TRANSITIONS IN MIDWESTERN GROUND WATER LAW1

ABSTRACT: The evolution of ground-water law in eight states in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin) is examined, and a review of transitions in ground-water doctrines is presented. Two underlying themes in changing ground-water management are communicated. First, ground-water law is evolving from private property rules of capture based on the absolute ownership doctrines to rules requiring conservation and sharing of ground water as a public resource. Second, in both courts and state legislatures, a proactive role of ground-water management is emerging, again, with an emphasis on sharing. Both of these trends are apparent in the Midwest. In the last decade midwestern states have (1) seen significant shifts in court decisions on ground-water use with greater recognition of the reciprocal or mutually dependent nature of ground-water rights, and (2) seen increased legislative development of comprehensive ground-water management statutes that emphasize the reciprocal liabilities of ground-water use. These trends are examined and ground-water management programs discussed for eight states in the Midwest.     

Assessment of contamination and biomarker responses in two species of herons on the St. Lawrence river

This study was undertaken to validate potential biomarkers of exposure and effects due to chemical contaminants in breedingcolonies of the Great Blue Heron and the Black-crowned Night-Heron on the St. Lawrence River. Eggs and fledglings from both species were collected from many colonies along theRiver. The fledglings from colonies in freshwater and brackishwater were more contaminated by mercury and PCBs than those from estuarine and gulf colonies. With respect to fledglings ofthe two heron species, some morphometric and blood biochemicalmeasurements, including plasma thyroid hormones and retinol, were significantly different among colonies. Significant differences were also observed in liver retinoids, EROD and porphyrins among colonies. The results of this study suggestthat plasma retinoids and thyroid hormones are good biomarkersof exposure and effects, and are sufficiently sensitive to reflect local and regional variations in contamination. Along with the measure of contaminants in egg and plasma, they constitute non-invasive biomarkers which represent an importantcriteria for long term monitoring of wildlife species. It is concluded that the Great Blue Heron is an appropriate sentinelspecies in the surveillance network for the St. Lawrence River.     

Laboratory-scale chlorination to estimate the levels of halogenated DBPs in full-scale distribution systems

Occurrence of halogenated disinfection by-products (DBPs) (trihalomethanes –THMs– and haloacetic acids –HAAs–) in the waters of two utilities in Quebec City (Canada) was investigated using two approaches: experimental chlorination studies and full-scale sampling within distribution systems. Experimental studies were designed to reproduce treatment plant and distribution system conditions (chlorine dose, water temperature, pH and water residence time). Differences in halogenated DBPs in the two distribution systems under study were significant and comparable to those observed in experimental laboratory studies. For the waters of both utilities, chlorination studies better reproduced the occurrence of halogenated DBPs in points of the distribution system located near the treatment plant (low residence time of water) than in other points. Multivariate regression models for THMs, HAAs and their species were developed using the data from experimental studies in order to predict halogenated DBP levels measured in the distribution system. Models were all statistically significant, but showed low ability to predict full-scale halogenated DBPs, particularly in points located at distribution system extremities. Specifically, experimental chlorination-based models are not able to simulate the decrease of HAA levels. Results of this research suggest that the use of experimental data to predict halogenated DBP levels in full-scale distribution systems – for operational, regulatory and epidemiological purposes – must be done with caution.     

Glacial-interglacial changes in the occurrence of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in Vostok Antarctic ice from 240 000 to 410 000 years BP

Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) have been measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry in various sections of the 3623 m deep ice core drilled at Vostok, in central East Antarctica. The sections were dated from 240 to 410 kyear BP (Marine Isotopic Stages (MIS) 7.5 to 11.3), which corresponds to the 3rd and 4th glacial-interglacial cycles before present. Concentrations are found to have varied greatly during this 170 kyear time period, with high concentration values during the coldest climatic stages such as MIS 8.4 and 10.2 and much lower concentration values during warmer periods, such as the interglacials MIS 7.5, 9.3 and 11.3. Rock and soil dust were the dominant sources for Pb, whatever the period, and for Zn and Cu and possibly Cd during cold climatic stages. The contribution from volcanic emissions was important for Cd during all periods and might have been significant for Cu and Zn during warm periods.     

Atmospheric benzene depletion by soil microorganisms

Gaseous benzene was rapidly depleted in exposure chambers containing viable soils and plants. When separate components of the system were analyzed, no benzene was detected in soils, plants, or water. Soil microorganisms were shown to be responsible for metabolizing benzene, yielding CO₂ as the main product. The rates were sufficiently rapid to suggest that this reaction forms a major pathway for the elimination of benzene from the environment.This work was sponsored and conducted at the Environmental Protection Agency-Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.     

Response of the predatorRhizophagus grandis to host plant derived chemicals inDendroctonus micans larval frass in wind tunnel experiments (Coleoptera: Rhizophagidae,Scolytidae)

Summary Adults of the predatory beetleRhizophagus grandis are strongly attracted to both adult and larval frass of its specific prey,Dendroctonus micans, in walking bioassays. Spruce bark and resin are relatively unattractive. Solvent extracts of larval frass that were attractive toR. grandis adults in a flight wind tunnel contained a mixture of monoterpenes of host plant origin. A synthetic mixture of these monoterpenes, (+)—-pinene, (–)—-pinene, -phellandrene,dl limonene and 3-carene, was responsible for 70–80% of the activity of the most attractive extract. We suggest that a blend of monoterpenes in frass acts as a kairomone forR. grandis but that attraction to monoterpenes is only the first of a sequence of behavioural responses that ensures successful host location and identification.     

兰州市西固区土壤中PAHs污染特征及来源解析

为了解石油工业区土壤中PAHs(多环芳烃)的污染特征、来源及潜在危害,选择兰州市西固区为研究区域,系统采集表层土壤样品及部分剖面样品,采用GC-MS检测方法,分析了土壤中PAHs的污染水平与分布、来源及潜在致癌风险. 结果表明:研究区表层(0~20 cm)土壤中w(∑PAHs)(22种PAHs的总质量分数)在535～32 300 μg/kg之间;PAHs在土壤剖面的纵向分布上主要集中在5～10 cm,在0～25 cm范围内变化不明显;表层土壤中PAHs主要以2～3环为主. 相关性分析显示,土壤中w(∑PAHs)与w(TOC)无显著的相关性,表明TOC并非影响土壤中PAHs持留的重要因素. 研究区土壤中PAHs主要来源于石油、生物质和煤炭的燃烧,∑TEQ_BaP (22种PAHs的毒性当量浓度,以苯并芘等效浓度计)平均值为190 μg/kg,表明土壤中PAHs的潜在致癌性较低.      

Sewage sludge effects on mesofauna and cork oak (Quercus suber L.) leaves decomposition in a Mediterranean forest firebreak

Effects of sewage sludge on litter mesofauna communities (Collembola and Acari) and cork oak (Quercus suber L.) leaf litter decomposition have been studied during 18 mo using litterbags in an in situ experimental forest firebreak in southeastern France. The sludge (2.74 t DM ha(-1) yr(-1)) was applied to fertilize and maintain a pasture created on the firebreak. Litterbag colonization had similar dynamics on both the control and fertilized plots and followed a typical Mediterranean pattern showing a greater abundance in spring and autumn and a lower abundance in summer. After 9 mo of litter colonization, Collembola and Acari, but mainly Oribatida, were more abundant on the sludge-fertilized plot. Leaf litter decomposition showed a similar pattern on both plots, but it was faster on the control plot. Furthermore, leaves from the fertilized plot were characterized by greater nitrogen content. Both chemical composition of leaves and sludges and the decomposition state of leaves have significantly affected the mesofauna community composition from each plot.     

Effects of watershed-scale land use change on stream nitrate concentrations

The Walnut Creek Watershed Monitoring Project was conducted from 1995 through 2005 to evaluate the response of stream nitrate concentrations to changing land use patterns in paired 5000-ha Iowa watersheds. A large portion of the Walnut Creek watershed is being converted from row crop agriculture to native prairie and savanna by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (NSNWR). Before restoration, land use in both Walnut Creek (treatment) and Squaw Creek (control) watersheds consisted of 70% row crops. Between 1990 and 2005, row crop area decreased 25.4% in Walnut Creek due to prairie restoration but increased 9.2% in Squaw Creek due to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grassland conversion back to row crop. Nitrate concentrations ranged between <0.5 to 14 mg L(-1) at the Walnut Creek outlet and 2.1 to 15 mg L(-1) at the downstream Squaw Creek outlet. Nitrate concentrations decreased 1.2 mg L(-1) over 10 yr in the Walnut Creek watershed but increased 1.9 mg L(-1) over 10 yr in Squaw Creek. Changes in nitrate were easier to detect and more pronounced in monitored subbasins, decreasing 1.2 to 3.4 mg L(-1) in three Walnut Creek subbasins, but increasing up to 8.0 and 11.6 mg L(-1) in 10 yr in two Squaw Creek subbasins. Converting row crop lands to grass reduced stream nitrate levels over time in Walnut Creek, but stream nitrate rapidly increased in Squaw Creek when CRP grasslands were converted back to row crop. Study results highlight the close association of stream nitrate to land use change and emphasize that grasslands or other perennial vegetation placed in agricultural settings should be part of a long-term solution to water quality problems.