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Articles 1 - 30 of 83

Full-Text Articles in Fresh Water Studies

A Step In The Right Direction: Streambank Restoration Efforts At The Botanical Garden Of The Ozarks, Dylan S. Milholen, Madison Brown, Steven Thao, Lisa S. Wood Jan 2016

A Step In The Right Direction: Streambank Restoration Efforts At The Botanical Garden Of The Ozarks, Dylan S. Milholen, Madison Brown, Steven Thao, Lisa S. Wood

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks (BGO) is a unique destination in Northwest Arkansas that draws more than 80,000 visitors a year. While the BGO manages low-input practices, run-off from pesticide application and synthetic fertilizers containing phosphorus and nitrogen are of concern to water quality, habitat, and overall ecological interactions of the BGO streambanks and adjacent Hilton Creek, which flows directly into Lake Fayetteville. One way to reduce pollution to waterbodies is through the use of riparian buffers. This project sought to establish a riparian buffer immediately adjacent to a portion of Hilton Creek in an effort to improve ecological …


Habitat Assessment And Ecological Restoration Design For An Unnamed Tributary Of Stone Dam Creek, Conway, Arkansas, Paige E. Boyle, Mary C. Savin, James A. Mccarty, Marty D. Matlock Jan 2015

Habitat Assessment And Ecological Restoration Design For An Unnamed Tributary Of Stone Dam Creek, Conway, Arkansas, Paige E. Boyle, Mary C. Savin, James A. Mccarty, Marty D. Matlock

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Urbanization can lead to increased sedimentation, erosion, pollution, and runoff into streams. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBPs) are sets of guidelines that can be used to assess a habitat’s sedimentology, hydrology, vegetation, and geomorphology to determine impairment. An unnamed tributary of Stone Dam Creek on the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) campus in Conway, Arkansas runs partially underground and through the urbanized UCA campus watershed. The stream was assessed using the USEPA’s RBPs to determine impairment of the stream, and received a RBP score of 71.2 out of 200 compared to 153.5 in a …


The Potential Release Of Phosphorus In Floodplains, Maria S. Rossetti, Nicole K. Ownby, Erin Scott, Brian E. Haggard Jan 2014

The Potential Release Of Phosphorus In Floodplains, Maria S. Rossetti, Nicole K. Ownby, Erin Scott, Brian E. Haggard

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

In the Illinois River Watershed, there has been growing concern over elevated phosphorus concentrations in the water column. This study evaluated how much phosphorus is contributed from floodplain soils into surface waters, examining the relationship between the flux of phosphorus released and the amount of phosphorus stored in the soil. This was investigated by artificially inundating soil cores from four sites and determining the soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations of the overlying water and the levels of Water and Mehlich-3 extractable phosphorus in the soil. The flux of phosphorus to the overlying water ranged from 0.43 to 6.61 mg m-2 hr-1 …


Reducing Water Extractable Phosphorus In Poultry Litter Using Chitosan Treatment, Zachary Simpson, Brina Smith, David A. Zaharoff, Brian E. Haggard Jan 2014

Reducing Water Extractable Phosphorus In Poultry Litter Using Chitosan Treatment, Zachary Simpson, Brina Smith, David A. Zaharoff, Brian E. Haggard

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Phosphorus (P) is an important factor in the eutrophication of freshwater, and watershed sources include effluent discharges and the landscape. Poultry litter applied to the landscape can be a potential source of P, which is dependent on rainfall, runoff and dissolution. Chitosan, the deacetylated form of the biopolymer chitin, has been shown to have an effect on reducing water extractable phosphorus (WEP) in poultry litter when applied as a powder. The intent of this study was to measure the effect that poultry litter treatment (PLT), acetic acid and incubation time have on chitosan’s ability to reduce WEP in poultry litter. …


Proportionality Of Population Descriptors Of Metacercariae Of Clinostomum Marginatum In The Orobranchial Cavity Of Black Bass (Micropterus Spp.) From Arkansas Ozark And Ouachita Streams, J. J. Daly Sr. Jan 2014

Proportionality Of Population Descriptors Of Metacercariae Of Clinostomum Marginatum In The Orobranchial Cavity Of Black Bass (Micropterus Spp.) From Arkansas Ozark And Ouachita Streams, J. J. Daly Sr.

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

In a previous study of Clinostomum marginatum metacercariae in Micropterus dolomieu, I reported that the population parameters of mean abundance, standard deviation, maximum abundance, mean intensity and mean intensity standard deviation were proportional between the total population and the orobranchial numbers for 16 locations in Arkansas Ozark and Ouachita streams. This allowed an assessment of the parasite populations by only examining the mouth and gill areas without sacrificing a valued sports fish. The present study examined the same orobranchial parameters utilizing correlation and descriptive statistics to determine if proportionality also existed between the different localities. I have now included an …


Distribution, Habitat Preference, And Status Of The Ditch Fencing Crayfish, Faxonella Clypeata (Hay) (Decapoda: Cambaridae), In Arkansas, H. W. Robison, C. T. Mcallister Jan 2014

Distribution, Habitat Preference, And Status Of The Ditch Fencing Crayfish, Faxonella Clypeata (Hay) (Decapoda: Cambaridae), In Arkansas, H. W. Robison, C. T. Mcallister

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The ditch fencing crayfish, Faxonella clypeata (Hay), is a common and widespread crayfish that inhabits roadside ditches, intermittent first-order streams, shallow sloughs with heavy vegetation, and edges of swamps in Arkansas. Between 1997-2012, we made 55 collections of F. clypeata in 34 counties throughout eastern Arkansas, including 23 counties where F. clypeata had not been previously documented. At most of these locations within the West Gulf Coastal and Mississippi Alluvial Plain provinces, F. clypeata was found to be a locally abundant crayfish. With regard to conservation status, F. clypeata should be considered as “Currently Stable” due to its widespread distribution …


Urban Stream Syndrome In A Small Town: A Comparative Study Of Sager And Flint Creeks, T. S. Wakefield Jan 2014

Urban Stream Syndrome In A Small Town: A Comparative Study Of Sager And Flint Creeks, T. S. Wakefield

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Utilizing rapid bioassessment procedures and aquatic physiochemical techniques, a three-year investigation of Sager and Flint creeks was completed. Bioassessment indices and physiochemical parameters of the 2 streams were compared and the effects of urbanization on both watersheds were assessed. Correlating data concerning land usage in both watersheds and alterations of both streams' geomorphology were also utilized to conclude that Sager Creek shows a higher degree of urban stream syndrome than Flint Creek.


Short-Term Denitrification In The Metalimnion Of A Eutrophic Reservoir, Aki Kogo, Erin M. Grantz, Thad Scott Jan 2013

Short-Term Denitrification In The Metalimnion Of A Eutrophic Reservoir, Aki Kogo, Erin M. Grantz, Thad Scott

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Denitrification in metalimnetic water was examined under different conditions to determine how addition of nitrate (NO3 -) and particulate carbon (PC), aeration, and concentrations of nitrate affect denitrification. In the first experiment, water samples from a metalimnion were treated with different combinations of NO3 - and PC. Changes in excess N2 -N concentration for 10 days were measured using membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS). The second experiment used the same treatments as the first experiment after aeration of water. Besides excess N2 -N concentrations, O2 concentrations were measured for 16 days. The third experiment examined how different initial concentrations of …


Relationship Between Land-Use And Water Quality In Spring-Fed Streams Of The Ozark National Forest, A. Smartt, S. Ganguly, M. A. Evans-White, B. E. Haggard Jan 2013

Relationship Between Land-Use And Water Quality In Spring-Fed Streams Of The Ozark National Forest, A. Smartt, S. Ganguly, M. A. Evans-White, B. E. Haggard

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Spring-fed streams are abundant in karst topographic regions such as the Ozarks, providing an important and valuable water resource. Many of these spring-fed streams presently receive agriculture runoff, but few studies have examined the impacts of this runoff on water quality. We examined water quality in Ozark spring-fed streams surrounded by either agricultural (N=3) or primarily forested land (N=3) in the riparian zone. We hypothesized that agricultural sites would have greater dissolved nutrient concentrations and conductivity than forested sites and that water quality would fluctuate with distance from the spring source. Conductivity (p


Accuracy Assessment Of The 2006 National Land Cover Database Percent Impervious Dataset, D. E. Long Ii, J. D. Carr, Hal O. Liechty, Chris Stuhlinger Jan 2013

Accuracy Assessment Of The 2006 National Land Cover Database Percent Impervious Dataset, D. E. Long Ii, J. D. Carr, Hal O. Liechty, Chris Stuhlinger

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

An impervious surface is any surface that prevents water from infiltrating the ground. As impervious surface area increases within watersheds, stream networks and water quality are negatively impacted. The Multi-Resolution Land Characteristic Consortium developed a percent impervious dataset using Landsat imagery as part of the 2006 National Land Cover Database. This percent impervious dataset estimates imperviousness for each 30-meter cell in the land cover database. The percent impervious dataset permits study of impervious surfaces, can be used to identify impacted or critical areas, and allows for development of impact mitigation plans; however, the accuracy of this dataset is unknown. To …


Water Quality Assessment Of Sager Creek Utilizing Physiochemical Parameters And A Family-Level Biotic Index, T. S. Wakefield Jan 2013

Water Quality Assessment Of Sager Creek Utilizing Physiochemical Parameters And A Family-Level Biotic Index, T. S. Wakefield

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

An annual rapid bioassessment and physiochemical survey of Sager Creek in Northwest Arkansas was conducted. Sager Creek is a first to second order stream that flows through the city of Siloam Springs, AR. Invertebrate collections and water samples were collected at three different reaches, with the most downstream reach being below the effluent of the Siloam Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant. Benthic arthropods were collected, identified, and counted to produce a family-level biotic index and a family-level index of diversity. Statistical analysis revealed that these indices were significantly different for the effluent- influenced reach. However, this difference could not be correlated …


Establishing Baseline Nutrient And Sediment Input In The Lower Cache River Watershed, Ar, A. M. Gilmer, C. A. Rosado-Berrios, J. L. Bouldin Jan 2012

Establishing Baseline Nutrient And Sediment Input In The Lower Cache River Watershed, Ar, A. M. Gilmer, C. A. Rosado-Berrios, J. L. Bouldin

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Contaminants in waterways continue to be a problem especially in watersheds dominated by land use changes such as agriculture. Clearing the land for agricultural use is needed to support the population; however, agricultural contaminants are cited as contributing the greatest input of suspended solids and nutrients to waterways. Quantifying various contaminants in surface water is useful in determining their origin, thus aiding in their mitigation. This study, focused on the Cache River Watershed, reports pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), NO3 - , NO2 - , and PO4 3- in the lower sub watersheds. It was …


Characterization Of Temporal And Spatial Variation In Subwatersheds Of The Strawberry River, Ar, Prior To Implementation Of Agricultural Best Management Practices, T. R. Brueggen-Boman, J. L. Bouldin Jan 2012

Characterization Of Temporal And Spatial Variation In Subwatersheds Of The Strawberry River, Ar, Prior To Implementation Of Agricultural Best Management Practices, T. R. Brueggen-Boman, J. L. Bouldin

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) assessments indicate alterations in physical and/or chemical factors making them valuable tools when attempting to assess agricultural best management practices (BMPs). The purpose of this study was to obtain pre-BMP land cover and macroinvertebrate community data in order to characterize temporal and spatial variation in three catchments: Little Strawberry (LS), Greasy Creek (GC), and Sandy Creek (SC) of the Strawberry River Watershed, located in north central Arkansas, in order to establish baseline conditions. BMIs were collected for the three subwatersheds in 1995, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2009. Taxa richness, Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) and Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and …


Factors That Contribute To Turbidity On The West Fork Of The White River In Arkansas, Chris Cotton, Brian Haggard Jan 2011

Factors That Contribute To Turbidity On The West Fork Of The White River In Arkansas, Chris Cotton, Brian Haggard

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

The West Fork of the White River (WFWR) exceeds the water quality standard for turbidity (10 NTU) set by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and, since 1998, the river has been on Arkansas’s 303 (d) list of impaired water bodies unsuitable for aquatic life because of turbidity exceedances. To understand the factors that could be related to turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), total inorganic suspended solids (TISS), total volatile suspended solids (TVSS), sestonic chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations, and turbidity were measured on three sample dates from nine sites on the WFWR. As the site location changed in the downstream direction, …


Assessment And Characterization Of Physical Habitat, Water Quality, And Biotic Assemblages Of The Tyronza River, Arkansas, N. J. Wentz, N. D. Henderson, A. D. Christian Jan 2011

Assessment And Characterization Of Physical Habitat, Water Quality, And Biotic Assemblages Of The Tyronza River, Arkansas, N. J. Wentz, N. D. Henderson, A. D. Christian

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Few studies within the last few decades have addressed water quality and biotic assemblages within Arkansas’s large channel-altered deltaic rivers. The Tyronza River is located in northeast Arkansas and its watershed has a heavy agricultural presence that drastically affects habitat quality. Meanwhile, the Tyronza River hosts one of the more recent documented range extensions of the federally endangered fat pocketbook mussel [Potamilus capax (Green, 1832)]. The purpose of this study was to assess physical habitat, water quality, and biotic assemblages of the Tyronza River using the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s (ADEQ) regional biometrics. Water samples were collected at 9 …


Clean Energy Water Disinfection For Small, Remote Rural Communities, Ryan M. Lee Jan 2011

Clean Energy Water Disinfection For Small, Remote Rural Communities, Ryan M. Lee

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Access to drinking water is essential to all life, yet in many developing and remote communities, it is often contaminated with disease causing pathogens. This project was created in response to the annual WERC Environmental Design Competition. This year’s specific challenge was to develop human powered, stand-alone, effective, easily implemented, and economical water disinfection systems. Many technologies were evaluated; however, bleach and ultraviolet (UV) light treatments were determined to be most applicable to remote and impoverished communities. The Razorback Microcide WERC Crew designed and demonstrated two systems independently featuring bleach and UV disinfection technology. Both systems include a high capacity, …


Sediment Phosphorus Flux In Beaver Lake In Northwest Arkansas, Taraf Abu Hamdan, Thad Scott, Duane Wolf, Brian E. Haggard Jan 2010

Sediment Phosphorus Flux In Beaver Lake In Northwest Arkansas, Taraf Abu Hamdan, Thad Scott, Duane Wolf, Brian E. Haggard

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Internal phosphorus (P) loading may influence primary production in lakes, but the influence of sediment-derived P has not been well studied in Beaver Lake of Northwest Arkansas. Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), dissolved organic P (DOP), and total dissolved P (TDP) sediment-water fluxes were determined using intact sediment cores collected from deepwater environments in the riverine, transition zone, and lacustrine zones of Beaver Lake. The SRP, DOP, and TDP fluxes were also estimated from cores collected from shallow locations in the transition zone. There was a net positive SRP (0.001 – 0.005 µg P cm-2 h-1), DOP (0.005 – 0.01 µg …


Assessment Of Total Organic Carbon Concentrations In Two Streams Of Northwest Arkansas: Town Branch And Brush Creek, Abigail N. Washispack, Jason A. Mcginnis, Brian E. Haggard Jan 2010

Assessment Of Total Organic Carbon Concentrations In Two Streams Of Northwest Arkansas: Town Branch And Brush Creek, Abigail N. Washispack, Jason A. Mcginnis, Brian E. Haggard

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Within a stream, changes in flow rate and local environment can affect the total organic content (TOC) concentrations in the stream water and TOC delivery downstream to water supply reservoirs. Disinfection by-products (DBPs) result from various chemical reactions between chlorine, bromine, and organic carbon in raw water during the drinking water treatment process; DBPs are potential carcinogens and are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In this project, we measured the TOC concentrations in two streams in the Beaver Lake Watershed: Town Branch and Brush Creek. We then compared TOC concentrations between the two streams and to that observed …


Multimedia And Ultrafiltration For Reverse Osmosis Pretreatment Aboard Naval Vessels, Angela C. Mehner Jan 2010

Multimedia And Ultrafiltration For Reverse Osmosis Pretreatment Aboard Naval Vessels, Angela C. Mehner

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

The US Navy is interested in improving the pretreatment for shipboard Reverse Osmosis potable water systems. To investigate this problem, the Navy prepared a Task for the 2010 WERC (http://www.werc.net) competition. The research described in this paper was performed to compete in this WERC Task and ultimately received a 1st place award. Several technologies were considered as options for improving the current pretreatment process. Multi-media filtration followed by ultrafiltration was chosen as the most economical solution. This paper presents the final design for a full-scale shipboard system that incorporates multimedia filtration and ultrafiltration yet requires minimal space and optimal power …


Tributary Contribution To The Spring River, Ar As Determined By Water Quality Analyses, T. R. Brueggen, C. B. Dowling, Jennifer L. Bouldin Jan 2010

Tributary Contribution To The Spring River, Ar As Determined By Water Quality Analyses, T. R. Brueggen, C. B. Dowling, Jennifer L. Bouldin

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Tributaries often play an important role in the chemical properties, productivity and species diversity in a river channel. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of tributaries on the water quality of the Spring River, AR. The Spring River has an approximate length of 92 km and has been divided into four zones according to the water source(s) that feed that segment of river. In this study approximately 30 km of the upstream river segment were sampled, which included nine tributaries contributing to the main river channel and incorporated the upper three previously defined zones. Samples were …


Development Of A Distributed Artificial Neural Network For Hydrologic Modeling, Rebecca Logsdon Jan 2009

Development Of A Distributed Artificial Neural Network For Hydrologic Modeling, Rebecca Logsdon

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Hydrological models are used to represent the rainfall-runoff and pollutant transport mechanisms within watersheds. Accurate representation of these dynamic and complex natural processes within a watershed is an important step in managing and protecting a watershed Artificial neural network (ANN) models are often used in hydrologic modeling. Typical ANN models are trained to use lumped data. However, watershed characteristics used as inputs in hydrological modeling are spatially and often temporally dynamic. Therefore, a lumped model does not have the ability to represent changes in spatial dynamics of a watershed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and test …


Carbon Nanotube Cluster Based Micro-Fluidic System For Bacteria Capture, Concentration, And Separation, Chris Nelson Jan 2009

Carbon Nanotube Cluster Based Micro-Fluidic System For Bacteria Capture, Concentration, And Separation, Chris Nelson

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Disease-causing pathogens continue presenting enormous global health problems, especially due to their easy transmittance to people via water supply systems. The detection, filtration, and purification of bacteria-contaminated water samples are complex activities, ones subject to considerable error. Here we present a new and highly effective micro-fluidic system with carbon nanotube (CNT) clusters for effective and efficient detection, filtration, and purification of bacteria-contaminated medium. The developed system is based upon two unique properties of CNT clusters: high bacterial affinity and magnetic susceptibility. The CNTs 'high affinity to bacteria cells makes them a key candidate for the bacteria adsorption. The magnetic susceptibility …


Using Combined Prediction Models To Quantify And Visualize Stormwater Runoff In An Urban Watershed, Keshia Koehn, Christina Scarlat, Kristofor Brye Jan 2008

Using Combined Prediction Models To Quantify And Visualize Stormwater Runoff In An Urban Watershed, Keshia Koehn, Christina Scarlat, Kristofor Brye

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Stormwater runoff can transport nutrients, sediments, chemicals, and pathogens to surface waterbodies. Managing runoff is crucial to preserving water quality in rapidly developing urban watersheds like those in Northwest Arkansas. A watershed containing the majority of the University of Arkansas campus was designated as the study area because stormwater from it drains into the West Fork of the White River, designated as an impaired waterbody due to siltation. The project objective was to develop methodology to test existing stormwater drainage infrastructure, identify potential areas of improvement, and estimate potentially contaminated runoff by combining two widely used prediction models. The U.S. …


Runoff Using A Combined Geographic Information System And Curve Number Approach, Keshia M. Koehn Jan 2008

Runoff Using A Combined Geographic Information System And Curve Number Approach, Keshia M. Koehn

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Stormwater runoff can transport nutrients, sediments, chemicals, and pathogens to surface water bodies. Managing runoff is crucial to preserving water quality in rapidly developing urban watersheds like Northwest Arkansas. A watershed containing much of the University of Arkansas campus was identified as the target area for this study because stormwater from this location drains into the West Fork of the White River, designated as an impaired water body due to siltation. The project objective was to develop a methodology to test existing stormwater drainage infrastructure, identify potential areas of improvement, and estimate potentially contaminated runoff by combining two widely used …


Comparison Of Aquatic-Insect Habitat And Diversity Above And Below Road Crossings In Low-Order Streams, J. Wesley Neal, Nathan J. Harris, Sathyanand Kumaran, David A. Behler, Thomas J. Lang, Paul R. Port, Marcella Melandri, Benjamin G. Batten Jan 2007

Comparison Of Aquatic-Insect Habitat And Diversity Above And Below Road Crossings In Low-Order Streams, J. Wesley Neal, Nathan J. Harris, Sathyanand Kumaran, David A. Behler, Thomas J. Lang, Paul R. Port, Marcella Melandri, Benjamin G. Batten

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The effects of road crossings on fish communities have been extensively studied; yet little attention has been given to macroinvertebrate communities. This study evaluated physical stream characteristics, water quality, and aquatic-insect richness from above and below road crossings of low-order streams in the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. Fifteen road crossings were sampled during October and November 2005. Erosion was significantly higher below road crossings than above. Sites downstream of road crossings had significantly lower pH and significantly higher turbidity than sites upstream of road crossings. Despite differences in water quality and habitat, there was no apparent difference in aquatic-insect …


Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Of The Strawberry River System In North-Central Arkansas, George L. Harp, Henry W. Robison Jan 2006

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Of The Strawberry River System In North-Central Arkansas, George L. Harp, Henry W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Strav/berry River has been designated an Extraordinary Resource Water, an Ecologically Sensitive Water Body, and a Natural and Scenic Waterway. As such, it is particularly important that the biodiversity of this river system be documented thoroughly. The purpose of this research was to develop a comprehensive list of the aquatic macroinvertebrates of the Strawberry River and its major tributaries. The information was developed from a thorough literature review and by examining specimens housed in various collections of the Arkansas State University Museum of Zoology and collections of the authors. The latter included 9 collections at 4 sites along the …


Ichthyofaunal Assemblages In Three Approximate But Ecologically Diverse Streams In Clark County, Arkansas, C. Renn Tumlison, Scott Jordan, Lesley Self, Henry W. Robison Jan 2006

Ichthyofaunal Assemblages In Three Approximate But Ecologically Diverse Streams In Clark County, Arkansas, C. Renn Tumlison, Scott Jordan, Lesley Self, Henry W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Three tributaries to the Ouachita River in eastern Clark County, Arkansas, empty into the river within a collective distance of about 9 km. The streams drain basins derived from the Wilcox formation, partially overlain by terrace and alluvial deposits. Despite their proximity, the streams are very different: L'Eau Frais has a gravel substrate and was recognized by the French as a cool water stream, Tupelo Creek is a bottomland stream from which numerous Water Tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) emerge, and Saline Bayou was named due to its marked salinity. We studied the assemblages of fishes in these 3 very different drainages …


Evaluation Of Water-Retention Ability Of Eastern Arkansas Prairie And Agricultural Soil, Maria L. Barrenechea, Kristofor R. Brye Jan 2006

Evaluation Of Water-Retention Ability Of Eastern Arkansas Prairie And Agricultural Soil, Maria L. Barrenechea, Kristofor R. Brye

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Agricultural land use affects soil physical properties, such as bulk density, water content, organic matter content, and soil structure; all of which in turn affect ecosystem productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of: 1) time since aboveground biomass has been removed by haying (i.e., 0 vs. 23 years), and 2) land use (i.e., undisturbed tallgrass prairie vs. cultivated agriculture) on water-retention characteristics in a silt-loam soil of the Grand Prairie region of eastern Arkansas. Soil samples were collected from the 0- to 10-cm depth and were wetted with varying amounts of distillated water to create …


Water Quality Issues In The Illinois River Watershed: A Proposal For New Voluntary Incentives, Tory B. Hodges, Jennie S. Popp Jan 2006

Water Quality Issues In The Illinois River Watershed: A Proposal For New Voluntary Incentives, Tory B. Hodges, Jennie S. Popp

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Concerns about water quality degradation exist in Northwest Arkansas. The purpose of this study was to analyze the potential usefulness of U.S. conservation programs in addressing water quality concerns on farms in the Illinois River watershed as well as greater Washington County, Arkansas. It was hypothesized that neither the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) nor the Conservation Security Program (CSP) in their current forms effectively assists farmers in meeting water-quality management goals. That hypothesis was tested by 1) examining agricultural characteristics of the watershed, 2) actual adoption of EQIP and CSP in Washington County and Arkansas, and, 3) identifying factors …


Estimating Surface Runoff In The Illinois River Basin For The Management Of Nonpoint-Source Phosphorus Loads, Adam T. Mcclymont, Mary C. Savin, Brian E. Haggard Jan 2006

Estimating Surface Runoff In The Illinois River Basin For The Management Of Nonpoint-Source Phosphorus Loads, Adam T. Mcclymont, Mary C. Savin, Brian E. Haggard

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

With the growing concern about elevated phosphorus (P) concentrations in regional lakes, rivers, and streams, it is essential to investigate factors contributing to P transport from the landscape. Phosphorus fluxes from nonpoint sources, particularly land applications of poultry litter and other animal manures, are closely related to the amount and production of surface runoff. Daily stream discharge and the software program, Base Flow Index (BFI), were used to estimate the amount and temporal patterns of surface runoff at different locations within the Illinois River Basin, including selected tributaries in northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma. Daily streamflow data from nine U.S. …