Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons^™

Salinity And Hydrology Of The Fence Road Catchment : A Focus Catchment Of The Blackwood Basin, Ben Whitfield

Resource management technical reports

It is the clearing of native vegetation and replacement with lower water-use annual crops and pastures that is responsible for the developing salinity problem. Traditional farming practices have led to increased recharge to the groundwater systems resulting in increased storage and/or greater areas or rates of discharge. Groundwater monitoring has revealed variable rates of rise throughout the Fence Road catchment, from static to 0.6 metres per year, in a period of average to below average rainfall.

Monitoring The 1996 Drought Using The Standardized Precipitation Index, Michael J. Hayes, Mark D. Svoboda, Donald A. Wilhite, Olga V. Vanyarkho

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Droughts are difficult to detect and monitor. Drought indices, most commonly the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), have been used with limited success as operational drought monitoring tools and triggers for policy responses. Recently, a new index, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), was developed to improve drought detection and monitoring capabilities. The SPI has several characteristics that are an improvement over previous indices, including its simplicity and temporal flexibility, that allow its application for water resources on all timescales. In this article, the 1996 drought in the southern plains and southwestern United States is examined using the SPI. A series …

A Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of Riparian Vegetation Along Satus Creek On The Yakama Indian Reservation, Kathryn Gellenbeck

All Master's Theses

Satus Creek provides critical habitat for the Yakima River Basin steelhead. A diverse community of riparian vegetation is important for healthy fish habitat; vegetation changes can affect shade, cover, channel structure, water quality, and food availability. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and illustrate riparian vegetation change, both temporally and spatially, along three separate reaches of Satus Creek. A Geographic Information Systems approach was applied to assess the vegetation change by comparing plant species composition and density on 1949 and 1995 aerial photographs. The GIS approach allowed patterns and trends in the vegetation to be identified. In less …

Observations On Groundwater Recharge In The Westdale Catchment, M F. Lewis, C E. Mcconnell

Resource management technical reports

A study of the role of groundwater carriers and barriers in controlling salinity was carried out in the Westdale Catchment by Lewis and McConnell (in preparation). Although that study was primarily concerned with groundwater flow and discharge processes, the data collected also provided rudimentary information on the timing of groundwater recharge events and their distribution across the landscape.

Completion Report: Arkansas State Plant Board Pesticide Ground Water Monitoring Project - Phase Vi, T. Nichols, P. Vendrell, K. Steele, H. D. Scott, C. Armstrong

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Field Trip Guide: Illinois River Summary, National Poultry Water Management Symposium, Kenneth F. Steele

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Storm And Base Flow Water Quality For Bear, Calf And Tomahawk Creeks, Kenneth F. Steele, David N. Mott

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Appendices for MSC 255

Storm And Base Flow Water Quality For Bear, Calf, And Tomahawk Creeks, Kenneth F. Steele, David N. Mott

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Because of the conversion of 92,780 acres of forest to pasture land in the Buffalo River watershed over a 27 year period, there is concern about the affect of agricultural activities on the water quality of the river. Three tributaries (Bear, Calf and Tomahawk creeks) located about mid-length of the Buffalo River were chosen to investigate the affect of agricultural activity on water quality because these streams provide the greatest amounts of fecal bacteria, nitrate+nitrite and phosphorus to the river, despite comprising only 13% of the watershed.

Quality Of Surface And Ground Water And Best Management Practices, Kenneth F. Steele

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Arkansas is fortunate to have outstanding water resources, especially in terms of water quality. However, this is not to say that there are no problems. The Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC) in cooperation with other state and federal agencies is characterizing our water resources and providing data important to the wise use of these resources. One wise use of our water resources is to mitigate the impact of non-point sources of pollution on water quality through the use of best management practices. These proceedings address not only the characterization of the quality of ground and surface water but also address …

Vulnerability And Use Of Ground And Surface Waters In The Southern Mississippi Valley Region, H. Don Scott

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

There is a concern in the Southern Mississippi River Valley of the United States over non-point source pollution of ground and surface waters resulting from activities associated with agricultural production. This agriculturally intensive region consists of two major land resource areas (MLRAs): Southern Mississippi Valley Silty Uplands (MLRA 134) and the Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium (MLRA 131). Both MLRAs have level to undulating and rolling topography, relatively fertile soils and a climate particularly conducive for row crop production.

Llinois River 1997 Pollutant Loads At Arkansas Highway 59 Bridge, Marc A. Nelson, Thomas S. Soerens

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Automatic water samplers and a USGS 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 for January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997.

Directory Of Water Related Courses Offered At Colleges And Universities In Arkansas As Of November 1998, Kenneth F. Steele

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

This publication lists the water and water-related courses at several universities and colleges in Arkansas as reported during the Fall of 1 998. It is anticipated that users of this directory will extend beyond college students, and will include professionals seeking continuing education, and professors desiring to exchange Information on courses. This directory is not an "absolute" source of water and water-related courses because all of the higher learning Institutions In Arkansas are not listed, and, secondly, because the definition of "water and water-related" varies from institution to institution. None-the-less this directory provides a very valuable and impressive reference on …

Vulnerability And Use Of Ground And Surface Waters In The Southern Mississippi Valley Region, H. D. Scott

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

There is a concern in the Southern Mississippi River Valley of the United States over non-point source pollution of ground and surface waters resulting from activities associated with agricultural production. This agriculturally intensive region consists of two major land resource areas (MLRAs): Southern Mississippi Valley Silty Uplands (MLRA 134) and the Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium (MLRA 131). Both MLRAs have level to undulating and rolling topography, relatively fertile soils and a climate particularly conducive for row crop production.

Agricultural Water Management In The Missippi Delta Region Of Arkansas, H. Don Scott, James A. Ferguson, Linda Hanson, Todd Fugitt, Earl Smith

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

Agriculture is the largest use of soil and water resources in eastern Arkansas. This bulletin summarized the recent historical use of soil and water by agriculture and the impact of irrigation on yields of rice, soybeans and cotton. The experiments conducted in the field to quantitatively schedule irrigations of crops are summarized. The results show the close relationship between the irrigation of crops and the extraction of water from the Alluvial Aquifer. The implications of this relationaship for the future are discussed.

Inventory And Characterization Of The Riparian Zone Of The Current And Jacks Fork Rivers, Jonathan Lyon, Cynthia L. Sagers

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

The ecological, recreational, and economic value of the 134 mile (216 km) riparian corridor within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) is of great interest to land managers and conservationists. Recent interest in applying ecosystem management to forest systems has necessitated a fresh look at the tools and methods in use to assess existing patterns of plant community structure and diversity. The purpose and objective of the study described in this report was to initiate a series of vegetation studies that could be integrated with existing research and management infonnation on the riparian vegetation in the ONSR. Defining the compositional …

How To Reduce Drought Risk, Cody Knutson, Mike Hayes, Tom Phillips

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

This guide describes a practical step-by-step process for identifying actions that can be taken to reduce potential drought-related impacts before a drought occurs. Step 1 begins with making sure that the right people are brought together and supplied with adequate data to make informed and equitable decisions during the process. Steps 2 and 3 narrow the focus of the study by identifying high priority drought-related impacts that are relevant to the user’s location or activity. Step 4 demonstrates that in order to reduce the potential for the identified impacts to occur in the future, it is necessary to understand the …

Inventory Of Sub-Catchments Within The Wilson Inlet Catchment, B Radys

Resource management technical reports

The release of the "Salinity Action Plan for Western Australia' in December 996 highlighted the need for catchment scale planning and coordinated actions to reverse salinity trends.

A separate report has been produced for each major catchment area. Each report contains and inventory of all sub-catchments. with information on area, degradation risks and group activities with each catchment.

Mud Creek Urban Nonpoint Source Demonstration, Paul Vendrell, K. Teague

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

Northwest Arkansas is the seventh fastest developing area in the nation. The conversion of rolling pastureland into paved city streets, parking lots, and buildings within this rapidly urbanizing region is reducing infiltration and intensifying stormwater runoff. In the city of Fayetteville alone, the population increased from 42,099 to 58,163 between 1990 and 1999, moving the city across the population threshold which will require the Phase II Stormwater Permit process. Approximately half of Fayetteville is included in the Illinois River Watershed, which has been identified as the third highest priority watershed in need of restoration in the state of Arkansas. Mud …

Chapter 2 Climate, Donald A. Wilhite, Kenneth G. Hubbard

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

The broad climatic patterns of the Sand Hills region are also characteristic of the central Great Plains environment. The spatial and temporal patterns of these climatic variables have a significant effect on the natural resources of the region.

Inventory Of Sub-Catchments Within The Oyster Harbour Catchment, B Radys

Resource management technical reports

The release of the "Salinity Action Plan for Western Australia' in December 996 highlighted the need for catchment scale planning and coordinated actions to reverse salinity trends.

A separate report has been produced for each major catchment area. Each report contains and inventory of all sub-catchments, with information on area, degradation risks and group activities with each catchment.

Inventory Of Sub-Catchments Within The Albany Eastern Hinterland, B Radys

Resource management technical reports

The release of the "Salinity Action Plan for Western Australia' in December 996 highlighted the need for catchment scale planning and coordinated actions to reverse salinity trends.

A separate report has been produced for each major catchment area. Each report contains and inventory of all sub-catchments, with information on area, degradation risks and group activities with each catchment.

Effects Of Agricultural Practices On Nutrient Concentrations And Loads In Two Small Watersheds, Northwestern Arkansas, Robin G. Roggio, Kenneth F. Steele, P. F. Vendrell, M. A. Nelson

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The water quality of two small, adjacent watersheds was monitored to determine the effect of land use on nutrient loads and flow-weighted mean concentrations. Poultry litter and liquid swine waste are surface applied as fertilizer to pastures that are used for hay production and beef cattle grazing. The study area is located in northwestern Arkansas, east central Washington County. Cannon Creek, the less influenced watershed (628 hectares), contains 11% pasture; whereas, Shumate Creek, the more influenced watershed (589 hectares), contains 22% pasture and receives approximately four times more land applied animal waste as fertilizer. The remaining land cover in both …

Continuation Of Illinois River Water Quality Monitoring Of Moores Creek, Paul F. Vendrell

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

In Northwest Arkansas, nutrients transported by surface water are a major concern. These nutrients are implicated in causing water quality impairment of lakes in Northwest Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The nutrients of concern are nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen and phosphorus stimulate algae production in water bodies and can cause objectionable water quality. Problems associated with algae growth are aesthetic impairment, objectionable taste and odor of potable water, interference with recreation activities, and fish kills in some hyper-eutrophic cases. The sources of these nutrients are primarily from land application of confined animal wastes as soil amendments to pastures. In 1990, the …

Review Of The United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Technical Assistance Grant Program, Robert Leslie Annear, Scott A. Wells, Shuguang Li, Marvin Beeson, Michael L. Cummings, Richard Pratt

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The EPA Technical Assistance Grant Program has been around for several years, but there are not many examples of its use in the Pacific Northwest from which citizens can learn from when considering applying for a Technical Assistance Grant. The EPA program is designed to provide citizens with technical assistance in understanding the issues related to a Superfund site (or proposed Superfund site) in their community. This report provides an overview of the Technical Assistance Grant Program with information on applying for the grant, selecting a Technical Advisor and managing the grant. Additionally two case studies are reviewed in order …

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 …

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 …

Beaver Lake Water Quality Enhancement Project Data Analysis, Thomas Soerens, Brian E. Haggard, David G. Parker

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

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 Columbia Slough, Scott A. Wells

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report was written in an attempt to provide the public and Bureau of Environmental Services Staff with a summary of work accomplished on the Columbia Slough system by Portland State University and other consultants working on the Slough over the last 6 years. An attempt was made to create an easy-to-read report with important overviews of the "big picture", glossary of definitions, index, and further details to assist in technology transfer.

Drought In The United States: 1996 Summary And Historical Perspective, William O. Brown, Richard R. Heim Jr.

Drought Network News (1994–2001)

Considerable variation in moisture conditions, on both a spatial and temporal basis, occurred in the contiguous United States during 1996. A tenth or more of the country experienced severe to extreme short-term (i.e., monthly) precipitation deficits during nearly half of the months, but in many months there were also large areas of excessive precipitation, which resulted in overall national conditions averaging near normal to wetter than normal. From a national perspective, long-term drought peaked at mid-year, when severe drought plagued the South and Southwest.