Water Resource Management Commons^™

Passive Microwave Remote Sensing Of Flash Drought Impacts On Vegetation, Quinton R. Deppert

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In 2002, Dr. Mark Svoboda characterized a new form of drought known as flash drought. Flash drought was defined as a rapid decline in vegetation health caused by severe heat and drought. In recent years, attempts to quantify the impacts of flash drought via precipitation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and temperature indicators have proliferated. What has rarely been quantified is what the rapid decline in vegetation health amid flash drought looks like through remote sensing. This is because vegetation health indices like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are derived from the visible and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and …

Microplastic Composition And Exposure Pathways In Freshwater Systems: A Multi-Matrix Comparison Between Streams And Retention Ponds In Hamilton County, In, Mya Whaley

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the early 1900s, the use of plastics has increased exponentially. The breakdown of plastic materials has exposed all ecosystems to microplastics (small particles of plastic < 5 mm), which are now ubiquitous in natural settings. Microplastics have a relatively large surface area, and many chemicals adsorb to these small particles, impacting their fate and transport of pollution. While microplastics have been found in virtually every setting on Earth, research is necessary to understand their impact on freshwater ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. The focus of this research was to investigate microplastic compositions in crayfish, sediments, and water samples collected in streams and retention ponds. We analyzed trends in microplastic counts across different land-cover classes, waterbody types, and species, and compared concentrations among matrices to improve our understanding of microplastic exposure pathways in freshwater ecosystems. As a secondary objective, lead and arsenic concentrations were analyzed from sediment samples to investigate metal burdens and compare them to microplastic concentrations. Our findings revealed that, in general, urban streams had the highest microplastic concentrations within land cover categories, and retention ponds had higher microplastic counts than streams. Crayfish, such as F. rusticus had higher microplastic concentrations than F. virilis and F. propinquus, although these results may be influenced by study design. The most common microplastic type was fibers, and most common color was transparent. There was no significant correlation between microplastic and metal concentrations in sediments. We found crayfish to be adequate bioindicators of microplastic pollution, because they were less impacted by environmental variability than sediment and water samples. This research presents the first evidence of microplastics in our study species, F. propinquus, F. rusticus, and F. virlis. This work presents new evidence of microplastic accumulation in crayfish, sediments, and water from freshwater systems in the Midwestern United States. Microplastics were found in every sample type—crayfish, water, and sediment—across urban, rural, and forested landscapes, highlighting their pervasive distribution. The findings provide foundational data for assessing emerging ecological and human-health risks and emphasize the importance of sustained monitoring and research on MP contamination in freshwater environments.

Regional Assessment Of South Texas Wells Produced Water, Hunter T. Barnett

Water Resources Science and Technology Theses and Graduate Research Reports (Archived)

This study presents a regional assessment of produced water (PW) quality from oil and gas wells in South Texas, with a focus on variability and its implications for treatment and reuse. As oil and gas production continues to expand, PW waste streams will continue to grow. With a focus on the Eagle Ford Shale, understanding the chemical composition is critical for effective PW management. A total of 28 PW samples were collected from wells located in Pleasanton, Jourdanton, and Tilden, Texas. Samples were analyzed for key parameters including total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, total hardness, and calcium. The results showed …

The Effect Of Hydroflow Devices On Calcium Carbonate Buildup., Holton Shults

Master of Engineering Theses

Water containing high levels of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium, is known as hard water, which is commonly found across the world due to calcium’s abundance in the earth’s crust. Hard water can lead to calcium carbonate buildup (also referred to as limescale) that reduces flow, clogs pipes, and lowers heat exchanger efficiency, all of which can drive up costs. This work evaluated two commercially available chemical-free treatment devices from HydroFLOW USA LLC, called the Pearl Plus and s38 devices. These electromagnetic devices are designed to alter calcium carbonate crystal structure, potentially reducing the amount of calcium …

Characterizing The Macroinvertebrate Community In Crissy Lake, An Impounded Reach Of The Pomme De Terre River, Prior To Channel Modification, Max Lundgren

Undergraduate Research Symposium (2026- )

The aging Crissy Lake Dam, on the Pomme de Terre River in Morris, has altered natural stream flow and impeded upstream passage of several fish species since 1939. In late 2026 the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will replace the dam with stone arch rapids and facilitate river channel formation upstream of the dam. In order to evaluate the river modification project, we characterized the macroinvertebrate community in Crissy Lake, the impoundment upstream of the dam before implementation of channel modification. In September 2025 we collected benthic macroinvertebrates from two sets of Ekman grab samples. We found 12 taxa (average …

Dimensionless Ratios And Processes Controlling Volumetric Bioretention Performance, Andrew Charles Hiestand

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Urbanization of previously natural land cover has spurred the innovation and implementation of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to combat increased surface runoff due to impermeable areas and a changing climate. Bioretention has been a popular choice in design due to its small footprint and proven effectiveness in retaining stormwater runoff and limiting discharges to receiving surface waters. However, their event-to-event performance variability is difficult to explain due to a number of confounding and interacting influences that distort cross-site analyses including inter-event drying and antecedent soil moisture conditions, geometric size and media properties, and event magnitude. This study applies and evaluates …

Heavy Metal In Water Resources, Zuming Bi, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Heavy metal pollution in surface water has posed a serious threat to human health. The goals of this research are to analyze the concentration and distribution of key heavy metals and compare the measured values with global standards. This study analyzed major heavy metals like Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Ag across several test points in Kansas and converted them to standard units mg/L. Based on the statistical graph, heavy metal iron and manganese levels are exceeded USEPA and WHO limits several times,  while other heavy metals stay in the safe range. The results indicate that the pollution in Kansas …

Examining The Useability Of The Dakota Aquifer In Kansas For Irrigation Regarding Salinity, Alexander D. Leiker, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The Ogallala Aquifer has been overused for decades, so alternative water sources, such as the Dakota Aquifer, must be considered to prevent it further declining. However, the Dakota Aquifer is not a feasible alternative in many locations. To evaluate irrigation useability, existing well water data across the geographic region was analyzed. Salinity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) were considered with existing data on plant salinity tolerance, especially those crops common to Kansas farmers. Results showed that most areas in southern Kansas that had access to the Dakota Aquifer could use it for irrigation, though counties closer to the Kansas-Nebraska state …

Groundwater Nitrate Contamination In Western Kansas, Sihui Wei

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Groundwater nitrate contamination is a significant environmental concern in agricultural regions of the United States. In Kansas, nitrate concentrations in some groundwater systems approach or exceed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/L. This study analyzes nitrate concentration data from groundwater samples in western Kansas, with a focus on the High Plains aquifer, where agricultural activity is intensive. Using data analysis and regression methods, spatial patterns in nitrate distribution were identified. Results indicate that nitrate concentrations vary across sampling locations, with higher levels generally associated with regions of intensive agricultural activity. Several sites approach or exceed …

Using Geoscience To Empower A Community And Provide Access To Potable Groundwater, Hendratta Ali Dr

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Access to potable water remains challenging around the world and remains one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Barriers to clean water access are exacerbated by the lack of technical expertise, limited funding for education and training, and the absence of reliable infrastructure that provides access to clean water. The Geoscientists Without Borders program, supported FHSU with funding to test, explore and provide access to clean potable groundwater to a rural community in Cameroon. We conducted water quality analyses, identified, mapped and located deep aquifers in fractured metamorphic rocks. Water quality analyses showed acidic pH and elevated amounts …

Applications Of Machine Learning In Enhancing Evaporation Estimation For Small Reservoirs: A Case Study In Semi-Arid South Texas, Syed Muhammad F Abdullah, Chu-Lin Cheng, Jude A. Benavides, Jungseok Ho, Rafael M. Almeida

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Small reservoirs in semi-arid regions experience substantial evaporative losses but are rarely monitored at daily scales. A multi-reservoir machine learning (ML) framework was developed to estimate daily open-water evaporation. Empirical models (Penman, Penman-Monteith, Priestley-Taylor, Bowen Ratio Energy Budget) andabenchmark combination method (Daily Lake Evaporation Model-DLEM) were compared against ML models. Predictors combined gridded meteorology (gridMET) with reservoir attributes (surface area, average depth, maximum depth, and fetch). ML models (Random Forest-RF, Decision Tree-DT, K-Nearest Neighbor-KNN, and Support Vector Regression-SVR) were trained on four reservoirs using data from 2018 to 2025. Results from ML models were further validated using both DLEM and …

Transport Phenomena Of Multiphase Flow And Slippery Microsphere Suspensions In Confined Space, Ryan Haggerty

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Understanding multiphase flow has many important environmental and engineering applications. For example, understanding gas flow in porous media is useful for energy storage, petroleum engineering, and contaminant cleanup. Nano- and microparticle transport is vital for enhanced oil recovery techniques and environmental contamination. Despite their relevance to environmental engineering, multiphase flows, especially with concentrated particle suspensions, are still a complex and developing topic. Additionally, hydrophobic surfaces are a relatively new area of research, for while the effects of hydrophobicity are observable, the mechanisms may occur on several scales. Hydrophobicity leads to a property called “slip,” which contradicts the traditional treatment of …

Monitoring Koyna Dam Displacements Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry, Sara Zouriq, Gehan Hamdy, Amr Fawzy, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham El-Askary, Eehab Khalil, Mohamed Elsayad, Tarik El-Salawaky

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Monitoring dam stability is critical to ensure structural safety and operational reliability. This study integrates Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) based on Sentinel-1 SAR imagery (2020–2023) with Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations to assess the behavior of the Koyna Dam in India. PSI detected crest displacements between −1.0 and −1.8 mm yr−1, while FEM simulations predicted a maximum vertical displacement of approximately −3.2 mm at the crest. Although these results represent different quantities (time-averaged displacement rates versus peak static displacement), both approaches indicate millimeter-scale deformation and a consistent pattern of settlement at the dam crest, supporting the interpretation of hydrologically driven …

Monitoring Of Dissolved Calcium Levels In Creeks, Embayment, And Kentucky Lake Waters In Western Kentucky, Majeda Dalloul

Scholars Week

In order to reduce the economic and ecological impacts of aquatic alien species, studies are warranted across major taxonomic groups, geographic regions, and habitat types. This study addressed the dissolved calcium levels in Kentucky Lake and their implications for one of the top-ranked invasive species, the zebra mussel, and its colonization.  Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are well known for their “biofouling” capabilities, costing billions of dollars (for northeastern and midwestern states) in their removal from industrial, public, and power plant water supply lines. Calcium is one of the essential elements that contribute to the growth and reproduction of zebra …

Water Current, Volume 58, No. 1, Spring 2026

Water Current Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystem Productivity Using Hyperspectral Satellite Data, Serge Tuyambaze

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Accurate estimation of terrestrial Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is critical for quantifying global carbon sequestration and understanding the terrestrial carbon cycle. While eddy covariance (EC) towers provide standard flux measurements, upscaling these measurements to continuous global coverage remains challenging due to the sparse distribution of flux towers and their small footprints. Remote sensing (RS), especially coupled with eddy covariance data, has been used to estimate GPP at the global scale. Different RS derived productivity models have been developed, including vegetation indices, light use efficiency (LUE) models, solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), dynamic global vegetation models (DGVM), and machine learning. One widely adapted …

Downstream Effects Of Post Aerobic Digestion And Divalent Cation Treatment: Dewaterability, Phosphorus Mitigation, And Process Odors, Maya Marisol Quijano Garcia

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This study evaluated post-aerobic digestion (PAD) with aeration, mixing, and divalent cation addition to improve phosphorus capture, dewaterability, and odor control in thermal hydrolysis process (THP)–treated anaerobic digestate at the Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s Atlantic Treatment Plant. A three-day PAD process was operated under constant air flow (5 LPM) and dissolved oxygen (DO)-setpoint (0.2 mg/L) aeration conditions with Ca(OH)₂ or Mg(OH)₂ dosing. Aeration and mixing alone increased polymer demand by 14–46 % relative to untreated influent, indicating enhanced extracellular polymeric substance release. Chemical conditioning partially mitigated this increase but did not restore polymer demand to baseline levels. Dewatered cake total …

Watersmart Farms - Desalination: Community Desalination, Sharmina Begum, Wendell Ela, John K. Ruprecht

Natural resources commissioned reports

The Wheatbelt is a vast agricultural region in southwestern Western Australia, covering approximately 25 million hectares, of which 17 million are cleared. It is a key contributor to the state’s economy, supporting broadacre grain production, livestock (such as sheep, beef, and pigs) grazing, mixed farming, and numerous small rural communities. However, decades of extensive land clearing for agriculture have significantly altered the natural hydrological balance. These changes have disrupted local water cycles, increased recharge post-clearing, increased evaporation, and contributed to widespread soil salinity.

Compounding these land-use impacts, the region has also experienced a long-term drying trend due to climate change. …

Recovery Of Bioenergy From Industrial Wastewater Using Microbial Fuel Cell, Syed Wamiq Ali, Ghulam Mujtaba, Manzoor Ahmed Sanjrani, Falak Shad

Journal of Bioresource Management

Water problems and Energy demands are increasing particularly in developing countries. Researchers are looking for sustainable technologies that can address increasing energy and environmental concerns. Major reasons behind those emerging concerns are industrialization and rapid development. There is need of sustainable technology which can solve wastewater issues and fulfill energy demand. One of the emerging technologies that have been studied comprehensively is Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). It is a bio-electrochemical conversion technology that converts organic substrate into electrical energy. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is removed as a result of microbial metabolism of organic substrate. Even through technical and economic aspects …

How Do Water Utilities Meet Growing Demand And Maintain Resilience Through Water Reuse? A Systems Thinking Approach, Elizabeth F. Vicario

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Water and wastewater utility management is becoming increasingly complex due to factors like urbanization, climate change, new regulations, and rising costs. Utility leaders must balance competing political and financial pressures while managing aging infrastructure, rising demand, climate resilience planning, and customer concerns about affordability. Reuse of treated wastewater has emerged as a promising solution to address scarcity, declining source water quality, and new regulations on wastewater discharge in the United States. However, water reuse is not one-size-fits-all, and bespoke solutions are needed to optimize economic, environmental, and social returns from this finite resource. Despite growing interest, little is known about …