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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Importance Of River Influx And Pump Storage Operation On Water Quality In A Storage Reservoir, Ethan Batchelor May 2020

The Importance Of River Influx And Pump Storage Operation On Water Quality In A Storage Reservoir, Ethan Batchelor

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Pump storage hydroelectricity is a system built by power companies where a dam separating an upper and lower reservoir is used in power generation by passing water between both reservoirs. Environmental regulations require a minimum of 5mg/L of dissolved oxygen be maintained at all times passing through each dam. In central Virginia, American Electric Power operates a hydroelectric Pump Storage Project that includes an upper reservoir, Smith Mountain Lake (SML), and a lower reservoir, Leesville Lake (LL). Unique to this system is the influx of high concentrations of nutrients and other pollutants into the upper reaches of Leesville Lake from …


The Relationship Between Urbanization In The Blackwater Creek Watershed And Potentially Toxic Elements In Sediment, Hannah Chapman May 2020

The Relationship Between Urbanization In The Blackwater Creek Watershed And Potentially Toxic Elements In Sediment, Hannah Chapman

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The sediment layers of previously identified, impaired sites in the Blackwater Creek watershed in Central Virginia were examined for potentially toxic elements (PTEs). These impaired sites are located in areas with high levels of urbanization or impervious surface cover. Higher urbanization levels should coincide with more environmental degradation, resulting in higher levels of PTEs, such Cu, Zn, and Pb in the sediment cores. The sediment cores were collected, prepared by microwave digestion, and analyzed by MP-AES (microwave-induced plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) for PTE content. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) determined a statistically strong relationship between increased impervious surface cover …


The Distribution Of Potentially Toxic Elements (Ptes) In Core Sediments From Industrial Areas Along The James River In Lynchburg, Virginia Using Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (Mp-Aes), Hope Wason May 2020

The Distribution Of Potentially Toxic Elements (Ptes) In Core Sediments From Industrial Areas Along The James River In Lynchburg, Virginia Using Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (Mp-Aes), Hope Wason

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This research analyzed the origin, distribution, and contamination levels of eight potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in order to identify if industrial sites adjacent to the James River were releasing Zn, Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, Mn, Co, and/or Cr into the environment. The results indicated that there were significant differences between sites, layers, and elements. A statistical analysis indicated that one of the target locations had significantly higher concentrations in regard to all of the selected metals found in its lower layers, therefore suggesting that it may have been a previous source of metal pollution in the past. An additional study …


Water Quality Degradation From Dam Removal: Impact On An Urban River System In Central Virginia, Wrenn Cleary May 2020

Water Quality Degradation From Dam Removal: Impact On An Urban River System In Central Virginia, Wrenn Cleary

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Dam removal in the United States is an increasingly common practice as dams built decades ago begin to experience structural issues or environmental changes necessitating this action. In Lynchburg, Virginia, College Lake, an 18 Ha reservoir, was briefly overtopped during strong storms during August 2018 causing minor damage to the dam. In response, the City of Lynchburg deemed it necessary to drain the lake to protect property owners downstream fearing complete dam failure. During assessment to determine the best practice for dam removal, College Lake remained drained for 12 weeks as debate to conclusively determine a best course of action …