important to protect you and to protect surface and groundwater from contamination. Pesticides were first found in groundwater in the 1970s. Prior to that, the general belief was that pesticides did not leach into the groundwater with normal use.

Kentucky River Basin Water Quality Assessment Study, L. Ormsbee, L. Jarrett, B. Perkins

KWRRI Research Reports

The current report summarizes the work associated with the construction, calibration, and application of the CE-QUAL-W2 water quality model to the Kentucky River. In applying the model to the Kentucky River System, the primary objective was to assess the impact of the operation of low-level control valves on water quality of the Kentucky River. This was accomplished by modeling the impact of the valves for low flow conditions associated with the 1930 drought of record along with projections for the year 2020. The results of this study indicate that for the modeled scenario, the proposed valves can be used to …

Ec98-750 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Worksheet 12: Silage Storage, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Silage is an important feed for livestock-based agriculture. When properly harvested and stored, silage poses little or no pollution threat, but improper handling can lead to a significant flow of silage juices (or leachate) from the silo. Leachate is an organic liquid that results from pressure in the silo or from extra water entering the silo. It is usually a problem only when silage is fresh, or just after storage. This loss of leachate represents a loss of nutrient value from the silage.

Ec98-749 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Fact Sheet 12: Improving Silage Storage, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Silage is an important feed for livestock-based agriculture. When properly harvested and stored, silage poses little or no pollution threat, but improper handling can lead to a significant flow of silage juices (or leachate) from the silo. Leachate is an organic liquid that results from pressure in the silo or from extra water entering the silo. It is usually a problem only when silage is fresh, or just after storage. This loss of leachate represents a loss of nutrient value from the silage.

Ec98-748 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Worksheet 2: Site Evaluation, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why is the site evaluation important? The effect of farm, ranch or homesite practices on groundwater depends in part on the physical characteristics of your site: soil type, subsurface characteristics and depth to groundwater. That’s why evaluating the soils and geologic characteristics of your site is such an important step in protecting the groundwater you drink. This evaluation focuses primarily on the farmstead or homesite and risk to groundwater, but, to a limited extent, also addresses surface water. The worksheet can be applied to land beyond the farmstead or homesite, but the variation in soils and geologic materials would have …

Ec98-747 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska's System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Summary Worksheet 1: Overall Assessment, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This publication is the first of many dealing with Nebraska's Water Contamination. Getting started You will return to this worksheet after completing all other worksheets. It is designed toreview your total activities and give you a summary of areas of concern. It is suggested that you complete Worksheet 2 first and then complete all additional worksheets that pertain to your farm, ranch, or homesite. Transfer results from individual worksheets to complete this overall summary

Ec98-752 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Worksheet 9: Livestock Manure Storage, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Accumulating manure in storage incurs certain risks to the environment and to human and animal health unless appropriate precautions are taken.Manure can contribute nutrients and disease-causing organisms to both surface water and groundwater.

Ec98-751 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Fact Sheet 9: Improving Livestock Manure Storage, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Manure storage is an important manure management option for livestock producers. Stored manure can be applied to the soil when nutrient uptake by crops can be maximized and weather related losses minimized. Preplant applications of manure incorporated into the soil ensures maximum crop nutrient value, while reducing risks of water contamination.

Ec98-758 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Worksheet 11: Land Application Of Manure, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Stewardship of soil and water resources should be a goal of every livestock producer. Management decisions made relative to land application of livestock manure will influence the ability to attain that goal.

Ec98-757 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Fact Sheet 11: Improving Land Application Of Manure, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Resource or waste? Stewardship of soil and water resources should be a goal of every livestock producer. Management decisions made relative to land application of livestock manure will influence the ability to attain that goal. An evaluation of your land application practices should focus on the following question: Is manure a waste or are source?

Ec98-756 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Risk Worksheet 13: Milking Center Effluent Treatment, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Milking center effluent is usually considered a dairy sanitation problem. If not properly managed, however, the effluent can contaminate both groundwater and surface water.

Ec98-766 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Worksheet 3: Drinking Water Well Condition, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Essentially all of Nebraska’s rural residents use groundwater to supply their drinking water and farm needs. Wells should provide clean water. If wells are improperly constructed or maintained, however, they can allow bacteria, pesticides, fertilizer, oil products, or other pollutants to contaminate groundwater. These contaminants can put family, pets and livestock health at risk.

Ec98-763 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Worksheet 6: Petroleum Product Storage, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Why should I be concerned? Aboveground and underground storage of liquid petroleum products such as motor fuel and heating fuel presents a threat to public health and the environment. Nearly one out of every four underground storage tanks in the United States may now be leaking, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If an underground petroleum tank is more than 20 years old, especially if it’s not protected against corrosion, the potential for leaking increases dramatically. Newer tanks and piping can leak, too, especially if they were improperly installed.

Ec98-762 Farm*A*Syst Nebraska’S System For Assessing Water Contamination Fact Sheet 6: Improving Petroleum Product Storage, Robert Grisso, Delynn Hay, Paul J. Jasa, Richard K. Koelsch, Sharon Skipton, Wayne Woldt

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Petroleum product storage is an area of great concern for groundwater safety. It’s not uncommon for fuel to leak into aquifers and pollute the drinking water of a family or even a community, and it can be very costly for the landowner. Petroleum product storage is regulated by laws regarding fire safety and air quality as well. Therefore, petroleum product storage must be evaluated from various perspectives. This factsheet examines some important aspects of petroleum product storage: where the tank is located on your property, the type of tank, how to monitor the tank, reduction of losses from aboveground tanks, …