Environmental Monitoring Commons^™

Las Vegas Wash Advanced Water Quality Study: Final Report, Richard A. Roline, James J. Sartoris, U.S. Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

The purpose of the Las Vegas Wash Advanced Water Quality Study is to determine the existence, extent, and mechanisms of nutrient and toxin stripping in Las Vegas Wash under present conditions and under future conditions, both with and without construction of the proposed salinity control unit as described by the Bureau of Reclamation (USBR, 1982b). This study was performed for the Lower Colorado Region Division of Planning by personnel of the Environmental Sciences Section of the Division of Research and Laboratory Services, E&R Center, Denver, Colorado. Work on the study began in February 1983. The general approach adopted for this …

Factors Affecting Reproductive Success Of Bonytail Chubs And Razorback Suckers In Lake Mohave, Michael A. Bozek, Larry J. Paulson, James E. Deacon, U.S. Department Of Interior, Fish And Wildlife Service

Publications (WR)

Razorback suckers (Xyrauchen texanus) and bonytail chubs (Gila elegans) were once widespread throughout the Colorado River system. The ranges and populations of these native species and others have declined in the past 50 years. Bonytail chubs appear to be extremely rare and possibly nearing extinction in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The razorback sucker is widely distributed in the upper river but is considered rare throughout most of that range and is also rare in the Grand Canyon. Razorback suckers are abundant only in a few habitats in the upper river. They congregate and spawn over …

Fisheries Report No 59 - Potential Fisheries Capability Of The Ord In The Short, Medium And Long Terms, Dr N. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

This report examines the history, future and problems of various methods for development and exploitation of the fisheries resources of the Ord.

The primary resource is the array of native fish and crustacean species, with the possible introduction of other desirable or noxious species being a subject for consideration.

Water resources, supporting these species, are the remaining natural Ord River downstream from the Diversion Dam at Kununurra, the stillwaters of Lake Kununurra and Lake Argyle, and, for aquaculture, the controlled distribution of water supply over the flat land of the irrigation system (Fig. 1). Another recognized resource is the climatic …

Water Quality Trends In The Las Vegas Wash Wetlands, F. A. Morris, L. J. Paulson

Publications (WR)

The Las Vegas Wash is a wetlands ecosystem that acts to buffer the effects of wastewater discharges on the receiving waters of Lake Mead. The wash is the terminus for the 4,144 km2 Las Vegas Valley drainage basin, emptying into Las Vegas Bay of Lake Mead (Colorado River). It is in the northern Mojave desert, which receives an average of only 10 cm of rainfall annually. The Las Vegas Wash is technically an artificial wetland supported almost entirely by the perennial flows from sewage treatment plants. These flows contribute an average of 3-7 t of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and …

The Effects Of Impoundments On Salinity In The Colorado River, Larry J. Paulson, John R. Baker

Publications (WR)

The increase in salinity of our western rivers has been identified as one of the most serious water quality problems in the nation. This is of special concern in the Colorado River where salinity has increased from pristine levels estimated at 380 mg/1 to present-day levels of 825 mg/1 at Imperial Dam. Flow depletions, associated with decreased runoff and increased evaporation and diversions, coupled with high salt loading from natural and man-created sources are considered the primary causes for rising salinity in the river. The urban and agricultural development projected to occur in the basin through this century could deplete …

Use Of Hydroelectric Dams To Control Evaporation And Salinity In The Colorado River System, Larry J. Paulson

Publications (WR)

The main stem reservoirs on the Colorado River comprise one of the largest and most heavily used freshwater bodies in the nation. These reservoirs (Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu) can store up to 53,590,400 acre-feet of water at their maximum capacities. Nonetheless, local water shortages still exist in some areas of the Colorado River Basin. There is also concern that salt concentrations are approaching levels that could severely affect municipal and agricultural uses. Water shortages will become even more acute as demands for water increase with continued urban and agricultural development in the basin. Water conservation …

Historical Patterns Of Phytoplankton Productivity In Lake Mead, Richard T. Prentki, Larry J. Paulson

Publications (WR)

Lake Mead was impounded in 1935 by the construction of Hoover Dam. The Colorado River was unregulated prior to then and therefore was subjected to extreme variations in flows and suspended sediment loads. Hoover Dam stabilized flows and reduced suspended sediment loads downstream, but Lake Mead still received silt-laden inflows from the upper Colorado River Basin. The Colorado River contributed 97% of the suspended sediment inputs to Lake Mead, and up to 140 x 1O⁶ metric tons (t) entered the reservoir in years of high runoff. Most of the sediments were deposited in the river channel and formed an …

Effects Of Wastewater Discharges On Periphyton Growth In Lake Mead, Nevada-Arizona, Marsha Korb Morris

Publications (WR)

A study of the effects of secondary-treated wastewater on periphyton growth in Lake Mead, Nevada-Arizona was conducted from September 1979 to December 1980. Periphyton ash-free dry weight, chlorophyll-a, dominant species composition, and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured on fiberglass substrates. Substrates were incubated for two to four weeks in littoral and limnetic habitats. Physical and chemical variables and phytoplankton chlorophyll-a were measured concurrently.

Transparency increased with increasing distance from the discharge. Secchi depth ranged from 0.75 m at the discharge confluence (station 2) in August, to greater than 20 m at the most distant stations (stations 9 and 10) in …

Report No 49 - Geographically Restricted Plants Of Southern Western Australia, Barbara L. Rye

Fisheries Research Reports

This publication lists 527 angiosperm species native to southern western Australia whose known geographical ranges are less than 100 kilometres long. A further 128 angiosperms are listed with geographical ranges between 100 and 160 kilometres. No fern or gymnosperm species in the region are known to be geographically restricted.

Apart from the presently unnamed species, a large majority of the rare plants of southern Western Australia are believed to be listed, including 86 of the species that have been gazetted as rare flora.

Less than 40% of the listed species are known to occur on conservation reserves and less than …

Report No 54 - A Guide To The Gazetted Rare Flora Of Western Australia: Supplement 1, Susan J. Patrick, Stephen D. Hopper

Fisheries Research Reports

On March 12, 1982 36 plants were added to and 4 plants were deleted from the schedule of flora proclaimed by the Minister for Fisheries and Wildlife to be rare, likely to become extinct or otherwise in need of special protection under Section 23F of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950-1979. Descriptions and drawings of each of the 36 additions to the schedule are provided.

All 36 rare taxa are confined to the South West Botanical Province, most being concentrated in the Albany, Pingelly,

Moora and Wongan Hills wildlife districts. There is an urgent need for further studies on the conservation …

The Ecology Of Maine's Intertidal Habitats : A Report Prepared For The Maine State Planning Office, Peter F. Larsen, Lee F. Doggett

Maine Collection

The Ecology of Maine's Intertidal Habitats : A Report Prepared for the Maine State Planning Office

by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (Authors: Peter F. Larsen and Lee F. Doggett) , 1981.

Contents: Acknowledgements / List of Tables / List of Figures / Chapter 1 - Introduction / Chapter 2 - Human Impact on Intertidal Fauna / Chapter 3 - A Primer of Intertidal Ecology / Chapter 4 - A Sampler of Intertidal Species / Chapter 5 - Methodology / Chapter 6 - Results of Faunal Studies / Appendix 1 - Habitats With Date Sampled / Appendix 2 - List …

Diagenesis Of Organic Matter In Las Vegas Bay And Bonelli Bay, Lake Mead, James W. Murray, Carolyn J. Jones, Kathy Kuivila, Jeff Sawlan

Publications (WR)

The interstitial water chemistry of the sediments of Las Vegas Bay and Bonelli Bay in Lake Mead has been studied as part of a comprehensive water quality study of those locations. Pore water and solid phase analyses were completed from four stations in Las Vegas Bay and two stations in Bonelli Bay. At both locations the pore water compositions and organic matter diagenesis in the sediments are dominated by sulfate reduction. This major role of sulfate reduction is unusual for lake sediments and reflects the fact that SO₄ is the major anion in the lake water. In addition, gypsum …

Chemical And Biological Structure Of Lake Mead Sediments, Richard T. Prentki, Larry J. Paulson, John R. Baker

Publications (WR)

Lake Mead has undergone a serious decline since Glen Canyon Dam was constructed 450 km upstream in 1963.

State fisheries management agencies are concerned that the decline was caused by water level fluctuations and more severe drawdowns during the bass spawning season, when the operation of Hoover Dam was altered during the post-Lake Powell period.

The construction of Glen Canyon Dam and formation of Lake Powell in 1963 drastically altered the natural discharge and temperature cycles and decreased suspended sediment and nutrient loading in the Colorado River inflow to Lake Mead. Recent studies indicate that these changes in nutrient loading …

Maine's Whitewater Rapids And Their Relevance To The Critical Areas Program, Janet Mcmahon

Maine Collection

Maine's Whitewater Rapids and Their Relevance to the Critical Areas Program

by Janet McMahon

Planning Report No. 74, Critical Areas Program, 184 State St., Augusta, Maine,

April, 1981 (additions made in October, 1981). Reprinted July, 1983.

Contents: Introduction / Natural History of Whitewater Rapids / Methods / Criteria / Results / Conclusions / General Evaluation of Whitewater Rapids for Inclusion on the Register of Critical Areas / Bibliography / Action Plan

Report No 41 - A Survey Method For Identifying Roadside Flora Suitable For Conservation In Western Australia, John K. Scott

Fisheries Research Reports

A survey method for identifying flora suitable for conservation alongside roads in south-western Australia was derived from an examination of characteristics of road verges. Two roads, from Midland to Toodyay and from Armadale to Bunbury, were examined. Width of verge, weed cover, soil disturbance, vegetation structure, presence of public utilities, evidence of fire and the type of adjoining land were measured at one mile (1.6 km) intervals on both sides of the road. Also recorded were aesthetic qualities such as stands of beautiful trees and sites of special interest, e.g. the presence of rare plants.

Three variables, percentage weed cover, …

Report No 42 - A Guide To The Gazetted Rare Flora Of Western Australia, Barbara L. Rye, Stephen D. Hopper

Fisheries Research Reports

Descriptions and illustrations are provided for the first 100 taxa which have been gazetted as rare, likely to become extinct or in need of special protection under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950-1979. Most of these rare taxa are restricted to the South-West Botanical Province and more than one-third occur in the Albany Wildlife District.

An outline is given of the means adopted to determine which taxa are gazetted as rare, the legal provisions for their protection and the biological data being sought for their management.

Fisheries Report No 45 - The Short Term Effects Of Brush Harvesting On The Kwongan Vegetation At Eneabba, Western Australia, E. A. Griffin, A. J. M. Hopkins

Fisheries Research Reports

Areas of the kwongan vegetation south of Eneabba are currently being harvested to provide brush for rehabilitation after mining. Because of the botanical importance of the Eneabba kwongan, a study of the effects of the harvesting was initiated. Three areas with different harvest histories were sampled using quadrats paired across cut/uncut boundaries. Floristic and structural differences between quadrats and between areas were assessed. The store of seed in uncut vegetation was measured.

There was a loss of species as a result of harvesting, at least in the short-term. Many species regenerated by resprouting from buds in damaged stems or in …

Methods For Biological, Chemical, And Physical Analyses In Reservoirs, Penelope E. Kellar, Sherell A. Paulson, Larry J. Paulson

Publications (WR)

This manual contains detailed descriptions of biological, chemical and physical sampling and analytical procedures used at the Lake Mead Limnological Research Center. The manual was prepared in response to requests made by numerous individuals involved in the Las Vegas Valley Water Quality Program. This manual represents what we consider to be a reasonably complete compilation of methods useful in studying both general and specific limnological questions. While each section is sufficiently detailed to be of use to investigators with little experience in limnological methodology, the methods can be used on a wide variety of lakes and reservoirs, with relatively little …

Evaluation Of Impacts Associated With Reregulation Of Water Levels In Lake Mohave, Larry J. Paulson, John R. Baker, U.S. Water And Power Resources Service

Publications (WR)

The U.S. Water and Power Resources Service is considering reregulating Lake Mohave water levels to increase the net power benefit from Hoover Dam. Reregulation will not increase the generation capacity of the Hoover powerplant but it will enable the plant operation to be increased when the energy has greater monetary value. Energy generated at different times of the year has different market value, the highest being in January-March and July- September. By generating more power during these periods more net monetary benefit can be derived from Hoover Dam. The total volume of water released from Hoover Dam over an annual …

Annotated Biobliography Of Remote Sensing For Highway Planning And Natural Resources, An, Daniel L. Civco, William C. Kennard, Michael Wm. Lefor

Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station

No abstract provided.

Report No 40 - Commercially Exploited Vacsular Plants Native In Western Australia: Census, Atlas And Preliminary Assessment Of Conservation Status, Barbara L. Rye, S. D. Hopper, L. E. Watson

Fisheries Research Reports

A census and atlas is provided of 1 119 native Western Australian plant species which were commercially exploited during 1977-79 in the cut plant, nursery or seed trades. The exploited species are concentrated in the vicinities of Perth and Albany, the two matin centres for the wildflower industry. Preliminary assessments of the conservation status of the exploited species are provided. Approximately r200 species are regarded as being rare, geographically or poorly collected, and further studies are recommended for these species to determine whether they are in danger of overexploitation.

Fisheries Report No 39 - The Wildlife Of The Proposed Toolonga Nature Reserve, Shark Bay Shire, Western Australia, A. A. Burbidge, P. J. Fuller, K. Cashin

Fisheries Research Reports

Following a Cabinet endorsed recommendation by the Environmental Protection Authority in 1975, an area of vacant Crown Zand (the Toolonga Area) was examined during April and September, 1978.

The geology, soils and vegetation of the area are described and annotated lists of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles are presented. A small part of the area lies in the South West Botanical Province (Irwin District) but most is in the Eremaean Botanical Province (Carnarvon District). The vertebrate fauna is a mixture of south-western, Shark Bay and arid zone species, but the last predominate.

The Toolonga Area provides an opportunity to protect …

The Limnological Status Of Lake Mead And Lake Mohave Under Present And Future Powerplant Operations Of Hoover Dam, Larry J. Paulson, John R. Baker, James E. Deacon, U.S. Water And Power Resources Service

Publications (WR)

The ever-increasing demand for energy in the southwest has led to a search for additional sources of power generation. Coal-fired powerplants currently provide most of the baseline energy in the southwest, but this must be supplemented with hydroelectric power during periods of peak demand. In order to provide additional peaking power, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is considering a number of projects to modify existing hydroelectric facilities, or add new facilities in the Lake Mead Recreation Area. The Hoover Powerplant Modification Feasibility Investigation was authorized by Congress on December 16, 1975 to determine the feasibility of: (i) adding one or …

A Limnological Study Of 43 Selected Maine Lakes, Derrill J. Cowing, Matthew Scott

Maine Collection

A Limnological Study of 43 Selected Maine Lakes

by Derrill J. Cowing and Matthew Scott

U.S. Geological Survey : Water-Resources Investigations 80-69

Prepared in cooperation with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection

U.S. Geological Survey, 26 Ganneston Drive, August, Maine 04330

A Guide To The Threatened And Endangered Vascular Plants Of The Lake Mead National Recreation Area, James S. Holland, Wesley E. Niles, Charles L. Douglas, Dennis R. Schramm

Publications (WR)

This illustrated guide was prepared to provide the botanical community, land managers, and other interested persons with a reference that describes and locates the twelve plant taxa currently being considered by the Fish and Wildlife Service for threatened or endangered status in or around the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The guide is intended to assist managers of government agencies in determining the presence of these species and in defining management programs for their protection. The guide should be consulted prior to any construction project. If a potential conflict is identified, an onsite evaluation should be conducted early in the …

Fisheries Report No 38 - The Shark Bay Prawn Fishery (1970 - 1976), J. W. Penn, R. W. Stalker

Fisheries Research Reports

The existence of prawn stocks in Shark Bay, Western Australia, has been known since 1904 when the sailing ketch "Rip" on charter to the Western Australian Government, trawled large quantities of prawns from the area between Bernier Island and the mainland, Gale (1905). Although the Fisheries research vessel "Lancelin" trawled potentially commercial quantities of prawns from Shark Bay in the early 1950's, it was not until 1962 that a regular fishery was begun.

Today the prawn stocks of Shark Bay support Western Australia's largest and most consistent prawn fishery, having an annual production currently exceeding 2 000 tonnes. The catch …

Fisheries Report No 35 - Fish And Exploited Crustaceans Of The Swan-Canning Estuary, R C.J. Lenanton

Fisheries Research Reports

Fishes of the Swan-Canning estuarine system are typical of those found in other lower west coast estuarine systems of Western Australia. Species representing three families of elasmobranchs, several of which are commercially important, twenty families of teleosts, and two families of crustaceans (Table 1) commonly occur in this estuarine system. The many other species which occur less commonly in the Swan- Canning estuary are mostly members of the additional families listed in Table l.

The information contained in this document was made available for use by the authors of the following two publications : -

Forbes and Fitzkardinge (1977) Swan …

Fisheries Report No 32 - The Wildlife Of The Proposed Wandana Nature Reserve, Near Yuna, Western Australia, A. A. Burbidge, P. J. Fuller, A. Mccusker

Fisheries Research Reports

Following a Cabinet endorsed recommendation by the Environmental Protection Authority in 1976 an area of vacant Crown land (the Wandana Area) north-east of Yuna, Western Australia, was examined during March and September, 1977.

The geology, soils and vegetation of the area are described and annotated lists of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians are presented. The area lies near or on the boundary of the South- Western and Eremaean Botanical Provinces and vegetation formations typical of both occur. The vertebrate fauna is a mixture of South-Western and Eyrean species and is especially rich in reptiles, 41 species being recorded. Comparisons between …

Fisheries Report No 36 - Utilization Of The Bunbury And Geographe Bay Marine Resource By Professional And Amateur Fishermen, Michael H. Walker

Fisheries Research Reports

Utilization of the Bunbury and Geographe Bay marine resource by professional and amateur fishermen was investigated by personal interview, distribution and analysis of research log sheets, and examination of commercial statistics for the area, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Total professional production for the years 1966/67 - 1974/75 for Geographe Bay varied between 225517 and 1218049 Kg (mean 497175) with a mean annual value to fishermen of $427708. Production for the Bunbury marine area varied between 157666 and 333810 Kg (mean 226526) with a mean value to fishermen of $311008. For the 1975/76 season the total production was …

Fisheries Report No 30 - The Wildlife Of The Proposed Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, Western Australia, W. K. Youngson, N. L. Mckenzie

Fisheries Research Reports

Plants and vertebrate animals were recorded from a proposed 300 000 ha nature reserve centred on Karroun Hill in the goldfields of Western Australia (30°03'S; 118°02'E).

Plant communities are described in terms of their structurally important species and related to local physiography.

Fifteen native mammal species, sixty-four bird species, twenty-four reptile species and one amphibian were recorded. Annotated lists are presented. The wildlife reflects the transitional nature of the Coolgardie Botanical District. Both Eremean and South Western Province species were recorded.