Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons^™

Mass Flux Of Agricultural Nonpoint-Source Pollutants In A Conduit-Flow-Dominated Karst Aquifer, Logan County, Kentucky, James C. Currens

Report of Investigations--KGS

Changes in water quality in a karst ground-water basin used intensively for agriculture are being measured before, during, and after the implementation of best management practices (BMP’s) and other management practices, to determine the success of such programs in protecting ground water. The study was divided into three phases. The results of the first two phases are included in this report and cover research conducted between August 1990 and October 1994. During phase I of the study the overall ground-water quality of the basin and its hydrogeology were investigated. Phase II began monitoring the water quality at Pleasant Grove Spring …

Effect Of Bmp Implementation On Storm Flow Quality Of Two Northwestern Arkansas Streams, Dwayne R. Edwards, Tommy C. Daniel, H. Don Scott, Phillip A. Moore Jr., John F. Murdoch, Paul F. Vendrell

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The effectiveness of management practices in improving quality of runoff from agricultural land areas has been reported based primarily on results from plot- and field-scale studies. There is limited information available on watershed scales, particularly when the dominant agricultural land use is pasture. The objective of this study was to determine whether a program of Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation in the Lincoln Lake watershed of northwestern Arkansas was effective in reducing storm stream flow concentrations and mass transport of nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ortho-phosphorus (PO₄-P), total phosphorus …

Flash-Flood Monitoring And Modeling In Kentucky, Mark French, Nageshwar Bhaskar, George K. A. Kyiamah

KWRRI Research Reports

This research project focused on the evaluation of hydrologic issue of flash-flooding in the state of Kentucky. The primary objectives of this project were the following:
(1) to initiate the establishment of a hydrologic database archive necessary for characterizing rainfall and runoff associated with flash-flooding;
(2) identification of appropriate modeling approaches for evaluating site-specific flash-flood runoff behavior.

Specific tasks accomplished to meet the objectives include the following:
(1) development of a rainfall and streamflow data archive using existing measurement gages and identification of the rain gage data from two sources for preliminary quality control;
(2) identification of the spatial and …

Atrazine And Alachlor Dissipation Rates From Field Experiments, Stephen R. Workman, Andrew D. Ward, Norman R. Fausey, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Chemical transport is being monitored in the root zone of three agricultural management systems at the Ohio Management Systems Evaluation Area (OMSEA). Atrazine and alachlor concentration data from soil cores taken to a depth of 0.9 m and partitioned into the increments of 0.0 to 0.15, 0.15 to 0.3, 0.45 to 0.6, and 0.75 to 0.9 m show the herbicides remained in the top 0.15 m of the profile during the 1991 and 1992 growing seasons. The slow movement of herbicides was partly due to below normal rainfall during the period. Since the herbicides have not been transported out of …

Risk Assessment Plan For Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks In Kentucky, Wesley J. Birge, L. C. Taylor, M. D. Kircher, A. J. Grant

KWRRI Research Reports

This study addresses the development of guidelines for corrective actions to be applied to petroleum underground storage tanks (USTs) within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The report presents findings and recommendations for gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, kerosene, jet fuel, and waste oil.

Development Of A Decision Support System For Drought Characterization And Management: Application To Lexington, Kentucky, Lindell E. Ormsbee, Ashu Jain

KWRRI Research Reports

This report presents the results of an investigation into the potential use of expert system technology as an effective tool for drought forecasting and management. Historical data derived from the Kentucky River Basin was used to test the resulting decision support system. This study has demonstrated that expert system technology can serve as an effective platform for use in assisting the decision maker in both characterizing the nature of an existing drought and in selecting and implementing the required management policy.

The success of any decision making process will of course be dependent upon the quality of the data upon …

Water Requirement For Coal Slurry Transportation, David T. Kao, Sandra L. Rusher

KWRRI Research Reports

The amount of water required for coal slurry transportation is a function of the coal properties and the magnitude of coal movement. The pipeline system characteristics and the method of slurry preparation also affects the overall water requirement of the system. In the present study methodologies are developed based on reported and modified coal slurry flow correlation equations to determine the quantity of water needed under various coal transport and flow conditions. Auxiliary water requirements including start-up and flushing water storage; related evaporation and seepage losses are also included. A computer program and several monographs are presented to provide a …

Improved Methods And Guidelines For Modeling Stormwater Runoff From Surface Coal Mined Lands, Michael E. Meadows, George E. Blandford

KWRRI Research Reports

The investgations, developments and guidelines for several hydrologic modeling strategies are presented. Investigations were conducted to determine appropriate event curve numbers for surface mined disturbed watersheds; and performance of four synthetic unit hydrograph models (SCS curvilinear, SCS single triangle, Williams and TVA double triangle) on 38 USDA experimental watersheds in 14 physiographic provinces using in excess of 270 events. A second test using only the SCS curvilinear unit hydrograph on 11 small watersheds and 48 events was conducted to investigate the excess rainfall pattern simulated with the curve number model. A procedure for developing a unit hydrograph using the time …

Hydraulic Analysis Of Surcharged Storm Sewer Systems, Don J. Wood, Gregory C. Heitzman

KWRRI Research Reports

Surcharge in a storm sewer system is the condition in which an entire sewer section is submerged and the pipe is flowing full under pressure. Flow in a surcharged storm sewer is essentially slowly varying unsteady pipe flow and methods for analyzing this type of flow are investigated. In this report the governing equations for unsteady fluid flow in pressurized storm sewers are presented. From these governing equations three numerical models are developed using various assumptions and simplifications. These flow models are applied to several example storm sewer systems under surcharge conditions. Plots of hydraulic grade and flow throughout the …

Classification And Management Of Wetlands In The Western Kentucky Coal Field, William J. Mitsch, Robert W. Bosserman, Paul L. Hill Jr., Jan R. Taylor

KWRRI Research Reports

This is the first research report of a three-year project on wetland identification and management criteria in the western Kentucky coal field. The region is approximately 12,000 square kilometers and, due to its slight relief, contains many wetlands, some contiguous with surface coal mining operations. The overall objectives of the research project are 1) to identify, classify, and map wetlands in the western Kentucky coal field; 2) to evaluate the major biotic and abiotic factors that affect those wetlands; and 3) to develop strategies for the proper management of those wetlands.

The first report of this three-year project has involved …

A Proposed Revision Of Kentucky's Water Rights Legislation, Richard Ausness

KWRRI Research Reports

Kentucky's present system of water law consists of a statutory water withdrawal permit system superimposed upon a body of common-law water rights doctrine. The rights of water users are often uncertain under this system, particularly in periods of water shortage. The proposed revision of Kentucky's existing water rights legislation, would greatly reduce the significance of common-law water rights and would remedy some of the weaknesses in the present statute.

Part 1 of the proposed statute establishes an administrative structure; Part 2 deals with water withdrawal permits; Part 3 retains the present statute's provisions on the regulation of dams and impoundments, …

Organized Resistance To An Imposed Environmental Change: A Resevoir In Eastern Kentucky, William F. Schweri Ii, John Van Willigen

KWRRI Research Reports

This is a case study of a group organized to resist the construction of an Army Corps of Engineers reservoir project located in Eastern Kentucky, More specifically the account describes how a group of landowners organized themselves and enacted an increasingly complex strategy of resistance. Within this framework perceived costs, leadership and authority and group organization are considered.

The primary method employed in this research was that of repeated interviews with members of the resistance organization who were identified as key informants. These interviews were carried out on both structured and unstructured bases.

The formal analysis of the voluntary association …

Hydrology And Water Quality In The Central Kentucky Karst: Phase 1, James F. Quinlan, Donald R. Rowe

KWRRI Research Reports

Study of springs and cave streams has shown that heavy metal-rich effluent from a wastewater treatment plant can be traced to Hidden River Cave (beneath the city of Horse Cave) and thence 4 to 5 miles north to a group of 39 springs at 14 locations along a 5-mile reach of Green River. Nickel, chromium, copper and zinc in these effluent-bearing springs are in concentrations of as much as 30 times greater than other springs upstream and downstream from this reach, 20 times greater than the Green River, and 60 times greater than in shallow domestic wells between Horse Cave …

Supply And Demand In Water Planning: Streamflow Estimation And Conservational Water Pricing, D. I. Carey, C. T. Haan

KWRRI Research Reports

Recent studies indicated the need for development of surface water supplies in Kentucky. Rising resource costs make economically efficient reservoir designs increasingly important. This study was undertaken to provide methods in water supply reservoir design that increase system benefits.

Two major factors influencing reservoir design were studied: estimated future streamflow into the reservoir and demands placed on the reservoir. Standard reservoir sizing methods rely on historical streamflow data. This data is frequently limited and uncertainty in required storage estimates may result. To assess the reliability of a design, the use of mathematical models in simulation studies was proposed. Existing stochastic …

Rural Residential Water Demand In Kentucky: An Econometric And Simulation Analysis, Orlen C. Grunewald, C. T. Haan, David L. Debertin, D. I. Carey

KWRRI Research Reports

This study proposed that demand management through pricing policies can be used in conjunction with supply management to solve water supply problems in Kentucky. Economic principles were shown to apply to rural residential water use. From the economic model, a hyperbolic demand function was theorized. The mathematical form of this function used quantity of water as a function of price, income, value of residence, evaporation, and persons per residence. This function was estimated using ordinary least squares regression. A log-linear model was found to be a satisfactory representation of the demand function. Price was the only independent variable which was …

The Law Of Water Allocation In Kentucky, Richard C. Ausness, Bill H. Flynn

KWRRI Research Reports

This study discusses navigability concepts, consumptive rights to surface and ground waters, the disposal of diffused surface waters and the administration of Kentucky's statutory water allocation system.

Federal regulatory powers are based on navigability as is state ownership of submerged lands. Kentucky uses the ebb-and-flow test of navigability to determine title to submerged lands but uses a navigability-in-fact test to determine the scope of state regulatory authority. Consumptive uses of water in Kentucky are governed by the riparian landowner to use as much water as he needs as long as his use does not interfere with the legitimate uses of …

The Economic Value Of Natural Areas For Recreational Hunting, Kenneth Gene Holbrook

KWRRI Research Reports

The pressures of population growth, urbanization, and improved transportation are diminishing the availability of quality naturalistic sites for recreation while at the same time producing greater demands for their use. One cause contributing to the reduction in acreage in naturalistic areas is the construction of reservoirs. The recreational hunting value of the naturalistic area to be inundated should be considered as a negative consequence in the economic evaluation of a proposed reservoir site.

This study utilized hunting data collected by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, from the 120 Kentucky counties to estimate the economic, value of the average …

The Effect Of A Large Reservoir On Local Government Revenue And Expenditure, Clyde T. Bates

KWRRI Research Reports

Development of a large multi-purpose reservoir within the area of their jurisdiction may affect property ta.x revenue and expenditure of county governments and school districts. Privately owned land sold to a federally sponsored reservoir is not subject to property taxes because of the doctrine of intergovernmental immunity. Local officials often assume that this loss of assessment will reduce their tax revenue and thereby their fiscal ability to provide an acceptable level of government services. They may also expect the influx of construction workers or the disruption of existing facilities to increase the cost of providing these services. The study approaches …

Patterns Of Land Use Change Around A Large Reservoir, Billy R. Prebble

KWRRI Research Reports

Reservoirs are built to control floods, provide water for irrigation and municipal supply, generate electric power, augment low flows for navigation and water quality control, and provide improved fishing and recreation opportunity. A reservoir is justified if the benefit it provides to society exceeds the cost to develop it. Much research has been done to determine the benefit of a water resources development to society as a whole. Some research has explored the benefit of such a facility to a region. Very little research exists on the effects of a reservoir on the immediately surrounding area.

It seems reasonable that …

Economic Development Of Areas Contiguous To Multipurpose Reservoirs: The Kentucky-Tennessee Experience, Michael B. Hargrove

KWRRI Research Reports

This study analyzes the effects of multi-purpose reservoir projects on the economic development of areas contiguous to the dam and reservoir. The study concentrates on the development potential in a humid region where the provision of agricultural water is not critical to the economy. Can a reservoir project be a major part of a development program for a local area? How can the favorable effects of the project on the contiguous area be increased? These questions are answered by this study.

The study is divided into three major phases. The first phase is a theoretical analysis of the determinants of …

Economic Analysis Of Alternative Flood Control Measures, L. Douglas James, Thomas M. Rachford, James Ray Villines, Clyde R. Dempsey, James Norris Cline, Carlos Fix Miller

KWRRI Research Reports

Within the last few years, the growing realization that an effective flood control program must include non-structural measures (land use management and flood proofing) has resulted in Presidential Executive Order 11296 requiring Federal agencies to seek the optimum combination of structural and non-structural measures for flood control. The requirement has created a dilemma. No methodology is available for systematic evaluation of alternative combinations of structural and non-structural measures. Prospective procedures are too time consuming to be feasible under current financial and manpower limitations.

The only way out is to perform much of the planning process by digital computer. With this …

Derivation Of Reservoir Operating Rules By Economic Analysis, Charles O. Dowell

KWRRI Research Reports

The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology for determining an optimum set of reservoir operating rules specifying the of storage space based on the example of Rough River Reservoir, a Corps of Engineers project in Breckinridge and Grayson Counties, Kentucky, and assuming this multipurpose reservoir provides flood control, water supply, and recreation. The operating rules were derived by the method of marginal analysis which uses as its criteria achievement of maximum net benefits from the available storage capacity.

Benefit relationships were derived for each use. The variation of flood control benefits with available flood storage was determined …

Wild Life In Kentucky, William Delbert Funkhouser

Report of Investigations--KGS

The reptiles, birds and mammals of the Commonwealth, with a discussion of their appearance, habits and economic importance. Illustrated with ninety photographs, maps and diagrams.

Two images have been redacted for reasons related to NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.