Environmental Monitoring Commons^™

Estimation Of Groundwater Velocities From Yucca Flat To The Amargosa Desert Using Geochemistry And Environmental Isotopes, Ronald L. Hershey, Steve Y. Acheampong

Publications (WR)

Geochemical modeling techniques were applied to groundwater flowpaths from Yucca Flat on the Nevada Test Site (NTS) to the Amargosa Desert, south of the NTS to estimate groundwater flow velocities for independent comparison to velocities calculated by other methods. The groundwater flowpaths examined considered flow in the carbonate aquifer beneath Yucca and Frenchman flats mixing with flow from carbonate aquifers east and southeast of the NTS and discharging at wells south of the NTS border. The approach used the computer codes WATEQ4F and NETPATH to calculate chemical speciation, determine the saturation state of mineral phases, and simulate mixing and the …

Artificial Recharge In The Las Vegas Valley: An Operational History, Michael Johnson, Erin Cole, Kay Brothers, Las Vegas Valley Water District

Publications (WR)

Artificially recharging the Las Vegas Valley (Valley) ground-water system with treated Colorado River water is one water resource management option employed by the Las Vegas Valley Water District (District) to help meet future long-term and short-term peak water demands. The District began operation of an artificial ground-water recharge program in 1988 in order to bank water for future use and to slow declining water levels. Artificial recharge occurs in the winter months, typically from October to May, when there is excess capacity in the Southern Nevada Water System (SNWS), currently a 400 Million Gallon per Day (MGD) treatment and transmission …

Bulletin 4328 - Soil Testing For Vegetable Production On The Coastal Plain, Ian Mcpharlin, Murray Hegney

Bulletins 4000 -

Vegetable growers need to use fertiliser efficiently. Under-fertilising can reduce yield, which results in economic losses. Over-fertilising can reduce yield and contribute to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of ground and surface waters. Concerns have been expressed that fertilisers applied to horticultural crops contribute to the phosphorus pollution of the rivers and estuaries of the west and south coast of Western Australia.

Soil testing is a technique that can be used by growers to make better fertiliser decisions. When soil tests show high levels of nutrients, growers can reduce fertiliser application for the current crop. This should enable growers to maintain …

Las Vegas Wash Water Quality Monitoring Program: 1996 Report Of Findings, Richard A. Roline, James J. Sartoris, U.S. Bureau Of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey

Publications (WR)

Las Vegas Wash, a natural wash east of the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, carries stormwater, groundwater drainage, and sewage effluent from three sewage treatment plants to Lake Mead. The Wash provides nearly the only surface water outlet for the entire 2,193 mi² of Las Vegas Valley. A drainage area of 1,586 mi² contributes directly to the Wash through surface flow which is channeled to Las Vegas Bay of Lake Mead, while drainage of the remaining 607 mi² is presumably subsurface and may drain toward Las Vegas Wash.

In the 1930's and 1940's, sewage treatment plants were …

Native Vegetation Handbook For The Shire Of Augusta-Margaret River, Shaun B. Grein

Native vegetation handbook series

This booklet provides rural land managers with information relating to the natural resources of the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River including the existing vegetation, drainage systems and soils. Some of the problems relating to the management of natural resources in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River and possible solutions to these problems are also discussed. By providing this information, it is hoped this booklet will contribute to the long term viability of the rural landscape and the conservation of native vegetation within the Shire.

Native Vegetation Handbook For The Shire Of Boyup Brook, Shaun B. Grein

Native vegetation handbook series

This booklet provides rural land managers with information relating to the natural resources of the Shire of Boyup Brook including the existing vegetation, drainage systems and soils. Some of the problems relating to the management of natural resources in the Shire of Boyup Brook and possible solutions to these problems are also discussed. By providing this information, it is hoped this booklet will contribute to the long term viability of the rural landscape and the conservation of native vegetation within the Shire.

State Of The Fisheries Report 1995/1996, Jim W. Penn

Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

The State of the Fisheries document is designed as an essential supplement to the Annual Report to Parliament. By summarising data such as landings, effort, catch rates, stock assessment and breeding stock levels, this document provides a valuable reference point for all Western Australian fisheries of major importance to the commercial, recreational and aquaculture sectors. The report indicates that overall the major fish stocks which support fisheries in Western Australia are in a reasonably healthy condition. Those species which are being harvested at levels above their optimum, such as the shark stocks, are subject to increasing fishing controls designed to …

Bulletin 4333 - Furrow Sowing On Water Repellent Soils, Paul Blackwell, Grant Morrow

Bulletins 4000 -

This Bulletin discusses the benefits that furrow sowing brings to crop growth and production on water repellent sand, based on research and farm observations in Western Australian. By understanding the benefits and risks of several key processes, producers can better evaluate the potential role of furrow sowing in combating water repellency. This is true whether one is using direct drilling, no-till (narrow points or discs) or zero till (single, double or triple disc openers) methods.

The Influence Of The Wastewater Drainage From The Las Vegas Valley On The Limnology Of Boulder Basin, Lake Mead, Nevada-Arizona, James F. Labounty, Michael J. Horn, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

Lake Mead, Colorado River, Arizona-Nevada, is one of the most heavily used reservoirs in the western United States, providing abundant recreational opportunities as well as downstream domestic and agricultural water for over 22 million users. Based on average nutrient levels and productivity, Lake Mead is classified as mildly mesotrophic. The interflow of the Colorado River dominates the limnology of much of the 106 km-long reservoir, and may still be identified at Hoover Dam under certain conditions. The lower basin of Lake Mead ending at Hoover Dam is known as Boulder Basin and is near the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Las …

Spatial Analysis Of The Cause Of Mercury Contamination Of Fish In Arkansas - A Report Submitted To The Arkansas Mercury Task Force, H. S. Lin, H. D. Scott

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

There have been concerns about mercury (Hg) contamination in fish in Arkansas since the discovery of the problem in the Ouachita River in 1992 (Armstrong et aI., 1995). Of the more than 170 lakes and streams sampled by the Mercury Task Force from 1992 through 1994, 23% had fish with Hg concentrations exceeding the FDA Action Level of 1 ppm (Armstrong et aI., 1995). Cause of the fish Hg contamination, however, is unknown. Given the economic, human-health and environmental costs associated with fish Hg contamination, it is critical that the cause of this widely-spread problem be identified. Determination of the …

A Strategy For Monitoring Glaciers, Andrew G. Fountain, Robert M. Krimmel, Dennis C. Trabant

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Glaciers are important features in the hydrologic cycle and affect the volume, variability, and water quality of runoff. Assessing and predicting the effect of glaciers on water resources require a monitoring program to provide basic data for this understanding. The monitoring program of the U.S. Geological Survey employs a nested approach whereby an intensively studied glacier is surrounded by less intensively studied glaciers and those monitored solely by remote sensing. Ideally, each glacierized region of the United States would have such a network of glaciers. The intensively studied glacier provides a detailed understanding of the physical processes and their temporal …

Coastal Zone Monitoring And Evaluation : A Descriptive Analysis Of Western Australian Practices, Michael F. Williams

Theses : Honours

Currently there is no information available which documents the monitoring and evaluation practices undertaken in the coastal zone of Western Aust1alia by coastal zone managers. A review of current Australian-wide management practices in coastal management reveals that monitoring and evaluation are limited in their application. The adequacy of the links between coastal monitoring and evaluation, on which our understanding of the state of the coastal zone environment is based, is one of two central themes throughout this research. The other theme is that without an accurate, reliable and effectively managed monitoring and research information base, coastal management will be haphazard …

Nearly Synchronous Climate Change In The Northern Hemisphere During The Last Glacial Termination, Larry V. Benson, James Burdett, Steve Lund, Michaele Kashgarian, Scott Mensing

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

The climate of the North Atlantic region underwent a series of abrupt cold/warm oscillations when the ice sheets of the Northern Hemisphere retreated during the last glacial termination (17,700–11,500 years ago). Evidence for these oscillations, which are recorded in European terrestrial sediments as the Oldest Dryas/Bølling/ Older Dryas/Allerød/Younger Dryas vegetational sequence, has been found in Greenland ice cores. The geographical extent of many of these oscillations is not well known, but the last major cold event (the Younger Dryas) seems to have been global in extent. Here we present evidence of four major oscillations in the hydrological balance of the …

The Biodegradation Characteristics Of Proposed Fuel Systems Icing Inhibitors (Fsii), Charles E. Meshako

Theses and Dissertations

The biodegradation characteristics of three fuel system icing ihhibitors (FSII) were evaluated. FSII are jet fuel additives that partition into water readily and are present in the water drained from storage tank bottoms in concentrations approaching 40%. These concentrations raise concerns as to the disposal and handling of these wastes. The current FSII, DiEGME was evaluated along with two new candidates, dipropylene glycol and glycerol formal. DiEGME appeared to be moderately but not completely biodegradable. It is likely that much of it would be removed in a wastewater treatment plant. Dipropylene glycol only showed signs of degradation after more than …

Local Effects Of Solid Rocket Motor Exhaust On Stratospheric Ozone Concentrations, Brian K. George

Theses and Dissertations

Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) power the initial flight of the Space Shuttle and Titan IV rocket. During those first two minutes after liftoff, the exhaust plumes from these motors emit large quantities of chlorine compounds and alumina particles into the atmosphere. For years scientists have argued that such a large chlorine input, injected directly into the stratosphere, would photochemically react with the surrounding air to cause significant ozone depletion. To answer the question of whether SRM exhaust causes a significant ozone depletion, Version 7 data from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument was analyzed for the 30 days prior …

Mass Transport Of Volatile Organic Compounds Between The Saturated And Vadose Zones, Monte S. Harner

Theses and Dissertations

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) dissolved in the saturated zone are transported into the vadose zone primarily by gaseous phase diffusion. If the saturated zone is remediated, VOCs present in the vadose zone may become a secondary source of contamination for the groundwater. The amount of VOCs that remain in the vadose zone is dependent on site hydrology, soil properties, and the chemical properties of the contaminants. The purpose of this study was to determine what conditions caused VOC concentrations in the vadose zone to significantly recontaminate the saturated zone. A one-dimensional numerical model was developed to investigate the transport of …

Evaluating The Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Pharmacy Among Air Force Majcoms Using Waste Reductions And Activity Indicators, W. Edward Iseman Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Pharmacy has been designed as an environmentally friendly vehicle to handle, store, dispense, track, recycle, and dispose of hazardous materials in the Air Force. This thesis effort proposed a method in which valuable feedback for the pharmacy can be obtained. Because it is still in the early stages of implementation, there has been little feedback on the pharmacy. An activity index that uses a variable most closely associated with the generation of hazardous waste in a MAJCOM is proposed. Using an aircraft maintenance related variable, like maximum take-off weight, the fluctuations in mission over time can …

Surfactant Enhanced Microbial Degradation Of Jp-8 Contaminated Soil, John D. Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort used an automated respirometer to evaluate the enhancement of JP-8 fuel biodegradation, from surfactant addition. Two nonionic surfactants, Novell 1412-7 and Alfonic 810-4.5 were chosen for addition to contaminated JP-8, microcosms at three levels of treatment. The three levels of treatment included sub-CMC, CMC, and supra-CMC concentrations for each surfactant. The Novell II, nonionic surfactant, exhibited inhibitory characteristics, and was eliminated from the study. The focus of the study was to determine if JP-8 was actually degraded, and if enhancement of JP-8 biodegradation would be achieved from surfactant addition. The respirometer was found to be repeatable within …

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy On Solution Samples Using Surface Excitation, Leonard M. Berman

Theses and Dissertations

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a spectroscopic technique where output from a pulsed laser is focused onto a target in order to create an intense plasma. The optical emission is characteristic of the elements in the focal volume and can be used for elemental analysis. Research on the detection of nickel in solution in addition to solvent detection of CCl₄, CHCl₃, C2Cl₄, and C2HCl₃ has been performed. Breakdown was formed at the sample surface via a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Initially, operation of the laser was at 1064 nm/repetition rate of 5 Hz. Experiments …

The Use Of Bauxite Residue As A Soil Amendment In The Peel-Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment - Report On Results Of 1995 Environmental Monitoring Program, Mark Rivers

Natural resources published reports

This report was submitted in accordance with the recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) who have stated that a monitoring program shall be undertaken by Agriculture Western Australia within six months of the widespread use of bauxite residue as a soil amendment. Although this widespread use of bauxite residue has not yet formally commenced, pre-emptive monitoring has been undertaken in order to gain some understanding of the general environmental characteristics of the Peel-Harvey catchment and, in particular, the characteristics and quality of the water flowing through the catchment.

It represents the second annual report submitted to the EPA describing …

Western Australian Salinity Action Plan, Agriculture Western Australia, Department Of Conservation And Land Management, Department Of Environmental Protection, Water And Rivers Commission

Natural resources published reports

Salinity is one of the State's most critical environmental problems, threatening major economic and social consequences. It is preventable and, in the long term, reversible. Complete elimination is not realistic, but we can dramatically reduce its impact.

Salinity is caused by replacing deep-rooted native plants with shallow-rooted crops and pastures. More rainfall passed below the root zone and accumulates as groundwater so that watertables rise. The groundwater mobilises natural salts in the soil as it rises and carries them towards the surface, eventually degrading land and streams.

Diversity Of Arkansas Water Resources Research, Kenneth F. Steele

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

In order to understand, protect, and manage our water resources effectively knowledge is required from many diverse areas of science, engineering, economics, and sociology. These proceedings of the conference on the Diversity of Arkansas Water Resources Research reflect this need and demonstrate how researchers in the state are responding to water issues and problems in Arkansas. The papers in these proceedings are representative of the research in Arkansas, but are only a sample of the work being conducted by universities and government agencies in Arkansas. We are grateful that Arkansas has the expertise available to provide the information necessary to …

An Exploration Of Environmental Technology Transition From The Laboratory To The Field, Michael A. Greiner

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental policy, social factors, individual behavior, and environmental technologies are key factors in improving the current condition of the environment. The Department of Defense (DoD) is not immune to these aspects, as its actions have and will continue to impact the environment in which they conduct operations. The objective of this research is to analyze the environmental technology aspect of improving environmental conditions. Of particular interest, what barriers and bridges are encountered when an Air Force laboratory transitions environmental technologies to an end-user: operational field organization or major weapon system. The research employs a case study methodology to analyze five …

Bulletin 4329 - Environmental Hazards Of Farming In Western Australia, Greg Hamilton, Ian Foster, Philip M. Goulding

Bulletins 4000 -

This Bulletin is one of a series on crop establishment practices which minimise soil disturbance and improve stubble retention. In partnership with primary producers, Agriculture Western Australia 1s focussed on improved and profitable farming which conserves or improves the quality of the State's soil resources.

Agricultural land in Western Australia is naturally fragile and susceptible to degradation. Salinity and wind erosion are the most visible and significant forms of degradation, but all forms are present over large areas of agricultural land (House of Representatives Enquiry into Land Degradation in Western Australia, 1988).

The fragility of Western Australia's soils has been …

Environmental Water Quality - A Guide To Sampling And Measurement, Richard J. George, Davie Weaver, James Terry

Agriculture reports

The guide covers the problems associated with sampling water in the field and suggestions to overcome them. The main types of water pollution that potentially occur in the south west of Western Australia are discussed and for each contaminant, the origins and environmental effects are briefly described and where available, water quality guidelines are provided for major water uses. This is followed by specific requirements of the collection, storage and analysis of samples. The guide also includes further reading and details on suppliers, analytical costs and web resources.

Report Of Significant Findings--Las Vegas Bay/Boulder Basin Investigations, James F. Labounty, Michael Horn, Bureau Of Reclamation

Publications (WR)

Field sampling was carried out between 0830 and 1500 beginning at the confluence of Las Vegas Wash and the Inner Las Vegas Bay. Ten (10) locations were sampled, each in a similar manner. Locations of sampling stations are in line from the Wash-Bay confluence to a point midway between Saddle and Black Islands. In addition, sampling was done at a location midway between Sentinel Island and the base of Fortification Hill, and at the buoy line in front of Hoover Dam. Sampling stations are labeled from LV01, at Wash-Bay confluence, to LV17 at Hoover Dam. A significant data collection point …

Esperance Region Catchment Planning Strategy, John Platt, Brendan Nicholas, Rod Short, Stephen Gee

Natural resources published reports

The Esperance Region Catchment Planning Strategy project was initiated by the Esperance Land Conservation District Committee.

This report provides a reference document for farmers and other land managers such as government agencies and local government, and should help them to strategically focus their catchment planning activities.

It will help land managers to identify the major catchments and land systems in their area, management issues for long term sustainability, and a regional strategy for catchment planning.

Catchment planning involves both technical and social processes.

Technically it is a process of planning the sustainable use of water resources within a catchment.

State Of The Fisheries Report 1994/1995, Fisheries Department Of Western Australia

Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

This State ofFisheries document is designed to be used as an adjunct to the Annual Report. This year is the first year that this document has been presented in this format. It is envisaged that the State of Fisheries document will be an annual report giving specific details on all fisheries of major importance to the commercial, recreational and aquaculture sectors of Western Australia. The State ofFisheries contains details such as landings, effort, catch rates, stock assessment, breeding stock levels and catch forecasts where possible. The data in this document are of the last full year (12 months) available to …

Air Quality And Transportation On Colorado's Front Range: Taking Responsibility For Difficult Choices, Wade Buchanan, David A. Pampu, Christine Lipaj Shaver, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Air Quality and Transportation on Colorado's Front Range: Taking Responsibility for Difficult Choices (March 12)

15 pages.

Collection of 3 papers presented at the Hot Topics in Natural Resources Law program held on March 12, 1996.

Includes biographical information for Wade Buchanan, David A. Pampu, and Christine Lipaj Shaver.

With communities along Colorado's Front Range continuing to grow at a rapid rate, government, private businesses and citizens are faced with difficult choices concerning air quality and transportation. Can we control the "brown cloud" and increasing congestion on our roads and freeways? What decisions and sacrifices must be made, and who will take responsibility for them? Wade Buchanan, Chairman of the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), …

The Cumulative Impacts Of Management Decisions On Nitrogen Loading To The Rhode Island Salt Ponds, Laura M. Ernst

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

Calculations and measurements of nitrogen in groundwater, stream flow and atmospheric deposition were used to see if the cumulative impacts of management decisions over a fifteen year period of time resulted in measurable changes in nitrogen loading to six of the salt ponds on the south shore of Rhode Island. The changes in the source and transmission of nitrogen were tested by comparing calculated and measured nitrogen data from 1980 and 1995. The calculated method included a nitrogen budget based on land-use and literature values for nitrogen loss to groundwater. The second method compared concentrations of nitrogen in groundwater taken …