HYDROLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS OF THE UPPER ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN,FLORIDA1

ABSTRACT: Since the early 1900's the Upper St. Johns River Basin, Florida, has been experiencing rapid agricultural development, through reclamation of the low-lying marshland by organized drainage districts, private land owners and corporations. These low-lying marsh areas, which constitute the floodplain, have been altered by the creation of levees, thereby reducing the natural storage capacity and permanently altering the regime of the system. This floodplain encroachment has resulted in both higher and lower water levels occurring in the upper basin area, and an increase in hydroperiod. This paper discusses the history and background of the basin accompanied by a hydrologic discussion, and suggests recommendations for a water management plan that could improve the overall operation and management of the Upper St. Johns River basin.     

Assessment of environmental impacts part two: Data collection

Intervention analysis is a relatively new branch of time series analysis. The power of this technique, which gives the probability that changes in mean level can be distinguished from natural data variability, is quite sensitive to the way the data are collected. The principal independent variables influenced by the data collection design are overall sample size, sampling frequency, and the relative length of record before the occurrence of the event (intervention) that is postulated to have caused a change in mean process level.For three of the four models investigated, data should be collected so that the post-intervention record is substantially longer than the pre-intervention record. This is in conflict with the intuitive approach, which would be to collect equal amounts of data before and after the intervention. The threshold (minimum) level of change that can be detected is quite high unless sample sizes of at least 50 and preferably 100 are available; this minimum level is dependent on the complexity of the model required to describe the response of the process mean to the intervention. More complex models tend to require larger sample sizes for the same threshold detectable change level.Uniformity of sampling frequency is a key consideration. Environmental data collection programs have not historically been oriented toward data analysis using time series techniques, thus eliminating a potentially powerful tool from use in many environmental assessment applications.     

THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF DUAL PURPOSE NUCLEAR DESALINATION OF GROUND WATER1

ABSTRACT: The economic feasibility of a large scale dual purpose (desalting water and power production) facility were evaluated. Although a site in the Tularosa basin of southern New Mexico was chosen as a case study for this analysis, it is believed that the approach and consequential results would be applicable to alternative sites in the Southwest. The basic project evaluated included: a) a ground water well field; b) a dual purpose, nuclear, desalination plant; c) a mineral recovery plant; and d) a reservoir for recreation and irrigation storage. Principle project outputs included electrical power, minerals, recreation, and water for either irrigated agricultural production or export to an adjoining river basin. Two alternative project designs were developed for detailed analysis. The first alternative encompassed all major project components. The results, in discounted net values used to assess the feasibility of the project, were essentially negative; that is, values were less than zero for full scale development. The net benefits ranged from $-986.57 million at a 5 percent discount rate, to $-1,137.528 million at a discount rate of 10 percent. In the second alternative, exportation of the desalted water from the Tularosa basin to two adjacent rivers was analyzed with somewhat better net benefits, ranging from $-382,527 million to $-478,612 million at the 5 and 10 percent discount rates.     

RETENTION BASIN FAILURES IN CARBONATE TERRANES1

ABSTRACT Sinkholes and subsidence in areas subject to dewatering of carbonate formations have been documented in several geologic and hydrologic investigations. Excessive ground-water pumpage has been cited as a causative factor in areas of increased sinkhole activity. Subsurface erosion of unconsolidated materials underlain by carbonate rocks is one cause of the collapses. Infiltrating water from retention basins may cause subsurface erosion and eventual failure by collapse of the structure. The resulting ground-water contamination would be great as the pollutants spread throughout the solution-cavity system.     

WATER DATA - A NEW AWARENESS1

ABSTRACT: One of the most significant changes m the field of hydrology in the past few years has been the increase m demand for basic data resulting from a new awareness on the part of planners, developers and managers of the essential nature of such data. For many years data collection has been an onerous, routine operation, following which the data were processed and stored - either in publications or file drawers - and the job considered completed. Two developments have changed that picture: the realization that we are drastically altering OUT environment, and the advent of the computer. The first forced us into a recognition of our need for accurate basic data and the second provided a new methodology for handling and using it. The change is evidenced m many ways and numerous activities are underway at both State and Federal level for all facets of the acquisition and handling of water data. The collection of basic data still involves hard routine work and a conscientious-effort to maintain a high level of quality. Hopefully, recognition of the absolutely essential nature of an adequate data base will result in the continued enhancement of the basic data collector and the concomitant increase in support of his activities.     

COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY-UNIVERSITY WATER RESOURCE PLANNING: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH1

ABSTRACT. This paper outlines an approach to planning the management of a lake heavily used for recreation and of substantial importance to the tourist economy of Northeastern Wisconsin. A framework, utilizing a three dimensional matrix, is developed to analyze levels of public concern, management alternatives and action agencies. Structural and non-structural alternatives are examined and evaluated on the basis of social and economic criteria, long- and short-term environmental impact and legal-political feasibility. Data requirements which created the necessity for an interdisciplinary approach involving social, physical, and biological sciences are enumerated. The authors examine the role of universities in assisting communities with resource management planning and detail the attributes of academic institutions which desire to successfully attack resource planning problems.