Whole Catchment Land Cover Effects on Water Quality in the Lower Kaskaskia River Watershed

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - Agricultural runoff is a major non-point source pollutant and is the leading impairment of streams and rivers in the USA. This study examined the effects of...     

Microbiological Quality Assessment of Watershed Associated with Animal-Based Agriculture in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Environmental problems many times could evolve when manure-containing pathogens are distributed into an open environment with no effort made to reduce the content of pathogens or limit their movement in the environment. Wind, surface flow, and subsurface flow can all carry enough pathogens to receiving waters to exceed water quality standards. This study was conducted to assess the microbiological quality of water associated with animal-based agriculture in the sub-basin of Pinhal River located in the rural area of Concordia, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Six sampling points representing different agricultural land uses (LU1—dairy cattle; LU2—without animals; LU3—dairy + pigs + poultry + crops; LU4—pigs + poultry + crops; LU5—dairy + pigs + poultry + crops + human; and LU6—dairy+pigs+crops) along the Pinhal River sub-basin (north to south) were sampled biweekly from August 2006 to December 2008. Concentrations of fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli varied significantly (p?≤?0.05) with land use (LU), but there was no interaction effect of LU, season, and time. Water samples from the catchment area of LU1 had the highest concentration of fecal coliforms (4,479?±?597 CFU ml^?1) when compared with other catchment areas. Catchment area associated with LU2 (no animal) had the lowest concentrations of fecal coliforms (39.2?±?5.2 CFU ml^?1). With the exception of LU2 (control site), all the maximum concentrations of E. coli exceeded the single maximum allowable concentration for E. coli (100 CFU ml^?1). When LU1 was compared with other catchment areas (LU3, 50%; LU4, 67%; LU5, 58%; and LU6, 44%), it had the lowest counts (39%) of Salmonella sp. Our results suggest that spatial pattern of bacterial water quality is evident, which can be linked to the different land uses and associated practices (present or absent of animal activities). Therefore, varying responses associated with the different land uses would be critical in identifying the importance of different sources of bacteria in the catchment area and the mechanisms transferring them.     

An Assessment of the Phosphorus Retention Capacity of Wetlands in the Painter Creek Watershed, Minnesota, USA

Lake Minnetonka, located in southeastern Minnesota, U.S.A., is currently experiencing increased eutrophication due to excessive phosphorus (P) loading in runoff from agriculture and urban areas. This phenomenon has been exacerbated by the isolation of wetlands in the surrounding watershed from the surface water drainage network. In order to determine if rerouting surface water through these wetlands would be a feasible method for reducing P inputs, we assessed the P retention capacity of wetlands in a subwatershed of Lake Minnetonka, the Painter Creek Watershed (PCW). The objectives of our study were to determine which of 15 different wetland sites in the PCW had the highest P sorption capacity, identify which soil properties best explained the variability in P sorption, and utilize P fractionation to determine the dominant form of soil P. Our results indicated that despite similar vegetation and hydrogeomorphic settings, wetlands in the PCW had considerably different P sorption capacities. Depth-averaged P sorption index (PSI) values showed considerable variability, ranging from 14.6 to 184. The Katrina Marsh, Painter Marsh, South Highway 26, and West Jennings Bay sites had the highest depth-averaged PSIs. The soil properties that best predicted PSI were soil organic matter, exchangeable calcium, and oxalate extractable iron. Phosphorus fractionation data revealed organic P to be the dominant form of soil P, indicating that organic matter accumulation is another P storage mechanism in these wetlands.     

Linking Water Quality with Agricultural Intensification in a Rural Watershed

Agricultural intensification was linked to streamwaterpollution in a case study watershed using GIS andnutrient budgeting techniques. The results showed thatsurplus nitrogen applications from fertilizers andmanure averaged 120 kg ha^-1 yr^-1. In some parts of the watershed surplus applications exceeded 300 kg ha^-1 yr^-1. A consistent increase in pig and chickennumbers (59 and 165% increase between 1986 and1996) is considered the main reason for the surplus.Water quality was impacted in two ways: nitratecontaminated groundwater contributed to high nitratesin a major tributary during the summer, while in thewet winter season ammonia, phosphate and coliformlevels were high throughout the drainage system.Significant negative relationships were found betweensurplus nitrogen applications and dissolved oxygenwhile ammonia and nitrate concentrations during thewet season were positively correlated to surplusapplications. Soil texture and drainage type were alsosignificantly correlated with the water qualityindicators suggesting that it is possible to use thebudget/GIS linked techniques for pollution riskassessment from agricultural non-point sources.     

Assessment of Surface Water Quality in the Big Sunflower River Watershed of Mississippi Delta Using Nonparametric Analysis

Assessment of surface water quality in the Mississippi Delta is essential to quantify the eutrophication of the Gulf of Mexico. This study estimated the characteristics and variations of surface water quality at three study sites in the Big Sunflower River Watershed (BSRW) within the Mississippi Delta using Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn, Mann-Kendall, and Pettitt tests. In general, contents of some water quality constituents such as nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃???N) and total phosphorus (TP) in the BSRW varied from site to site each year, whereas variations of other constituents such as pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) each year were basically not significant. The highest median concentrations were found in spring for NO₃???N and total nitrogen (TN); in summer for specific conductance (SC), Na, and Cl; and in winter for DO. Mann-Kendall trend analysis revealed that there was an increasing annual trend at Leland but a decreasing annual trend at Merigold for NO₃???N concentrations even though such changes were very small, whereas there was no annual trend for TP at any of the three study sites. Pettitt’s test further identified that the NO₃???N concentrations had an abrupt increase in February 2009 at the median value of 0.44 mg L^?1 in Leland and an abrupt decrease in June 2012 at the median value of 3.65 mg L^?1 in Merigold. A very good linear correlation existed between total dissolved solid (TDS) and magnesium (Mg) in the BSRW, which could be used to estimate TDS from Mg concentrations for this watershed when the data for TDS are absent.     

A mass Budget for Mercury in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon, USA

In Oregon’s Willamette River Basin (Basin), health advisories currently limit consumption of fish that have accumulated methylmercury. Under the Clean Water Act, these advisories create the requirement for a mercury Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), which, in turn, created the need to better characterize the cycling of mercury in the Basin. This paper presents: (a) a mass balance model relating the processes, reservoirs, and fluxes of the Basin’s mercury cycle, (b) first-approximation estimates of reservoir masses, flux rates, and turnover times, and (c) an assessment of the impact of anthropogenic mercury sources on this cycle. Deposition from the atmosphere to land is estimated to be the largest (587 kg yr^?1) single flux; with much (≈54%) of this deposited mercury returned to the atmosphere via volatilization. Combined local anthropogenic (360 kg yr^?1) and global emissions (390 kg yr^?1) substantially overshadow all other anthropogenic point-source inputs. Runoff of mercury from native soils (particulate and dissolved phases) was estimated as the largest (≈70%) single source of Hg to surface water; contributions from anthropogenic air emissions deposited on land and then transported as runoff were ≈17%. All other currently identified and quantifiable non-atmospheric anthropogenic point sources made a small (≈5%) contribution to total loadings. These first-approximation estimates suggest that management of soil erosion should have a higher priority than reductions in local anthropogenic air emissions, with the caveat, however, that the degree of linkage between any such reductions and that of methylmercury levels in fish is presently unclear. Additional work will be required to develop the better parameterized and calibrated model needed to predict the outcome of Hg loading reduction alternatives under consideration within the TMDL process.     

Nature and Magnitude of Atmospheric Fluxes of Total Inorganic Nitrogen and Other Inorganic Species to the Tampa Bay Watershed, FL, USA

We estimated the total inorganic fluxes of nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), chloride (Cl^?, sodium (Na⁺, calcium (Ca²⁺, magnesium (Mg²⁺, potassium (K⁺ and hydronium (H⁺. The resistance deposition algorithm that is programmed as part of the CALMET/CALPUFF modeling system was used to generate spatially-distributed deposition velocities, which were then combined with measurements of urban and rural concentrations of gas and particle species to obtain dry deposition rates. Wet deposition rates for each species were determined from rainfall concentrations and amounts available from the National Acid Deposition Program (NADP) monitoring network databases. The estimated total inorganic nitrogen deposition to the Tampa Bay watershed (excluding Tampa Bay) was 17 kg-N ha^?1 yr^?1 or 9,700 metric tons yr^?1, and the ratio of dry to wet deposition rates was ～2.3 for inorganic nitrogen. The largest contributors to the total N flux were ammonia (NH₃ and nitrogen oxides (NO _x at 4.6 kg-N ha^?1 yr^?1 and 5.1 kg-N ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. Averaged wet deposition rates were 2.3 and 2.7 kg-N ha^?1 yr^?1 for NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^?, respectively.     

黄土高原沟壑区王东沟流域土地利用效益评价

依据黄土高原沟壑区王东沟流域1986-2007年生态经济系统演变过程调查、监测资料和研究成果,建立了黄土高原沟壑区王东沟流域土地利用效益评价指标体系.运用层次分析法确定指标权重,对黄土高原沟壑区王东沟流域1986-2007年的土地利用效益进行了定量评价和动态分析.结果表明:区域土地利用效益在这20余年中呈增长态势,分别于1991年、1998年、2003年达到峰值点.影响区域土地利用效益值的主要因素为区域的果业和第三产业.     

Water Quality Simulation for Planning Restoration of a Mined Watershed

Water quality simulation was performed to evaluate the effects of restoration alternatives on metals transport in a mountainous watershed in Montana, U.S.A. impacted by hundreds of abandoned hardrock mines. The Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP5), developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), was used to assist in planning restoration of the Upper Tenmile Creek watershed, a major drinking water supply for the City of Helena. Synoptic survey data collected by U.S. EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey were used for model calibration and validation. The effectiveness of eight restoration alternatives was modeled under steady-state, low flow conditions. These alternatives ranged from removal of adit and point source discharges to modification of the water supply scheme to provide higher in-stream flows. The model was also used for a number of related purposes, including evaluation of metals loadings and losses, exceedances of water quality standards, interactions between metals in water and bed sediment, and model and data uncertainties. Although standards exceedances are common throughout the watershed, modeling results indicated that removal of point sources, mine waste near watercourses, and streambed sediment can help improve water quality. Alteration of the water supply scheme and increasing baseflow will also ultimately be required to meet standards for all metals. The model also showed that although adits and point sources contribute significant metals loadings to the stream during baseflow, in some areas shallow groundwater and bed sediment can also be sources of metals. Adsorption and precipitation onto bed sediments are also important loss mechanisms in some locations. The model helped to identify uncertainties in the metal partition coefficients associated with sediment, significance of precipitation reactions, and locations of unidentified sources and losses of metals.     

Dissolved Organic Carbon in Association with Water Soluble Nutrients and Metals in Soils from Lake Okeechobee Watershed, South Florida

Water quality of Lake Okeechobee has been a major environmental concern for many years. Transport of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in runoff water from watershed is critical to the increased inputs of nutrients (N and P) and metals (Cu and Zn). In this study, 124 soil samples were collected with varying soil types, land uses, and soil depths in Lake Okeechobee watershed and analyzed for water-extractable C, N, P, and metals to examine the relationship between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and water soluble nutrients (N and P) and metals in the soils. DOC in the soils was in 27.64?C400 mg kg^?1 (69.30 mg kg^?1 in average) and varied with soil types, land uses, and soil depth. The highest water-extractable DOC was found in soils collected in sugar cane and field crops (277 and 244 mg kg^?1 in average, respectively). Water soluble concentrations of N and P were in the range of 6.46?C129 and 0.02?C60.79 mg kg^?1, respectively. The ratios of water-extractable C/N and C/P in soils were in 0.68?C12.52 (3.23 in average) and 3.19?C2,329 (216 in average), and varied with land uses. The lowest water-extractable C/N was observed in the soils from dairy (1.66), resident (1.79), and coniferous forest (4.49), whereas the lowest water-extractable C/P was with the land uses of dairy (13.1) and citrus (33.7). Therefore, N and P in the soils under these land uses may have high availability and leaching potential. The concentrations of water soluble Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn were in the ranges of?<?method detection limit (MDL)?C0.33, <MDL?C0.53, 0.04?C2.42, <MDL?C0.71, and 0.09?C1.13 mg kg^?1, with corresponding mean values of 0.02, 0.01, 0.50, 0.07, and 0.37 mg kg^?1, respectively. The highest water soluble Co (0.10 mg kg^?1), Cr (0.26 mg kg^?1), Ni (0.31 mg kg^?1), and Zn (0.80 mg kg^?1) were observed in soils under the land use of sugar cane, whereas the highest Cu (1.50 mg kg^?1) was with field crop. The concentration of DOC was positively correlated with total organic carbon (TOC) (P <0.01), water soluble N (P <0.01), electrical conductivity (EC, P <0.01), and water soluble Co, Cr, Ni, and Zn (P <0.01), and Cu (P <0.05), whereas water soluble N was positively correlated with water soluble P, Cu, and Zn (P <0.01) in soils. These results indicate that the transport of DOC from land to water bodies may correlate with the loss of macro-nutrients (N, P), micro-nutrients (Cu, Zn, and Ni), and contaminants (Cr and Co) as well.     

全福庄小流域不同土地利用类型地表水氮浓度动态特征

为定量研究元阳梯田"四素同构"生态系统不同土地利用类型地表水氮浓度的动态变化特征,以元阳县全福庄小流域为研究对象,于2016年11月—2017年10月,连续定位观测林地、村庄、梯田、河流4种土地利用类型地表水中总氮(TN)、硝态氮(NO-3-N)和氨态氮(NH+4-N)浓度的动态变化,分析了各形态氮浓度的时空分布及其季节性变化。结果表明:(1)4种土地利用类型下TN和NO-3-N浓度的最大值均出现在6月,最小值均出现在12月—翌年2月,梯田和河流的NH+4-N浓度较高,且最大值均出现在5月,梯田中NH+4-N浓度的最小值出现在7月。(2)TN,NO-3-N和NH+4-N浓度均表现出村庄最高,其次为梯田和河流,最低为林地的分布特征。林地、梯田和河流中TN和NO-3-N浓度均为夏季>春季>秋季>冬季的变化规律,林地、梯田和河流中NH+4-N浓度呈现为春季>冬季>秋季>夏季的变化规律。     

慈溪市蔬菜地分等及环境质量评价

通过对慈溪市蔬菜地土壤肥力与环境质量调查及分析,对慈溪市蔬菜地进行了分等与评价,结果显示,该市蔬菜地重金属与有机氯农药含量均低于国家标准,符合建立无公害蔬菜地要求。按照国家农业行业标准蔬菜地分等进行评价,10个点中有9个定为三等,1个定为四等。     

Statistical Assessment of the Surface Water Quality Monitoring Network in Saskatchewan

Surface water quality monitoring is one of the responsibilities of a number of provincial and federal environmental departments in Canada. In Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Environment is responsible for the province water quality monitoring network. The sampling effort was initiated 40 years ago and has been ongoing since, with varying degrees of spatial and temporal coverage. The main objective of the Saskatchewan monitoring network is the assessment of ambient water quality status. In addition, one of the main uses of the generated water quality data is the calculation of a Water Quality Index. The adequacy of the monitoring network to perform these tasks needs to be validated. The objective of this study is to provide a statistical assessment of two of the monitoring network main aspects, the water quality variables and their sampling frequency. A new rationalization approach is applied for the assessment and reselection of water quality variables. The proposed approach provides, in a systematic way, the optimal combinations of variables to continue measuring, variables that may be redundant and could be considered for discontinuance, and variables that may need to be added to the list of variables being measured. The confidence interval around the mean is used as the main criterion for the sampling frequency assessment. A design chart is provided for the sampling frequency assessment, which is easy to use, and provides an initial assessment of the number of samples required to provide a mean value with a predefined error percentage.     

Assessment of Water Quality Status for the Selangor River in Malaysia

Water quality degradation in the Selangor River will still be present in the years to come since pollutant loads from poultry farms, municipal wastewaters, and industrial wastewaters are not envisaged to be handled effectively. This will be facing the problems of water quality status to use for multiple purposes and to provide its aquatic environment continuously. The water quality evaluation system is used to assess the water quality condition in the river. This system distinguishes two categories of water condition i.e., the water quality index and water quality aptitude. The assessment of water quality for the Selangor River from nine stations along the main stream, which concludes that water has been highly polluted (index 5) immediately downstream of station 02 Selangor River before confluence with Kubu River due to high concentration of microorganisms and immediately downstream of station 06 Selangor River before confluence with Batang Kali River due to high concentrations of microorganisms and suspended particles, was verified. Mineral micropollutants were found to gradually pollute the stream water, ranging from the unpolluted water (index 1) in the upstream to the bad quality (index 4) in the downstream area.     

Mercury Speciation in the Water of Minamata Bay, Japan

The speciation of mercury (Hg) in Minamata Bay (Japan) was studied over a 2-year period (2006?C2008). Concentrations of dissolved total Hg, dissolved methylmercury (MeHg), particulate total Hg, and suspended solids were 0.43?±?0.14 ng/l (mean?±?standard deviation), 0.10?±?0.06 ng/l, 3.04?±?2.96 ng/l, and 5.94?±?2.10 mg/l, respectively. Correlations between concentrations of particulate total Hg and suspended solids at four depths (surface: 0 m; mid-depth: ?6 m, ?10 m; and bottom +1 m layer) were only significant in the bottom +1 m layer. The mean dissolved MeHg concentration and the ratio of dissolved MeHg to dissolved total Hg were considerably higher in summer compared to other seasons. The data suggest that bottom sediment was not the sole source of MeHg, and that MeHg may be produced in the water column by the conversion of divalent Hg eluted from resuspended bottom sediment. The correlation between seawater characteristics such as salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and dissolved MeHg concentration indicates that Hg methylation could be influenced by the heterotrophic activity of microorganisms in the seawater. In particular, inverse correlations were observed between DO, salinity, and MeHg concentration. However, dissolved MeHg concentrations did not correlate with seawater characteristics such as pH or chlorophyll-a.     

Geochemical Comparison of Stream Water, Rain Water, and Watershed Geology in Central Korea

A hilly to mountainous watershed in Chonju in central Korea does not receive acid rain (average pH: 6.2); however, the stream water in the granite watershed is slightly acidic (6.4–6.7) and contains a low concentration of Ca compared to the stream water in sedimentary and volcanic rock watersheds (6.8–7.6). Although the concentrations of Ca and Sr and the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio in the stream water change in accordance with the watershed geology, the stream ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are closer to the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of rain than to those of the substrate rocks, suggesting the selective but sluggish weathering of Ca-containing minerals neutralizes acid. The concentrations of trace metals (As, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb) in the water are lower than those in rain and less dependent on the watershed geology, indicating that they originated dominantly from the atmosphere. This result is consistent with the stream water having Pb isotope ratios close to that of rain but distinct from that of the rocks. We assume that the soil pool of exchangeable ions dominantly contains atmospherically derived heavy metals, which are subsequently discharged into streams. It is likely that the poor acid-neutralizing capacity of granite makes the aquatic systems in the granite watershed in Chonju sensitive to atmospheric acidification.     

商洛水源地土地利用总体规划环境影响评价

结合区域实际引入生态服务价值系数和敏感性指数进行验证,根据商洛水源地规划基年和规划目标年的土地利用变化,采用生态系统服务价值法评估商洛水源地土地利用总体规划(2006—2020)实施后生态系统服务功能总价值变化及其产生的环境影响。结果表明:在规划期内,未利用地和建设用地的动态度较大,分别为-3.07%,1.00%,方案实施后主要土地类型是林地和耕地;2005—2020年生态系统服务总价值呈增长趋势,2020年比2005年增加了101 428万元,其中林地和园地生态系统服务价值分别增加了119 575,89万元,耕地、牧草地、未利用土地和建设用地分别减少了6 416,235,9 389,2 196万元;各种生态服务功能价值除食物生产减少外,其余均呈增加趋势;规划期间各土地利用类型的敏感性指数均1,说明引用的生态系统服务价值系数可行。商洛水源地土地利用总体规划(2006—2020)方案实施后会产生良好的生态效益,未利用土地和耕地向建设用地转化以及86.59%林地对区域社会经济环境影响值得探讨。     

喀斯特地貌不同类型区耕地自然质量评价——以石漠化综合治理工程小流域为例

在贵州这种典型的喀斯特石漠化地区,土地资源显得尤为重要,而耕地的质量直接关系到农民生活水平的高低。从贵州五大石漠化治理类型区出发,选取5条典型小流域为研究对象,通过调查计算农用地的自然质量等指数来衡量评价农用地质量的高低,结果表明:2013—2015年,5条小流域耕地质量等级分布在4～9等之间,集中分布在中间的5、6、7等,其中5等面积最大,4、8、9等面积较小;变化趋势为低等级和高等级向中间等级转化,集中体现在6、7、8等比例有所增加,4、5、9等比例有所降低。针对各个等级的耕地提出了相应的治理方向和技术措施。     

盖孜河流域土地利用变化分析

根据2000年和2009年两期土地利用数据,应用GIS空间分析和数理统计方法.分析了盖孜河流域2000年和2009年土地利用现状,研究了2000～2009年间盖孜河流域土地利用的变化,揭示了该流域各类土地利用数量变化的幅度、速度以及空间变化的方向,阐明了该流域土地利用变化的特点.同时,建议加强盖孜河流域水资源的设施建设...