Environmental Monitoring Commons^™

Report On Wastewater Disposal To Board Of County Commissioners, Clark County Nevada, Clair N. Sawyer

Publications (WR)

This report is concerned with the management of waste-waters and subsurface drainage from the City of Las Vegas and its environs and the BMI complex, all in Clark County, Nevada. The prime objective is to recommend a plan of action which will utilize the natural resources of the area in the least costly manner and still protect Lake Mead for recreational purposes and use as a public water supply, At this writing, conditions in the upper Las Vegas arm of Boulder Basin are quite unsatisfactory for some recreational purposes due to the extensive blooms of algae which develop. Experience at …

Final Report - Lake Mead Monitoring Program, James E. Deacon

Publications (WR)

The Lake Mead monitoring program has developed a substantial body of information on the physical, chemical and biological limnology of Lake Mead since 1972. This report summarizes pertinent aspects of that data, with emphasis on studies completed in 1975 -76. It is our continuing hope that the data developed by us will be useful to an ever broader group of users of the water resource represented by Lake Mead. We have been privileged to see our data have a significant influence in some very important water resource decisions over the past four years. There is every reason to expect that …

Distribution Of Stream Pollution In Lake Water, Richard W. Tew, Samuel S. Egdorf, James E. Deacon

Publications (WR)

Wastewater effluent-laden waters from Las Vegas Wash (LVW) form a density current that may be detected in Boulder Basin of Lake Mead at considerable distances from the wash estuary. This led to the suspicion that water from the inflowing stream [40 mgd (1.5 X 10⁵ cu m/day)] might not be rapidly diluted in the enormous volume of the lake [19 mil acre-ft (2.3 X 10¹⁰ cu m)], but might persist as a recognizable entity to the vicinity of the intake of a major water source for populous Clark County, Nev.

Because of the detection sensitivity implicit in the …

The Nature And Distribution Of Enteric Bacteria In Las Vegas Bay, Samuel S. Egdorf

Publications (WR)

The distribution of water and of enteric bacteria of possible fecal origin into Las Vegas Bay from Las Vegas Wash was determined. Determination of distribution patterns was attained by applying the concept of the population component ratio of enteric bacteria. The development and application of new techniques and methods implicit in the application of the "component ratio" concept are discussed. The unreliability of thoroughly referenced techniques and methods generally accepted as standard are treated in detail. Physical factors affecting the distribution and deposition of enteric bacteria (including those of special public health importance) in Las Vegas Bay are also discussed.

An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Dredging Within The Arkansas River Navigation System: Volume I - Introduction, Summary And Conclusions, And Recommendations, Myra Mcnutt, T. M. Buchanan, L. R. Kraemer, R. L. Meyer, E. H. Schmitz

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

The Arkansas River originates in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains near Leadville, Colorado, and extends through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, where it flows into the Mississippi River. The Arkansas River is approximately 1,450 miles in length and drains a total area of 160,500 square miles. The river and its tributaries have been developed for navigation, flood control, and hydro-electric power, as well as recreational purposes under the River and Harbor Act of July 24, 1946. The development of the Arkansas River for recreational use will be completed in the near future. The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System was …

An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Dredging Within The Arkansas River Navigation System - Volume Ii - Effects Upon The Phytoplankton Associations, Myra Mcnutt, Richard L. Meyer

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Phytoplankton are a major source of primary production in aquatic ecosystems and constitute one of the most important assemblages of the biotic community. These organisms are the basic level of the trophic pyramid upon which other organisms are dependent. The development, maintenance, and environmental influence of phytoplankton in and on the aquatic ecosystem has been a subject of interest and concern for many years. Most of the studies concerning the nature and distribution of phytoplankton have been confined to lacustrine systems. Hutchinson (1967), citing several lake studies, sutmarized various aspects of the physical and chemical factors associated with phytoplankton. These …

Seasonal And Spatial Variation In Primary Productivity In Boulder Basin, Lake Mead, Clark County, Nevada, Isamu Aoki

Publications (WR)

The ¹⁴C light and dark bottle technique for measurement of primary production was utilized as a means of assessing the amount of inorganic carbon being converted Into organic form by the photosynthesis of phytoplankton populations In the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead.

Spatial and time series changes of productivity levels observed at eight sampling locations within Boulder Basin Indicate that the Influence of treated municipal arts' industrial effluent flowing into Les Vegas Bay is contributing high levels of available nutrients at Las Vegas Wash Inlet to cause productivity to approximate those levels associated with polluted waters.

Productivity levels at …

Fisheries Report No 16 - Notes On The Wildlife Of A Proposed Nature Reserve Around Lake Grace And Lake Chinokup, Western Australia, N. L. Mckenzie, W. K. Youngson

Fisheries Research Reports

During 1972 and 1973 plants and vertebrate animals were collected and recorded from a proposed 22 000 ha nature reserve centred on a chain of salt lakes in south-western Western Australia (33° 10' S - 33° 35' 8 and 118° 19' B - 118° 29' E).

The dominant plant species were collected, the structural formations desert bed and a vegetation map produced. Seven species of native terrestrial mammal and three species of bat were recorded.

Three of the terrestrial species are endemic to southwestern Western Australia, and two of these - Pseudomys occidentalis and Sminthopsis granulipes - are regarded as …

Bulletin 3933 - Trickle Irrigation For Home Gardens, K Cole

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

The use of trickle irrigation in the home garden can save money, time and water.

Trickle irrigation is a concept first used in glasshouses in England, then applied to field crops in Israel and developed and refined in Australia and America. Today it is widely used in orchards, vineyards, vegetable gardens and now has gained wide acceptance in the growing of ornamental plants.

Any good trickle system uses small quantities of water over an extended period of time. In the home garden, flows of 2.25 litres to 4.5 litres per hour are usual though for small shrubs lesser amounts may …

Environmental Evaluation Report On The Big Mulberry Creek Basin In Franklin, Madison, Newton, Johnson And Crawford Counties, Arkansas, Edward E. Dale Jr.

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

The environmental evaluation report which follows is based on information supplied by the Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, available literature, field observations made during the summer of 1972, and results of research now in progress on natural features of the Big Mulberry Basin. Since most major dams, levees, and flood retarding structures now in existence in the Ozarks have been constructed since about 1940, opportunities to make long term studies of their effects have been limited. Also, the natural vegetation, fauna, and archeology of the Big Mulberry Basin have not been extensively investigated, but available sources provide enough information …

Phytoplankton Distribution And Water Quality Indices For Lake Mead (Colorado River), Robert D. Staker, Robert W. Hoshaw, Lorne G. Everett

Publications (WR)

Phytoplankton samples were collected in Lake Mend 6 times from September 1910 to June 1971 for 8 stations at depths of 0. 3, 5, 10, 20, and 30 m. These samples were processed through a Millipore filter apparatus and 79 planktonic algae were identified. Algal divisions represented were Bacillariophyta, 42 species; Chlorophyta, 18 ; Cyanophyta, 9; Chrysophyta, 3; Cryptophyta, 3; Pyrrophyta, 2; and Euglenophyta, 2. Blue-green algae were dominant in late summer and fall; green algae, diatoms, and, cryptomonads in winter; and green algae in spring. The early summer flora was best represented by the Chlorophyta, Cryptophyta, and Chrysophyta. Palmer's …

Enzyme And Tissue Alterations In Fishes: A Measure Of Water Quality, David E. Hinton, M. W. Kendall, J. C. Koenig

KWRRI Research Reports

A variety of freshwater fishes were studied by light and electron microscopy, enzyme histochemical and biochemical methods, The objective was to determine normal structure and function in specific target organs and to compare these to altered states in aquatic pollution. The basic question, "can fish tissues and enzymes serve as indicators of water quality?," was asked. Microscopic alteration in gill was indicative of copper toxicity at an exposure of 20 parts per billion, Gross and light microscopic alterations were indicative of a single exposure of channel catfish to 15 parts per million of methyl mercuric chloride (CH₃HgCl). Microscopic …

Broad Spectrum Microwave Systems For Remotely Measuring Soil Moisture Content, W. P. Waite, K. R. Cook, B. B. Bryan

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

A theoretical and experimental study of the microwave reflectivity of soils with varying moisture content was conducted. A system was developed to measure reflectivity over a continuous frequency range of 4 to 26.5 GHz, at incidence angles from 10° to 70°, and with both horizontal and vertical polarization. The measurements were found to be extremely accurate for smooth homogeneous surfaces, however, the effects of surface roughness were found to be more severe than predicted due to the discontinuous nature of naturally occurring rough surfaces. An algorithm was developed which used the frequency dependence of the reflectivity to estimate the effective …

Final Report On Interrelationships Between Chemical, Physical And Biological Conditions Of The Waters Of Las Vegas Bay Of Lake Mead, James E. Deacon, Richard W. Tew

Publications (WR)

This program was a status study of the interaction between Las Vegas Wash, an enriched stream, and Las Vegas Bay, a wedge shaped arm of one of the world's deeper reservoirs. The program centered primarily on identification and counting of planktonic algae from several points in Las Vegas Bay. Additional work on nutrient enrichment of water samples was conducted to aid in interpretation of algal distribution related to nutrient input. Examination of a variety of physical, chemical, and biological parameters, both at many surface points in the bay, as well as in vertical profile, was also accomplished and further aided …

A Mathmatical Model Of Primary Productivity And Limnological Patterns In Lake Mead, Lorne G. Everett

Publications (WR)

The temporal and spatial changes in chemical and biological properties of Lake Mead have been investigated, thereby indicating the sources of water pollution and the time of highest pollution potential. Planktonic organisms have been shown to indicate the presence of water problems. Macro- and micro-nutrient analyses have shown that primary productivity is not inhibited by limiting concentrations. A mathematical model has been developed, tested with one set of independent data, and shown worthy of management utility. Although the model works very well for the Lake Mead area, the physical reality of the Multiple Linear Regression equation should be tested on …

A Report On The Condition Of The Gascoyne Catchment, D G. Wilcox, E A. Mckinnon

Resource management technical reports

Severe flooding in Carnarvon followed heavy rains on the Gascoyne Catchment in February 1961. The flooding and erosion were extensive enough to suggest that run-off from the catchment was excessive. Lightfoot (1961)* reported that excess run-off was due to degradation of the catchment area. This report will describe the catchment area in terms of the degradation of its rangeland and its susceptibility to erosion.

Report On Water Pollution Problems In Las Vegas Wash And Las Vegas Bay, Environmental Protection Agency

Publications (WR)

This report was prepared by the Federal Water- Quality Administration, Pacific Southwest Region, now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region IX, at the request of the State of Nevada, Department of Health, Welfare, and rehabilitation. In a letter, dated December 5, 1969, this agency asked for technical assistance, as authorized by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, in developing discharge standards appropriate for Las Vegas Bay, Lake Mead, and the Lower Colorado River. The subsequent study was performed by EPA from January through August, 1970. The establishment of Nevada State Water Quality Standards for these waters will enable responsible officials …

A Conceptual Draft Of A Dynamic Hydro-Biological Model For Lake Mead, L. G. Everett, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

Food and energy transformation in an aquatic system must be understood in order to develop a simulation approach. This report provides a comprehensive study of an aquatic ecosystem. The objectives of this report are to show: (1) the biological relationships in an aquatic system (2) the role of nutrients in the biological cycle (3) the role of abiotic factors in a limnetic environment (4) the status of the art of "Eutrophication modeling".

Micronutrients And Biological Patterns In Lake Mead, Hasan K. Qashu, Lorne G. Everett, J. S. Carlson, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

Progressive increases in concentration of dissolved solids in the Colorado River water from Lake Powell to Imperial Dam seem to alter plankton dynamics and biological productivity of the river. Also, changes in biological productivity and micronutrients concentrations occur within the same reservoir. Development of a digital simulation model to predict micronutrients concentrations and biological productivity is necessary for diagnosing changes in plankton population and effluent-carrying capacity of the system. The objectives of the study are: (1) to determine trace metal balance at different locations in Lake Mead, (2) to measure biological productivity and conduct plankton population counts at each sampling …

The Effect Of Las Vegas Wash Effluent Upon The Water Quality In Lake Mead, D. A. Hoffman, P. R. Tramutt, F. C. Heller, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

This study developed from observations made during an earlier study on Lake Mead which was reported in CHE-70, Water Quality Study of Lake Mead. Results from that study indicated that poor-quality water was flowing into the Las Vegas Bay reach of Boulder Basin, Lake Mead. Also reports of deteriorating water quality, resulting in taste and odors in domestic water supplies taken from Boulder Basin as well as a reduction in the attractiveness of Las Vegas Bay for recreational uses caused by aquatic plants and algae blooms, indicated a need for a concentrated study concerning the effects of flows from Las …

Biological Studies Of Selected Reaches And Tributaries Of The Colorado River, Nelson Thomas, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration

Publications (WR)

This report fulfills the request of the Colorado River Basin Project, Denver, Colorado, to determine the effects of municipal and industrial wastes on the aquatic life in selected waters of the Colorado River Basin. These studies were conducted with the assistance of personnel from the Colorado River Basin Project.

Water Quality Study Of Lake Mead, Dale A. Hoffman, Paul R. Tramutt, Frank C. Heller, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

This report presents Lake Mead Water quality data obtained from 1964 to 1966. The effect of filling Lake Powell on the water quality of Lake Mead is evaluated. General limnological principles and the present limnology of Lake Mead are discussed. Lake Mead has a warm monomictic annual temperature cycle characterized by summer stratification, fall overturn leading into a continuous circulation throughout the winter; temperatures never fall below 39 deg F (4 deg C). During stratification, lower dissolved oxygen values were recorded in the thermocline than in the epilimnion and hypolimnion. Mineral content increases from the upper to the lower end …

Development, Verification, And Use Of Methods To Model Chemical And Thermal Processes Lakes Mead And Powell, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

PURPOSE The purpose of the proposed research is to quantify the effects that Lakes Mead and Powell have on the salinity in the Colorado River system, and to evaluate changes that cap be made to the operating system of the reservoirs (within legal/institutional constraints) to enhance salt precipitation and/or minimize evaporation within the reservoirs. The effect of any changes (i.e., selective withdrawal uses, pumped storage, etc.) on reservoir evaporation could also be evaluated with a goal of minimizing evaporation. This will be accomplished through the development of a mathematical model of the reservoirs as described below. BACKGROUND Two major problems …

Fisheries Report No 3 - Western Australian Freshwater Fisheries, Donald D. Francois

Fisheries Research Reports

Most of the Australian States have a comprehensive system of inland waterways, Western Australia, however, is in a less fortunate position. True, the maps of the State show many rivers, but in much of the southern, more populous part, with no summer rain and no winter snow, the majority are virtually a chain of waterholes during the long summer months. At the same time, in a relatively small section in the south-west corner, there is a series of permanent streams flowing through what was originally dense forest. But apart from the three indigenous freshwater crustaceans, the marron (Cherax tenuimanus), the …

Water Chemistry Survey Of Boulder Basin, Lake Mead, P. R. Tramutt, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

The survey results indicate that the impoundment of water behind Hoover Dam has not adversely affected the dissolved oxygen (DO) content and that water quality and DO content were uniform regardless of depth. The study made in April-May 1964 will provide water quality data of Lake Mead prior to releases from Lake Powell as a basis for evaluating Lake Powell's effect on water quality and limnology of Lake Mead. The performance of a DO analyzer was tested and found unsatisfactory at depths below 150 ft. Parameters tested by standard chemical analyses of water samples in the Denver Laboratory and by …

Available Water Supply Of The Las Vegas Ground-Water Basin Nevada, Glenn Thomas Malmberg

Publications (WR)

The Las Vegas ground-water basin as described in this report includes the southern part of Indian Spring Valley, Three Lakes Valley, the northern half of Ivanpah Valley, and Las Vegas Valley. These valleys in part are inferred to form a hydrologic unit that includes an area of about 3,000 square miles in the southern part of Clark County, Nev.

The valleys forming the Las Vegas ground-water basin are broad structural depressions surrounded by mountains. The climate of the region is arid, and precipitation in the basin lowlands rarely exceeds 5 inches per year. Drainage is interior except for occasional Hood …

Interbasin Movement Of Ground Water At The Nevada Test Site, Isaac J. Winograd

Publications (WR)

The present paper presents hydraulic evidence for the interbasin circulation of ground water through carbonate rocks of Paleozoic age at the Nevada Test Site. An integral part of this evidence is the discovery that aquifers in alluvium and tuff, formerly thought to be the principal aquifers at the Test Site, are semiperched above a thick tuffaceous aquiclude that separates them from the carbonate rocks.

This paper is based on one of the studies being made by the Geological
/="/">Survey for the Atomic Energy Commission. These studies seek to evaluate
/="/">the risk that may arise if ground water should …

Preliminary Report: Monolayer Behavior Studies, 1959, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

During the fall of 1959, monolayer behavior studies were made on two lakes in the southwest; Boulder Basin of Lake Mead, Nevada, and Lake Sahuaro near Phoenix, Arizona. These studies were made to evaluate the effect of geographical and climatological conditions on movement and behavior of monolayers. The Lake Sahuaro tests also were used to provide data for design and development of improved methods of application and maintenance of a film on this lake in anticipation of full scale, evaporation-reduction tests to be performed there during the summer of I960. The Lake Mead studies produced the following general points of …

Geological Survey Circular 346: First Fourteen Years Of Lake Mead, Harold E. Thomas

Publications (WR)

This circular summarizes the results of recent studies of Lake Mead and its environs. Area-capacity tables, prepared on the basis of a hydrographic survey of the lake in 1948-49, show that the capacity of the reservoir was reduced 4. 9 percent during the first 14 years after Hoover Dam was completed, but the usable capacity was reduced only 3.2 percent. Practically all of this reduction was caused by accumulation of sediment in the reservoir. Studies of inflow and outflow indicate that the reservoir has a total storage capacity about 12 percent greater than that shown by the area-capacity table, because …

Water Levels And Artesian Pressure In Wells In Las Vegas Valley And In Other Valleys In Nevada, 1913-1945, T. W. Robinson, George B. Maxey, J. C. Fredericks, C. Harry Jameson

Publications (WR)

The rock formations of the earth are great natural reservoirs in which a part of the water derived from rain and snow is stored. Water levels and artesian pressure in wells register the stages of these natural reservoirs. The changes in water levels or artesian pressure are indicative of the depletion or replenishment of the natural reservoirs. Systematic and periodic measurements of water levels and artesian pressure in wells have been made in Nevada, by State and Federal agencies from time to time. However, only a few of these measurements have ever been published. Under the cooperative arrangement between the …