Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems

2005 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Suspended Sediment ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Response Model ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Blood Samples

<em>Abstract.</em>—Urban streams typically have increased flows, high suspended sediment concentrations, and reduced water quality during rainstorms as a result of changes within the watershed related to human activity. In the 6-month periods from May through October of 2001 and 2002, water quality was monitored continuously at five sites along Rapid Creek within Rapid City, South Dakota. Water quality samples were collected for eight base flows (nonevents) and eight storm events. Blood samples were collected from wild adult brown trout <em>Salmo trutta </em>during base flow conditions and six of eight storm events to determine if storm events could elicit physiological stress responses. Blood samples were also collected 24, 48, and 96 h after each storm event had started. Water monitoring results showed significant increases in runoff volume and peak flows during storm events. Water quality parameters exceeding South Dakota’s water quality criteria for a coldwater fishery were total suspended solids and temperature. Plasma concentrations of cortisol and lactate, during and after storm events, were not significantly different than those measured during base flow conditions. Plasma glucose values were lower during storm events than during nonevent periods. These observations were compared to those predicted by a suspended sediment dose–response model developed for adult salmonids. The dose–response model overpredicted the severity of the effects of increased total suspended sediment on the brown trout during stormwater runoff events.

scholarly journals A multi-functional and multi-compartment constructed wetland to support urban waterway restoration

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 764-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. M. Adyel ◽  
M. R. Hipsey ◽  
C. Oldham
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetland ◽  
Flow System ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Nutrient Loads ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Storm Flow ◽  
Diverse Area

Abstract This study assessed the significance of a multi-functional and multi-compartment constructed wetland (CW) implemented to restore a degraded urban waterway in Western Australia. The wetland was initially constructed as a surface flow system, then modified through the incorporation of the additional laterite-based subsurface flow system, with the potential for operation of a recirculation scheme and groundwater top-up during low water flows in summer. The CW performance was assessed by comparing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) attenuation during base flow, high flow and episodic storm flow conditions. The performance varied from approximately 41% total nitrogen (TN) and 66% total phosphorus (TP) loads reduction during storm events, increasing up to 62% TN and 99% TP during low flow and summer recirculation periods. In overall, the CW attenuated about 45% TN and 65% TP loads from being delivered to the downstream sensitive river between 2009 and 2015. The CW design proved to be not only highly effective at reducing nutrient loads, but also improved the ecological services of the urban waterway by providing a diverse area for habitat and recreational activities.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Best Management Practices to Reduce Phosphorus Loading to a Highly Eutrophic Lake

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan D. Steinman ◽  
Michael Hassett ◽  
Maggie Oudsema
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Phosphorus Loading ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Significant Difference

Reducing nonpoint source pollution is an ongoing challenge in watersheds throughout the world. Implementation of best management practices, both structural and nonstructural, is the usual response to this challenge, with the presumption that they are effective. However, monitoring of their efficacy is not a standard practice. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of two wetland restoration projects, designed to handle runoff during high flow events and serve as flow-through retention basins before returning flow further downstream. The Macatawa Watershed is located in west Michigan, is heavily agricultural, and drains into Lake Macatawa, a hypereutrophic lake with total phosphorus concentrations usually exceeding 100 µg/L. We measured turbidity, total phosphorus, and soluble reactive phosphorus both upstream and downstream of these wetland complexes during base flow and storm events. While both turbidity and phosphorus increased significantly during storm events compared to baseflow, we found no significant difference in upstream vs. downstream water quality two years following BMP construction. We also measured water quality in Lake Macatawa, and found the lake remained highly impaired. Possible reasons for the lack of improved water quality: (1) The restored wetlands are too young to function optimally in sediment and phosphorus retention; (2) the scale of these BMPs is too small given the overall loads; (3) the locations of these BMPs are not optimal in terms of pollutant reduction; and (4) the years following postconstruction were relatively dry so the wetlands had limited opportunity to retain pollutants. These possibilities are evaluated.

Setting microbiological water quality standards for sea bathing - a critical evaluation

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Mugglestone ◽  
E. D. Stuff ◽  
L. Rushton
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Response Model ◽  
Microbiological Water Quality ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Public Health Protection

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently produced draft guidelines for safe recreational water environments. The microbiological standards proposed in the guidelines are expected to over-estimate the degree of water quality required to provide given levels of public health protection. The WHO standards were obtained by means of a risk assessment which featured a dose-response model derived from a series of randomised controlled trials. The trials have many strengths but biases and problems with statistical analysis are likely to have led to over-estimation of the risks from bathing in the dose-response model. In addition, the WHO risk assessment failed to consider the effects of uncertainty and variability in risk estimates and sensitivity to model assumptions. Improved standards could be obtained by extending the risk assessment to examine these effects and by incorporating a suitably revised dose-response model.

Analysis of parameter variations in L–Q equations for river runoff processes from the viewpoint of spatial and temporal conditions

2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 141-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fujii ◽  
B.R. Shivakoti ◽  
K. Shichi ◽  
P. Songprasert ◽  
H. Ihara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Monitoring ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Regional Effect ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Parameter Variations ◽  
Variation Characteristics ◽  
Temporal Flow

This study aims to find out variation characteristics of the parameters of ‘a’ and ‘b’ in L=a ·Qb, an empirical equation for run-off loading (L) and flow rate (Q), by evaluating the effects of flow conditions and regional properties of the watersheds on the values. We selected the Kamo River basin (155 km2) as a study field, and conducted various kinds of investigations, such as 80 day high frequency observations, continuous monitoring for more than 2 years, storm event surveys, and simultaneous surveys of 39 stations. Then, we obtained 7–170 data in each of 39 sampling stations. The main results obtained are as follows: 1) L–Q equation with a range of ‘a’ can express L–Q relation in most of the WQIs (water quality indices); 2) ‘a’ receives temporal (flow condition) effects more in SS, VSS and Al, while it receives regional effect more in inorganic carbon, TN, Ca and Fe; 3) both of flow change in storm events, and base flow levels affect the L–Q relation, and their effects can classify the WQIs into several groups; 4) the effects of regional properties were obviously observed in ‘a’, and quantitatively evaluated, especially for density of population.

scholarly journals Measurement of light attenuation extends the application of suspended sediment monitoring in rivers

2015 ◽  
Vol 367 ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. O. Hughes ◽  
R. J. Davies-Colley ◽  
A. H. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Suspended Sediment ◽  
Sediment Load ◽  
Light Attenuation ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Extra Effort ◽  
Beam Attenuation ◽  
Event Flow ◽  
First Time ◽  
Sediment Monitoring

Abstract. Turbidity is often monitored continuously as a proxy for suspended sediment in catchment sediment load studies, but is less often applied to measuring optical ‘loads’ as they affect water quality in downstream waters. We added measurements of visual clarity, from which light (beam) attenuation can be estimated, to auto-sampler monitoring over storm events in tributary rivers of the Kaipara Harbour, a large barrier enclosed estuary complex in northern New Zealand. This paper presents, for the first time, evidence of the mutual relationships between turbidity, total suspended sediment (TSS), and visual clarity, from water samples collected under event flow conditions. The mutual relationships between turbidity, TSS and visual clarity for our monitoring sites were fairly close over about three orders of magnitude (TSS ranging from about 1–1000 mg L−1). Our results show that visual clarity (and hence light attenuation) can be predicted from turbidity, at least as precisely as more traditional predictions of TSS from turbidity. The estimation of light attenuation and corresponding load estimates from visual clarity measurements, for relatively little marginal extra effort, extends the environmental relevance and application of suspended sediment monitoring.

scholarly journals Hydrology and riparian forests drive carbon and nitrogen supply and DOC:NO<sub>3<sup>−</sup></sub> stoichiometry along a headwater Mediterranean stream

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José L. J. Ledesma ◽  
Anna Lupon ◽  
Eugènia Martí ◽  
Susana Bernal
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Riparian Forests ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Heterotrophic Activity ◽  
Molar Ratios ◽  
Mediterranean Stream ◽  
Storm Flow ◽  
Forest Coverage

Abstract. In forest headwater streams, metabolic processes are predominately heterotrophic and depend on both the availability of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and a favourable C:N stoichiometry. In this context, hydrological conditions and the presence of riparian forests adjacent to streams can play an important, yet understudied role determining dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrate (NO3−) concentrations and DOC:NO3− molar ratios. Here, we aimed to investigate how the interplay between hydrological conditions and riparian forest coverage drives DOC and NO3− supply and DOC:NO3− stoichiometry in an oligotrophic headwater Mediterranean stream. We analysed DOC and NO3− concentrations, and DOC:NO3− molar ratios during both base flow and storm flow conditions at three stream locations along a longitudinal gradient of increased riparian forest coverage. Further, we performed an event analysis to examine the hydroclimatic conditions that favour the transfer of DOC and NO3− from riparian soils to the stream during large storms. Stream DOC and NO3− concentrations were generally low (overall average ± SD was 1.0 ± 0.6 mg C L−1 and 0.20 ± 0.09 mg N L−1), although significantly higher during storm flow compared to base flow conditions in all three stream sites. Optimal DOC:NO3− stoichiometry for stream heterotrophic microorganisms (corresponding to DOC:NO3− molar ratios between 4.8 and 11.7) was prevalent at the midstream and downstream sites under both flow conditions, whereas C-limited conditions were prevalent at the upstream site, which had no surrounding riparian forest. The hydroclimatic analysis of large storm events highlighted different patterns of DOC and NO3− mobilization depending on antecedent soil moisture conditions: drier antecedent conditions promoted rapid elevations of riparian groundwater tables, hydrologically activating a wider and shallower soil layer, and leading to relatively higher increases in stream DOC and NO3− concentrations compared to events preceded by wet conditions. These results suggest that (i) increased supply of limited resources during storms can promote in-stream heterotrophic activity during high flows, especially during large storm events preceded by dry conditions, and (ii) C-limited conditions upstream were gradually overcome downstream, likely due to higher C inputs from riparian forests present at lower elevations. The contrasting spatiotemporal patterns in DOC and NO3− availability and DOC:NO3− stoichiometry observed at the study stream suggests that groundwater inputs from riparian forests are essential for maintaining in-stream heterotrophic activity in oligotrophic, forest headwater catchments.

Relative sensitivity of brown and rainbow trout to pulsed exposures of an acutely lethal mixture of metals typical of the Clark Fork River, Montana

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 2005-2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. A. Marr ◽  
H. L. Bergman ◽  
M. Parker ◽  
J. Lipton ◽  
D. Cacela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Relative Sensitivity ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Clark Fork River

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry and juveniles were episodically or continuously exposed to a metals mixture (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd): the concentrations and ratios of the metals, and variations in water quality (pH, hardness), were selected to represent conditions measured during episodic storm events in the Clark Fork River, Montana. Brown trout fry were more sensitive (lower LC50) than rainbow trout fry to the metals in 8-h exposures with constant hardness and pH, but less sensitive to elevated metal concentrations in conjunction with depressed hardness and pH. Fry were more sensitive than juveniles when exposure was continuous, but neither life stage was clearly more sensitive when exposure was pulsed. Whole-body concentrations of K+ and Ca2+ but not Na+ were significantly depressed in fry exposed to metals. Results support the hypotheses that changes in water quality during thunderstorms are lethal to fry and juvenile life stages of brown and rainbow trouts and that the relative sensitivity of the species to the metals mixture may explain their distributions in the Clark Fork River. Low-frequency extreme conditions may effectively act as a bottleneck on the viability of populations whose relative sensitivities to such extremes may control distributions of species in a system.

Volume Analysis for Attainability of Water Quality Criteria for Three Loading Constituents

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Wang ◽  
Lewis Linker ◽  
James Collier ◽  
Gary Shenk ◽  
Robert Koroncai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Water Quality Criteria ◽  
Volume Analysis
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