Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Nutrient Concentrations At Baseflow Conditions In The Upper White River Basin, Southwest Missouri And Northwest Arkansas, Gopala G. Borchelt

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The Upper White River Basin (UWRB) is becoming increasingly vulnerable to water quality degradation from urban/population growth and increased agricultural production. This study examines the relationships among nutrient levels, water chemistry and watershed characteristics of 19 watersheds in the UWRB. Water samples were collected during baseflow conditions each month for one year at USGS continuous-flow gage stations. Watershed characteristics evaluated were land use, geology, drainage area, flow discharge, and wastewater treatment plant discharge (WTP). Measured chemical water quality indicators include total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), specific conductivity, turbidity, pH and dissolved oxygen. Rapidly expanding urban areas are associated with …

Current Status And Long-Term Trends In Water Quality And Living Resources In The Virginia Tributaries And Chesapeake Bay Mainstem From 1985 Through 2005, Daniel M. Dauer, Harold G. Marshall, John R. Donat, Michael F. Lane, Suzanne C. Doughten, Frederick A. Hoffman

Status and Trends for Virginia Chesapeake Bay

A marked decline in the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay has occurred over the past several decades. The disappearance of submerged aquatic vegetation in certain regions of the Bay, declines in the abundance of some commercially and recreationally important species, increases in the incidence of low dissolved oxygen events, changes in the Bay's food web, and other ecological problems have been related to the deteriorating water quality. The results of concentrated research efforts in the late 1970s and early 1980s stimulated the establishment of Federal and state directives to better manage the Chesapeake Bay watershed. By way of the …

Early Flotant Establishment And Growth Dynamics In A Nutrient Amended Wetland In The Lower Mississippi River Delta, Caleb W. Izdepski

LSU Master's Theses

Nutrient dynamics and seasonal marsh growth were examined in a newly formed Panicum virgatum floating marsh at Thibodaux LA. The floating marsh formed in a cleared area of forested wetland receiving secondarily treated effluent. Net Areal Primary Productivity (NAPP), total belowground biomass, NO₃, and δ¹⁵N ratios varied significantly (P <0.05) along a 75m marsh transect while mean δ¹³C varied between plant species. The upland end of the transect had the highest NAPP (3876 g m^-2y^-1), total belowground biomass (4079.0 ± 298.5 g m^-2), and mean NO₃ (5.4 ± 2.9 mg l^-1). The mean floating-marsh …

An Assessment Of Impediments To Low-Impact Development In The Virginia Portion Of The Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Rebecca V'Lent Lassiter

Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater runoff from urban and urbanizing areas poses a serious threat to water quality, and unless managed properly will impede efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay.Water quantity, as well as quality, must be considered, and Low Impact Development(LID) is an innovative stormwater management approach that addresses both. LID seeks to mimic a site's predevelopment hydrologic regime by retaining and treating stormwater at the lot level using small, cost-effective landscape features.The purpose for this study was to identify and rank impediments to the implementation of LID in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This was accomplished by going to …

Evaluation Of Compliance With The Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, Racquel Rena Douglas

LSU Master's Theses

Cryptosporidium is a common protozoan parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis, a severe gastrointestinal disease. Currently, there is no antibiotic available to treat the disease. Cryptosporidium has been responsible for several waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States. The largest cryptosporidiosis outbreak in United States history occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in spring 1993. The vulnerability of the United State drinking water supply to waterborne disease outbreak is still prevalent nearly 15 years after the Milwaukee outbreak. In order to effectively control Cryptosporidium, the EPA has strengthened the regulations on turbidity control for filtration performance by implementing the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface …

Relationships Between Macroinvertebrate Communities And Environmental Characteristics Of Headwater Streams In Central Louisiana, Adrienne Viosca

LSU Master's Theses

Headwater streams are an integral part of any watershed system because they strongly influence the physical, chemical, and biological components of downstream reaches. Little information exists about macroinvertebrate community structure, spatiotemporal variation, or their relationships with environmental factors in low-gradient headwater streams of the subtropical coastal plain region in the Southern US. These headwater streams are typically slow moving, capable of accumulating large amounts of organic material, and often become intermittent during the dry season. Research is needed to understand the effects of these unique characteristics on stream health and ecology. This study aimed to determine aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure, …

A Lake Restoration Plan For Furman Lake, Lake Restoration Task Force, Wade Worthen, Wes Dripps

Furman Lake Restoration Book Gallery

A twelve page document submitted by The Lake Restoration Task Force. The document lists the members of the task force, gives an overview of the project, the current status at the time of submission, lays out a new vision for the lake, and a plan to improve the environmental integrity of the lake watershed, plus design elements to create a multi-purpose facility. It concludes with a section on the lake as pedagogy and recommendations for moving forward with the master plan.

Waterfowl Management Plan, Lake Restoration Task Force, Wade Worthen, Wes Dripps

Furman Lake Restoration Book Gallery

A six page document submitted by The Lake Restoration Task Force. The document lists the members of the task force, gives an overview of waterfowl overpopulation at the Furman Lake, goals for the future, and the strategy to solve this problem. The document provides a specific implementation plan and concludes with an assessment of the plan.

Benthic Biological Monitoring Program Of The Elizabeth River Watershed (2005), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

Macrobenthic communities of the Elizabeth River watershed have been quantitatively sampled since summer 1999. This report presents the data from the seventh year of sampling in 2005. The three objectives of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program of the Elizabeth River watershed are: (1) To characterize the health of the tidal waters of the Elizabeth River watershed as indicated by the structure of the benthic communities. (2) To conduct trend analyses on long-term data at 14 fixed-point stations to relate temporal trends in the benthic communities to changes in water and/or sediment quality. Trend analyses will be updated annually …

The Land Is In Your Hands : A Practical Guide For Owners Of Small Rural Landholdings In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Wa

Bulletins 4000 -

This Bulletin discusses various aspects of managing a small farm or property in Western Australia, including soil and land care, vegetation and plant control on farm holdings, water resource management, biosecurity, plant, animal and insect pest control and livestock management.

Slides: Climate Change And Water Resources And Risa Regional Integrated Sciences And Assessments: Building Bridges Between Climate Sciences And Society, Brad Udall

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Brad Udall, Executive Director, CIRES Western Water Assessment.

31 slides.

2005 Nutrient And Sediment Monitoring Report Ballard Creek Near Arkansas/Oklahoma Line, Marc Nelson, L. Wade Cash, Keith Trost, Jennifer Purtle, Marty Matlock

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

The Illinois River Basin has experienced water quality impairment from non-point source pollution for many years. This fact was well documented in the State of Arkansas' Water Quality Assessment report, the Soil Conservation Service River Basin Study, and several University of Arkansas studies. Thirty-seven sub-watersheds have been identified by the SCS in the Arkansas portion of the Illinois River basin. In the Arkansas portion of the Basin, the Illinois River, Evansville Creek, Baron Fork, Cincinnati Creek, Muddy Fork, Moores Creek, Clear Creek, Osage Creek and Flint Creek were all classified as not supporting their designated use as primary contact recreation …

Illinois River 2005 Pollutant Loads At Arkansas Highway 59 Bridge, Marc Nelson, Wade Cash, Keith Trost, Jennifer Purtle

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Automatic water sampler and a U. S. Geological Survey 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 by the Arkansas Water Resources Center -Water Quality Lab for January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

Impacts Of Rainfall Events On Wastewater Treamtent Processes, Erin K. Mcmahan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Current research is revealing that stormwater can carry pathogens and that this stormwater is entering wastewater treatment facilities. During periods of intense rainfall, not only can stormwater carry higher amounts of pathogens, but it also increases the flow rate to the wastewater treatment facility. In many instances, the flow rate exceeds the facilities' treatment capacity and can impact treatment performance. The purpose of this study was to identify whether wastewater treatment is impaired during periods of increased rainfall, and to compare current policies that address this issue. The study was conducted using a case study approach to analyze historical precipitation …

Impacts Of A Manure Composting Program On Stream Water Quality, A. Bekele, A. M.S. Mcfarland, A. J. Whisenant

Faculty Publications

In February 2001, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) adopted a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) along the North Bosque River. Within this TMDL, dairy waste application fields were identified as the major nonpoint-source contribution of nutrients. In September 2000, a manure composting program was initiated that resulted in about 500,000 metric tons of dairy manure being hauled to composting facilities and exported from the watershed through December 2004. To evaluate the impact of the manure composting program on stream water quality, storm event mean concentrations of nutrients and total suspended solids were compared …

Nutrient Loads In An Urban Ozark Watershed: Jordan, Fassnight And Upper Wilson's Creeks, Springfield, Missouri, Ronald B. Miller

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The study watershed includes Jordan Creek, the primary stream draining the central downtown area of Springfield, Missouri, and also Fassnight and upper Wilson Creeks. Ten sample sites were established within the watershed and water samples and were collected during baseflow and storm runoff events between August 1, 2004 and July 31, 2005. Samples were tested for total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and selected heavy metals (zinc, arsenic, lead, copper and cadmium) and the parameters pH, specific conductance, turbidity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. Rating curves were used to correlate discharge and water quality variables. Separate rating curves were developed for …

Water-Quality And -Quantity Data For Abandoned Underground Coal Mines In Eastern Kentucky, Steven E. Webb, Dennis H. Cumbie, James S. Dinger, Leslie K. Russo

Information Circular--KGS

Water-quality and -quantity analyses were performed between 1997 and 2003 by the Kentucky Geological Survey under contract from the Kentucky River Authority and the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority to study abandoned underground coal mines as possible water supplies for communities in the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field. The steep terrain of the coal field limits surface-water supplies, and groundwater systems are difficult to locate and often have too low a yield to provide community water supplies. KGS has been working with the Kentucky River Authority, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, and local government officials to search for water supplies in abandoned underground coal …

Water Quality Issues In The Illinois River Watershed: A Proposal For New Voluntary Incentives, Tory B. Hodges, Jennie S. Popp

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Concerns about water quality degradation exist in Northwest Arkansas. The purpose of this study was to analyze the potential usefulness of U.S. conservation programs in addressing water quality concerns on farms in the Illinois River watershed as well as greater Washington County, Arkansas. It was hypothesized that neither the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) nor the Conservation Security Program (CSP) in their current forms effectively assists farmers in meeting water-quality management goals. That hypothesis was tested by 1) examining agricultural characteristics of the watershed, 2) actual adoption of EQIP and CSP in Washington County and Arkansas, and, 3) identifying factors …

Seasonal And Spatial Patterns Of Metals At A Restored Copper Mine Site. I. Stream Copper And Zinc, Dustin G. Bambic, Charles N. Alpers, Peter G. Green, Eileen Fanelli, Wendy K. Silk

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Seasonal and spatial variations in metal concentrations and pH were found in a stream at a restored copper mine site located near a massive sulfide deposit in the Foothill copper-zinc belt of the Sierra Nevada, California. At the mouth of the stream, copper concentrations increased and pH decreased with increased streamflow after the onset of winter rain and, unexpectedly, reached extreme values 1 or 2 months after peaks in the seasonal hydrographs. In contrast, aqueous zinc and sulfate concentrations were highest during low-flow periods. Spatial variation was assessed in 400 m of reach encompassing an acidic, metal-laden seep. At this …

Soil Phosphorus Levels In Residential Lawns And Comparisons Among Four Land Uses In Springfield, Missouri, Timothy R. Davis

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Eutrophication of surface waters due to high phosphorus (P) concentrations is an important water quality concern in Greene County, Missouri. Phosphorus enrichment has been linked to a variety of non-point sources including runoff from both agricultural and urban land uses. Soil P has been shown to be a source of P in runoff. The differences in soil P among different land uses may provide insight into which land use contributes more P in runoff. This study examines the soil composition, geochemistry and total P concentration of surface soil (0-5cm) in four land uses in Greene County, Missouri. The land uses …

Factors Influencing The Participation In Environmental Stewardship Programs: A Case Study Of The Agricultural And Forestry Sectors In Louisiana, Carrie Castille Mendoza

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Considerable research has been conducted to evaluate the adoption of agricultural best management practices and their overall impact on improving environmental quality. However, limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the behavioral factors that influence the adoption of these practices in the context of educational programs The goal of this study is to determine the factors that influence farmer conservation behavior that might lead to an increased probability of improving agriculture and forestry watersheds. A conceptual model was developed to identify the: 1) identify landowner participation in watershed conservation projects, and 2) determine the factors influencing agriculture and forestry landowners …

Assessing The Relationships Between The Spatial Variation In Land-Use Spatial Patterns And Surface Water Quality, Majed A. Khater

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the association between the spatial patterns of urban land uses and surface water quality parameters at the watershed outlet. The aim of the study was to understand the strength and nature of this relationship, and examine new methods of classifying and quantifying contributing urban land-uses and their spatial patterns. The hypothesis of this research was: in an urban watershed, the variation in the spatial patterns of contributing land uses will have a significant impact on the surface water quality parameters at the watershed outlet.

This relationship between urbanization and water quality is …

Prediction Of Sediment-Bound Nutrient Delivery From Semi-Arid California Watersheds, Emmanuel Gabet, Noah Fierer, Oliver Chadwick

Faculty Publications

Soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are lost from hillslopes in particulate forms through soil erosion. The fate of the eroded C (e.g., sequestration or oxidation) may affect the global C budget, and delivery of N and P to waterbodies can lead to eutrophication. Whereas the magnitude of particulate nutrient losses may be similar to or greater than dissolved losses, it is rarely estimated. We couple a sediment delivery model with measurements of C, N, and P in soil to account explicitly for hillslope sediment transport processes that yield sediment-bound nutrients to fluvial networks. The model is applied …

Benthic Biological Monitoring Program Of The Elizabeth River Watershed (2004), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

Macrobenthic communities of the Elizabeth River watershed have been quantitatively sampled since summer 1999. This report presents the data from the sixth year of sampling in 2004. The three objectives of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program of the Elizabeth River watershed are: (1) To characterize the health of the tidal waters of the Elizabeth River watershed as indicated by the structure of the benthic communities. ( 2) To conduct trend analyses on long-term data at 14 fixed-point stations to relate temporal trends in the benthic communities to changes in water and/or sediment quality. Trend analyses will be updated …

Slides: The Trust For Public Land: Conserving Land For People, Ernest Cook

Community-Owned Forests: Possibilities, Experiences, and Lessons Learned (June 16-19)

Presenter: Ernest Cook, Senior Vice President, Conservation Finance Program, The Trust for Public Land, Boston, MA

19 slides

Slides: Community Ownership And Management Of Productive Forestland: Building Natural And Social Capital, Keith Bisson, Rodger Krussman

Community-Owned Forests: Possibilities, Experiences, and Lessons Learned (June 16-19)

Presenters: Keith Bisson, Quebec-Labrador Foundation, and Rodger Krussman, The Trust for Public Land

20 slides

Illinois River 2004 Pollutant Loads At Arkansas Highway 59 Bridge, Marc A. Nelson, L. Wade Cash, Keith Trost, Jennifer Purtle

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Automatic water sampler and a U. S. Geological Survey 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 by the Arkansas Water Resources Center -Water Quality Lab for January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004.

Water Quality Sampling, Analysis And Annual Load Determinations For Tss, Nitrogen And Phosphorus At The Washington County Road 195 Bridge On The West Fork Of The White River, 2004 Annual Report, Marc A. Nelson, L. Wade Cash, G. Keith Trost, Jennifer Purtle

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

A water quality sampling station was installed at the Washington County road 195 bridge on the West Fork of the White River just above the confluence of the three main forks of the Upper White River in December 2001. The Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) was approved by EPA Region six on March 2002 and sampling was begun at that time. This station is coordinated with a USGS gauging station at the same location. This station was instrumented to collect samples at sufficient intervals across the hydrograph to accurately estimate the flux of total suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus into …

Water Quality Sampling, Analysis And Annual Load Determinations For Tss, Nitrogen And Phosphorus At The Washington County Road 76 Bridge On Ballard Creek, Marc A. Nelson, L. Wade Cash, G. Keith Trost, Jennifer Purtle

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

The Illinois River Basin has experienced water quality impairment from non-point source pollution for many years. This fact was well documented in the State of Arkansas' Water Quality Assessment report, the Soil Conservation Service River Basin Study, and several University of Arkansas studies. Thirty-seven sub-watersheds have been identified by the SCS in the Arkansas portion of the Illinois River basin. In the Arkansas portion of the Basin, the Illinois River, Evansville Creek, Baron Fork, Cincinnati Creek, Muddy Fork, Moores Creek, Clear Creek, Osage Creek and Flint Creek were all classified as not supporting their designated use as primary contact recreation …

Side-By-Side Comparison Of Young Grab And Composite Petite Ponar Grab Samples For The Calculation Of The Benthic Index Of Biological Integrity(B-Ibi), Daniel M. Dauer, Michael F. Lane

Benthic Applications

(First paragraph) The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) intends to unite elements of its National Coastal Assessment Program (NCA) with its Chesapeake Bay Probabilistic Benthic Monitoring (CBP-PBM) Program beginning in the summer of 2005. The primary motivations for this decision were two-fold. First, the probable reduction of federal grant support for the NCA Program after the summer of 2004 would require considerable restructuring of the of DEQ’s estuarine probabilistic monitoring to continue with a comprehensive program in the future. Second, the current CBP-PBM Program has not provided sufficient data for the assessment of minor tidal tributary segments using the …