Comparison of a Subjective and a Physical Approach for Identification of Priority Areas for Soil and Water Management in a Watershed – A Case Study of Nagwan Watershed in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand, India

The present investigation was an attempt to compare the within-watershed prioritization capabilities of a physical model based SDSS with the SYI and RPI model based subjective-SDSS, conventionally devised for between-watershed prioritizations, by All India Soil Survey and Land Use Planning Division of Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Application of these two approaches on a test watershed situated in Damodar-Barakar catchment in India, the second most seriously eroded area in the world, demonstrated that the proposed physical model based SDSS was capable of realistically and logically mimicking the sub-watershed-scaled water and soil losses thereby suggesting its immense application potential for priority area identification within the test watershed. In contrast to the proposed physical method, the subjective approaches, which assigned totally reverse priorities to about 67–93% of the test-sub-watersheds, were observed to be incapable of realistically assessing the impact of topography and varied land use and soil types in the test watershed on their sub-watershed scaled run-off and soil loss generating potential. Besides, the physical approach could be used for assessing the annual dynamics of the total water and sediment yields, under prevailing resource management systems in the test watershed with good to moderately good correlation coefficients of 0.83 and 0.65; model efficiency coefficients of 0.54 and 0.70; mean relative errors of –4.28% and –17.97% and root mean square prediction errors of 71.8 mm and 9.63 t/ha, respectively.     

A Knowledge-Based Approach to the Assessment of Watershed Condition

The Ecosystem Management Decision Support (EMDS) system is an application framework for knowledge-based decision support of ecological assessments. EMDS integrates geographic information system and knowledge base system technologies to provide an analytical tool for environmental assessment and monitoring. The basic objective of EMDS is to improve the quality and completeness of environmental assessments and the efficiency with which they are performed. The USDA Forest Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have cooperatively developed an EMDS knowledge base for watershed condition assessment. Specifically, this knowledge base evaluates watershed processes, patterns, general effects of human activity, and fisheries habitat suitability. Such assessments are based on spatially explicit input data concerning current conditions and reference conditions which are subsequently interpreted by user-defined "fuzzy" membership functions. In this paper we describe basic components of our knowledge base for assessing watershed condition and illustrate its application within northern Idaho and northwestern Montana.     

The importance of considering spatial attributes in evaluating estuarine habitat condition: the South Carolina experience

The South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program (SCECAP) was initiated in 1999 to assess the condition of the state's coastal habitats using multiple measures of water quality, sediment quality, and biological condition. Sampling was subsequently expanded to include components required for the National Coastal Assessment (Coastal 2000) Program. Habitats are classified as either tidal creeks (<#60; 100 meters in width) or larger open water bodies. Approximately 30 sites are sampled within each habitat during the summer months using a probability-based random sampling design. Results obtained from the first two years of sampling documented significant differences in several water quality parameters (DO, salinity, pH, turbidity, fecal coliform bacteria, total nitrogen, TKN, total phosphorus) and biological measures (chlorophyll-a, finfish and crustacean abundance and biomass and a number of benthic species) between the tidal creek and open water habitats. These differences highlight the value of partitioning shallow water habitats separately from the larger open water bodies traditionally sampled in estuarine monitoring programs, especially since tidal creeks serve as critical nursery areas for many species. Based on the differences observed, there is a clear need to identify different physical and biological thresholds for evaluating the condition of each habitat type.     

Antibiotic resistance analysis of fecal coliforms to determine fecal pollution sources in a mixed-use watershed

Antibiotic resistance analysis was performed on fecal coliform(FC) bacteria from a mixed-use watershed to determine thesource, human or nonhuman, of fecal coliform contamination. The study consisted of discriminant analysis of antibioticresistance patterns generated by exposure to fourconcentrations of six antibiotics (ampicillin, gentamicinsulfate, kanamycin, spectinomycin dihydrochloride,streptomycin sulfate, and tetracycline hydrochloride). Areference database was constructed from 1125 fecal coliformisolates from the following sources: humans, domestic animals(cats and dogs), agricultural animals (chickens, cattle, andhorses), and wild animals. Based on similar antibioticresistance patterns, cat and dog isolates were grouped asdomestic animals and horse and cattle isolates were grouped aslivestock. The resulting average rate of correctclassification (ARCC) for human and nonhuman isolates was94%. A total of 800 FC isolates taken from the watershedduring either a dry event or a wet event were classifiedaccording to source. Human sources contribute a majority(>50%) of the baseflow FC isolates found in the watershed inurbanized areas. Chicken and livestock sources areresponsible for the majority of the baseflow FC isolates foundin the rural reaches of the watershed. Stormwater introducesFC isolates from domestic (16%) and wild (21%) sourcesthroughout the watershed and varying amounts (up to 60%) fromchicken and livestock sources. These results suggest thatantibiotic resistance patterns of FC may be used to determinesources of fecal contamination and aid in the direction ofwater quality improvement.     

AN ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF TWO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN TAIWAN1

ABSTRACT: The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the management practice effects on Ming-Hu and Ming-Tan reservoir watersheds during the past 15 years. It is difficult to economically evaluate a watershed project consisting of a number of multisectoral and long term management practices and regulations. However, the reservoirs’ hydropower operations and their associated benefits and costs are highlighted in this study. The estimated management practice value (net present value) of 351 million NT (New Taiwan) dollars and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.189 are obtained for the Ming-Hu subwatershed. Because the Ming-Tan hydropower station only began commercial operation in 1992 the estimated management practice value is negative 103 million NT dollars (net present value) and the benefit-cost ratio is 0.653 in the Ming-Tan subwatershed. If the analysis period is contained to the year 2010, the benefit-cost ratio of Ming-Tan reservoir subwatershed becomes 1.103. Ming-Hu and Ming-Tan subwatersheds together share the benefit-cost ratio of 1.182 and the net present value of 1,589 million NT dollars. The results of the analyses indicate that the Taiwan Power Company, the watershed management agency, has implemented economically efficient watershed practices and regulations in Ming-Hu and Ming-Tan reservoir watersheds and the watershed management practices are worthwhile and should be sustained.     

HYDROLOGIC PARAMETERIZATION OF WATERSHEDS FOR RUNOFF PREDICTION USING SWAT1

ABSTRACT: The use of continuous time, distributed parameter hydrologic models like SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) has opened several opportunities to improve watershed modeling accuracy. However, it has also placed a heavy burden on users with respect to the amount of work involved in parameterizing the watershed in general and in adequately representing the spatial variability of the watershed in particular. Recent developments in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have alleviated some of the difficulties associated with managing spatial data. However, the user must still choose among various parameterization approaches that are available within the model. This paper describes the important parameterization issues involved when modeling watershed hydrology for runoff prediction using SWAT with emphasis on how to improve model performance without resorting to tedious and arbitrary parameter by parameter calibration. Synthetic and actual watersheds in Indiana and Mississippi were used to illustrate the sensitivity of runoff prediction to spatial variability, watershed decomposition, and spatial and temporal adjustment of curve numbers and return flow contribution. SWAT was also used to predict stream runoff from actual watersheds in Indiana that have extensive subsurface drainage. The results of this study provide useful information for improving SWAT performance in terms of stream runoff prediction in a manner that is particularly useful for modeling ungaged watersheds wherein observed data for calibration is not available.     

农业非点源模型——AGNPS计算

由于非点源污染产生机制的特殊性，导致实地调查和试验研究不易实行。而数学模型方法在这一领域尤其能够体现出它的优点，其中AGNPS模型是应用较为广泛者之一。介绍了AGNPS模型的基本结构，主要包括水文、侵蚀和化学污染物的迁移3部分。     

基于区域DNDC的稻田轮作氮素空间分异与驱动分析:以晋江流域为例

稻田轮作氮素动态循环对于保障居民食物需求,实现区域生态可持续发展等目标具有重要现实意义.从区域尺度视角分析各氮素指标空间分异状态,及其驱动影响因素,可为农田管理措施的实施提供宏观决策依据.选取晋江流域内的稻田轮作区作为研究对象,运用反硝化分解(denitrification decomposition, DNDC)模型、热点分析以及地理加权回归(geographical weighted regression, GWR)建模等技术,模拟了稻田生态系统内氮素循环,分析了各氮素指标空间分异特征与驱动归因.结果表明:①经过参数率定与结果验证的DNDC模型体现出较好的区域适应性;②不同轮作模式间对比发现,稻-蔬轮作模式表现为最大氮肥输入量、最高作物氮素吸收效率以及最大氮素损失量,其次为稻-稻轮作模式,最后为稻-空闲轮作模式;③在各氮素指标空间分布方面,除作物氮素吸收量呈随机分布,NH_3排放量、N_2O排放量和氮素淋失表现为空间聚类分布,基于标准差椭圆的集约主趋势线主要以"感德镇—长坑乡"一线为主;④由各氮素指标空间影响因素分析发现,土壤属性因子具有最强影响效果,NH_3排放量和N_2O排放量中SOC_(max)为最强影响因子,空间分布呈现"西高东低",氮素淋失损失量中pH_(min)表现为最强影响因子,空间分布呈"南北高东西低".     

辽河流域水污染治理历程与“十四五”控制策略

为明晰辽河流域水污染治理“十四五”需求,进一步科学合理地推进辽河流域治理与保护进程,通过调研历史监测数据、统计年鉴等资料,回顾辽河流域水环境演化和治理历程.将辽河流域的治理分为3个阶段:第1阶段（1991—1999年）,该阶段流域水环境呈重度污染并持续恶化,环境治理逐渐起步;第2阶段（2000—2006年）,该阶段辽河流域水质恶化趋势基本得到遏制,控源治污初显成效;第3阶段（2007—2019年）,该阶段辽河流域水质优良比例整体持续提升,国家水体污染控制与治理科技重大专项有力支撑流域综合调控.辽河流域水污染治理颇显成效,但仍存在以下主要问题:①辽河流域水污染治理经历了从单一的控源治污向河流综合治理转变,污染程度由重度转为轻度,但流域水污染控制依然不容乐观;②辽河流域属寒冷地区缺水型河流,生态流量不足;③水质改善及水生态恢复成果不稳定;④流域管理机制体制有待完善.“十四五”应针对性增设分水期考核方式和水生态考核指标,完善水环境标准;坚持水资源、水环境、水生态“三水”统筹科学施治,构建减排和增容相结合的水污染控制模式,推动水量、水质、水功能良性循环发展;建立流域统筹管理、垂直领导的管理体制,制定辽河流域河流空间管控的长效机制,促进环保技术产业化,发展流域循环经济,缓解经济社会发展与水环境保护矛盾,最终实现流域经济社会可持续健康发展.      

不同尺度下蒸散量测算方法的应用及展望

在水资源日益稀缺的背景下,蒸散作为陆地水循环的重要组成部分,对水资源管理和农业灌溉方案的制定都起着决定性作用。在全球尺度上,蒸散量整体呈现出了明显的随时间增加趋势,但区域尺度及流域尺度的蒸散变化则呈现出较大的不确定性,并且在一些下垫面比较复杂的地区,如喀斯特小流域,蒸散作为流域水循环的重要组成部分往往难以准确测定,所以更需要因地制宜地选择蒸散量测算方法。基于此,本文以各种方法的研究尺度为切入点,将当前被广泛接受的蒸散研究方法分为小尺度方法,即针对单体植株和适用于田块尺度的蒸散研究方法,包括树干液流法、零通量面法、风调室法、蒸渗仪法以及土壤-植被-大气连续体(SPAC)水分传输综合模拟法;百米尺度方法,包括波文比法和涡动相关法;公里尺度方法,主要包括闪烁仪法;流域及区域尺度方法,包括水量平衡法和空间遥感法。概述了各个方法的应用范围、特点以及局限性,列举了前人工作中各种方法之间的对比验证,着重分析了闪烁仪方法在复杂下垫面的应用前景,以便在不同研究条件和研究尺度下能选择最佳的蒸散量测算方法,并对未来蒸散研究进行了展望。