Riparian Ecosystem Management Model: Sensitivity to Soil,Vegetation, and Weather Input Parameters1

Abstract: The Riparian Ecosystem Management Model (REMM) was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture‐Agriculture Research Service (USDA‐ARS) and its cooperators to design and evaluate the efficiency of riparian buffer ecosystems for nonpoint source pollution reduction. REMM requires numerous inputs to simulate water movement, sediment transport, and nutrient cycling in the buffer system. In order to identify critical model inputs and their uncertainties, a univariate sensitivity analysis was conducted for nine REMM output variables. The magnitude of each input parameter was changed from ?50% to +50% from the baseline data in 12 intervals or, in some cases, the complete range of an input was tested. Baseline model inputs for the sensitivity analysis were taken from Gibbs Farm, Georgia, where REMM was tested using a 5‐year field dataset. Results of the sensitivity analysis indicate that REMM responses were most sensitive to weather inputs, with minimum daily temperature having the greatest impact on the nitrogen‐related outputs. For example, the 100% change (?50% to +50%) in minimum daily temperature input values yielded a 164.4% change in total nitrogen (N), a 109.3% change in total nitrate (NO₃), and a 127.1% change in denitrification. REMM was most sensitive to precipitation with regard to total flow leaving the riparian vegetative buffer zone (199.8%) and sediment yield (138.2%). Deep seepage (12.2%), volumetric water content (24.8%), and pore size index (6.5%) in the buffer soil profile were the most influential inputs for the output water movement. Sediment yield was most sensitive to Manning’s coefficient (46.6%), bare soil percent (40.7%), and soil permeability (6.1%). For vegetation, specific leaf area, growing degree day coefficients, and maximum root depth influenced the nitrogen related outputs. Overall results suggest that because of the high sensitivity to weather parameters, on‐site weather data is needed for model calibration and validation. The model’s relatively low sensitivity to vegetation parameters also appears to support the use of regional vegetation datasets that would simplify model implementation without compromising results.     

植草沟控制道路径流污染效果的现场实验研究

在合肥市滨湖新区建造了2条不同形式的植草沟,在实际降雨条件下监测2种植草沟的进、出水流量与水质,考察其对道路径流的水质净化和污染负荷控制效果.结果表明,植草输送沟(设施Ⅰ)与干植草沟(设施Ⅱ)均能有效去除径流中的TSS、COD、Pb、Cu、Cd、Zn等污染物,设施Ⅰ对TSS及COD的去除率中值分别为67.1%、46.7%,设施Ⅱ对TSS及COD的去除率中值分别为78.6%、58.6%,设施Ⅱ出水中Pb、Cu、Zn这3种重金属离子浓度均可达到地表水Ⅴ类水的要求;2种植草沟在部分降雨事件出水中均存在氮、磷物质的释放现象;2种植草沟对TP的去除受进水浓度的影响,去除效果随进水浓度的增加而逐渐提高,设施Ⅰ和设施Ⅱ对TP的平均去除率分别为14.7%和45.4%;设施Ⅱ对TSS、COD、TP、TN、NH+4-N、NO-3-N的负荷控制效果优于设施Ⅰ;在土壤渗透性能差、地面坡度小的地区,使用干植草沟可以取得较好的水质控制及污染负荷削减效果.     

浅基质层干植草沟运行效果的现场实验

为避免设施出水下渗污染地下水并防止市政管道雨污倒灌进入设施,于上海市区高架路下方建造一座排水管上弯的不透型浅层干植草沟.根据2019年汛期内进、出水量及水质的长期监测,对设施水文及水质控制效果进行评价.结果表明监测期内设施径流总量控制率为39.4%,对初始雨强小于8.0 mm·h^-1的降雨具有明显峰值削减效果;设施能有效去除道路径流中总悬浮固体(TSS)、化学需氧量(COD)、总磷(TP)和总氮(TN),污染物负荷去除率分别为95.4%、 83.1%、 90.0%和57.7%;设施基质层添加的发酵木屑和排水管上弯的构造可在进水期实现反硝化并在前期无雨期(ADP)维持一定反硝化效果,设施水力负荷(HLR)的增大及无雨期的延长分别影响进水期与无雨期硝酸盐氮(NO^-₃-N)的去除.在基质层饱和渗透速率较高、厚度较浅条件下,设施有效改善了道路径流水质.不透型干植草沟可与市区河道的调蓄容积结合,共同承担起高地下水位地区实现年径流总量与污染负荷控制率的任务.     

Contaminant Retention Potential of Forested Filter Strips Established as SMZs in the Piedmont of Georgia1

Abstract: It is common practice in the United States and elsewhere to maintain vegetated filter strips adjacent to streams to retain contaminants in surface runoff. Most research has evaluated contaminant retention in managed agricultural field strips, while relatively few studies have quantified retention in forested filter strips, particularly for dissolved contaminants. Plot‐scale overland flow experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of natural forested filter strips established as streamside management zones (SMZs) for retaining phosphorus (P), atrazine, and picloram transported in runoff. Retention was evaluated for five different slope classes: 1‐2, 5‐7, 10‐12, 15‐17, and 20‐22%; two cover conditions: undisturbed forest floor (O horizon intact) and forest floor removed by raking; and two periods with contrasting soil moisture conditions: summer‐dry and winter‐wet season. Surface flow was collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 10 m within the filter strip to evaluate changes in solution concentration as it moved through the O horizon and the surface soil horizon mixing zone. On average, a 10 m length of forested SMZ with an undisturbed forest floor reduced initial solution concentration of total dissolved P by 51%, orthophosphate P by 49%, atrazine by 28%, and picloram by 5%. Percentages of mass retention through infiltration of water plus concentration reductions in runoff were 64% for total dissolved P, 62% for orthophosphate P, 47% for atrazine, and 28% for picloram for undisturbed forest floor conditions. Lower retention occurred following forest floor removal, particularly for P. Average dissolved P retention was 16% lower following forest floor removal. For undisturbed sites, differences in retention were more closely related to forest floor depth than to slope or antecedent soil moisture. These results indicate that forested SMZ filter strips provide a significant measure of surface water protection from dissolved P and herbicide delivery to surface water.     

EVALUATION OF COASTAL PLAIN CONSERVATION BUFFERS USING THE RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT MODEL1

ABSTRACT: Riparian buffers are increasingly important as watershed management tools and are cost‐shared by programs such as Conservation Reserve that are part of the USDA Conservation Buffer Initiative. Riparian buffers as narrow as 4.6m (15ft) are eligible for cost‐share by USDA. The Riparian Ecosystem Management Model (REMM) provides a tool to judge water quality improvement by buffers and to set design criteria for nutrient and sediment load reduction. REMM was used for a Coastal Plain site to simulate 14 different buffers ranging from 4.6 m to 51.8 m (15 to 170 ft) with three different types of vegetation (hardwood trees, pine trees, and perennial grass) with two water and nutrient loads. The load cases were low sediment/low nutrient‐typical of a well managed agricultural field and low sediment/high nutrient‐typical of liquid manure application to perennial forage crops. Simulations showed that the minimum width buffer (4.6 m) was inadequate for control of nutrients under either load case. The minimum width buffer that is eligible for cost share assistance on a field with known water quality problems (10.7 m, 35 ft) was projected to achieve at least 50 percent reduction of N, P, and sediment in the load cases simulated.     

ACCUMULATION OF SELECTED TRACE METALS IN SOILS OF URBAN RUNOFF SWALE DRAINS1

ABSTRACT: Field investigations were conducted at three sites in the Washington, D.C., area to detect the accumulation patterns of the trace metals, cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in the soils of roadside grassed swale drains that had been receiving urban stormwater runoff. Two sites were residential areas and one site was an intensively used highway. The research results seem to indicate that the use of swale drains to control urban stormwater runoff had few harmful effects to fine textured soils with respect to the study metals. With the exception of zinc, typical roadside patterns of decreasing metal concentrations with increasing distance from roads were observed for the upper 5 cm of study soils. Zinc accumulated in residential grassed swales due to leachate from galvanized curverts. Sampling to a depth of 60 cm revealed no evidence of subsurface trace metal enrichment in the study swales. Although the percentage of soil zinc in leachable form was as high as 20 percent of total zinc concentrations, the other study metals had small leachable components. Leachable lead was always less than 1 percent of the total lead.     

太湖流域源头南苕溪河口生态工程恢复及其初期水质净化效应

针对太湖流域源头溪流农业面源污染严重和生态拦截净化较弱的问题,采用生态工程措施于南苕溪人青山湖水库河口处对河道进行恢复.综合考虑山溪性河流水文水动力特征,通过构建、稳定和保护河口与滨岸带生态系统实现河道恢复目标.所采用关键技术包括:合金钢网石兜抛石技术、深潭-浅滩/塘-洼地组合净化技术、分流沙嘴技术、T-型乱石抛筑透水坝技术、河岸侵蚀面防侵蚀的浅滩沙洲场技术、植被缓冲带技术、水生植物恢复技术等.对河口生态工程区进行连续9个月的监测结果显示,工程区上段浅滩及分流沙嘴区能有效复氧,提升pH值并降低电导率,同时对总磷、活性磷和悬浮颗粒物有较好的去除效果;中段深潭区通过强化的微生物活性能有效去除铵态氮与亚硝态氮;下游T-型坝能较好地拦截并沉积河口冲刷物质,但需对其定期清理以防引发二次污染.河口生态工程运行初期较好地改善了河道结构并提升了河流自净能力,对河流生态恢复最具指示作用的水质指标溶解氧饱和度、铵态氮去除率在工程实施后较工程实施前平均分别提高了14.5％、14.7％.     

植草沟净化地表径流运行条件优化

设计了黑麦草沟和天堂草沟两类植草沟,采用正交实验的方法研究了水力负荷、草高、水深等3个因素对植草沟净化地表径流的影响,以探索植草沟最佳运行条件。结果表明,各因素的影响大小依次为：水力负荷 > 草高 > 水深。黑麦草沟和天堂草沟的最佳运行条件相同,均为水力负荷0.5 m3·（m2·d）-1,草高15 cm,水深4 cm。在最佳运行条件下,黑麦草沟对地表径流中COD、TSS、TN、TDN、NH3-N、TP、TDP的去除率分别为,59.76%±6.52%、81.77%±13.89%、32.56%±15.34%、28.31%±16.56%、23.59%±15.53%、71.66%±12.68%、63.01%±12.8%,天堂草沟分别为,53.2%±5.57%、76.88%±11.99%、24.22%±9.85%、17.75%±6.6%、19.87%±11.69%、69.17%±11.17%、62.48%±13.04%。黑麦草沟在净化地表径流污染物方面整体优于天堂草沟,黑麦草更适宜在植草沟中使用。