Characterization of Storm Flow Dynamics of Headwater Streams in the South Carolina Lower Coastal Plain1

Epps, Thomas H., Daniel R. Hitchcock, Anand D. Jayakaran, Drake R. Loflin, Thomas M. Williams, and Devendra M. Amatya, 2012. Characterization of Storm Flow Dynamics of Headwater Streams in the South Carolina Lower Coastal Plain. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐14. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12000 Abstract: Hydrologic monitoring was conducted in two first‐order lower coastal plain watersheds in South Carolina, United States, a region with increasing growth and land use change. Storm events over a three‐year period were analyzed for direct runoff coefficients (ROC) and the total storm response (TSR) as percent rainfall. ROC calculations utilized an empirical hydrograph separation method that partitioned total streamflow into sustained base flow and direct runoff components. ROC ratios ranged from 0 to 0.32 on the Upper Debidue Creek (UDC) watershed and 0 to 0.57 on Watershed 80 (WS80); TSR results ranged from 0 to 0.93 at UDC and 0.01 to 0.74 at WS80. Variability in event runoff generation was attributed to seasonal trends in water table elevation fluctuation as regulated by evapotranspiration. Groundwater elevation breakpoints for each watershed were identified based on antecedent water table elevation, streamflow, ROCs, and TSRs. These thresholds represent the groundwater elevation above which event runoff generation increased sharply in response to rainfall. For effective coastal land use decision making, baseline watershed hydrology must be understood to serve as a benchmark for management goals, based on both seasonal and event‐based surface and groundwater interactions.     

Curve Number Derivation for Watersheds Draining Two Headwater Streams in Lower Coastal Plain South Carolina,USA

The objective of this study was to assess curve number (CN) values derived for two forested headwater catchments in the Lower Coastal Plain (LCP) of South Carolina using a three‐year period of storm event rainfall and runoff data in comparison with results obtained from CN method calculations. Derived CNs from rainfall/runoff pairs ranged from 46 to 90 for the Upper Debidue Creek (UDC) watershed and from 42 to 89 for the Watershed 80 (WS80). However, runoff generation from storm events was strongly related to water table elevation, where seasonally variable evapotranspirative wet and dry moisture conditions persist. Seasonal water table fluctuation is independent of, but can be compounded by, wet conditions that occur as a result of prior storm events, further complicating flow prediction. Runoff predictions for LCP first‐order watersheds do not compare closely to measured flow under the average moisture condition normally associated with the CN method. In this study, however, results show improvement in flow predictions using CNs adjusted for antecedent runoff conditions and based on water table position. These results indicate that adaptations of CN model parameters are required for reliable flow predictions for these LCP catchments with shallow water tables. Low gradient topography and shallow water table characteristics of LCP watersheds allow for unique hydrologic conditions that must be assessed and managed differently than higher gradient watersheds.     

Factors Affecting Stream Nutrient Loads: A Synthesis of Regional SPARROW Model Results for the Continental United States1

Preston, Stephen D., Richard B. Alexander, Gregory E. Schwarz, and Charles G. Crawford, 2011. Factors Affecting Stream Nutrient Loads: A Synthesis of Regional SPARROW Model Results for the Continental United States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(5):891‐915. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00577.x Abstract: We compared the results of 12 recently calibrated regional SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes) models covering most of the continental United States to evaluate the consistency and regional differences in factors affecting stream nutrient loads. The models – 6 for total nitrogen and 6 for total phosphorus – all provide similar levels of prediction accuracy, but those for major river basins in the eastern half of the country were somewhat more accurate. The models simulate long‐term mean annual stream nutrient loads as a function of a wide range of known sources and climatic (precipitation, temperature), landscape (e.g., soils, geology), and aquatic factors affecting nutrient fate and transport. The results confirm the dominant effects of urban and agricultural sources on stream nutrient loads nationally and regionally, but reveal considerable spatial variability in the specific types of sources that control water quality. These include regional differences in the relative importance of different types of urban (municipal and industrial point vs. diffuse urban runoff) and agriculture (crop cultivation vs. animal waste) sources, as well as the effects of atmospheric deposition, mining, and background (e.g., soil phosphorus) sources on stream nutrients. Overall, we found that the SPARROW model results provide a consistent set of information for identifying the major sources and environmental factors affecting nutrient fate and transport in United States watersheds at regional and subregional scales.     

基于氮磷指数的小流域氮磷流失风险评价

识别区域氮磷流失综合风险分布状况并对氮磷流失进行综合调控是控制非点源污染的有效措施。但传统的研究往往局限于氮或磷流失风险的单独评估和调控,以密云水库沿湖集约化农区东庄小流域为例,应用氮指数、磷指数及氮磷综合指数法,对区域氮磷流失风险进行综合评价。结果表明：流域氮、磷流失风险总体上较小,80%以上的区域均处于氮、磷流失的无风险或低风险区,但氮、磷流失的空间分布存在较大差异。其中氮流失的高度风险区集中在山地中土壤侵蚀指数较大的果园;而磷流失的高风险区域主要分布在河流沿岸的农业用地。氮磷综合风险指数显示,93.1%的区域处于无风险和低风险区,中度以上风险区占总面积的6.9%,主要集中在流域中部有着较高的肥料施用、地势陡峭且处在河流沿岸的农业用地或山地中。单独考虑氮指数或磷指数都难以反映区域氮磷流失的综合风险状况,容易忽略磷指数高氮指数低、氮指数高和磷指数低以及氮、磷风险在中等的区域。因此,在氮、磷流失风险评估基础上,进行氮磷流失风险的综合评价,可为氮磷流失的综合调控提供指导。     

小流域面源污染减控措施优化管理

以长春市重要饮用水源地石头口门水库的莫家沟小流域为研究区,选择横垄耕作、修建梯田、退耕还林、化肥减施和人工湿地5种措施进行磷素削减处理,共计21个措施组合方案;以实施措施的费用最小为目标函数,以水库水质TP浓度和采用不同措施的土地面积为约束条件,建立小流域出口水质优化管理模型。模拟计算3个阶段的可行性最优方案分别为:2011—2020年,选取措施为施肥量不变,现状梯田面积不变,坡度≤5°的耕地采取横垄耕作,其他退耕还林;2021—2030年,在第一阶段实施方案的基础上,新建人工湿地0.03 km2;2031—2050年,全部农田原位退耕还林,保持人工湿地面积不变,最终实现入库水质ρ(TP)≤0.01 mg.L-1的目标。化肥减施和梯田建设面积是影响方案选择的主要因素。     

基于典型案例的流域规划环评管理成效评估

为提高流域规划环评的有效性,评估流域规划环评的管理成效并分析存在的问题和短板,在总结我国流域规划环评发展状况的基础上,收集并分析了2014～2019年经国家环保部门审查的25个涉及长江、黄河、珠江三大流域的典型案例,从改善环境质量、保障生态安全、维系生态功能和促进绿色发展等4个方面,选取16项评价指标分级打分,并通过MATLAB软件建立BP神经网络,提取各指标贡献度,分析流域规划环评成效和不足.结果显示,受评案例共优化水资源配置保障环境用水逾20亿m³,减少向主要河流排放污染物约20万t;降低流域开发规模调整规划水利工程方案223个,保留了411km天然河段;为保护野生动植物及其生境建议取消水电开发项目122个,避让了43个环境敏感区,但在推动绿色转型发展方面仍相对不足.建议围绕提高环评质量,加强环评成果落实,推动流域生态保护和高质量发展等方面,进一步完善流域规划环评管理.     

RELATION OF NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS TO BASEFLOW IN THE RACCOON RIVER,IOWA1

ABSTRACT: Excessive nitrate‐nitrogen (nitrate) export from the Raccoon River in west central Iowa is an environmental concern to downstream receptors. The 1972 to 2000 record of daily streamflow and the results from 981 nitrate measurements were examined to describe the relation of nitrate to streamflow in the Raccoon River. No long term trends in streamflow and nitrate concentrations were noted in the 28‐year record. Strong seasonal patterns were evident in nitrate concentrations, with higher concentrations occurring in spring and fall. Nitrate concentrations were linearly related to streamflow at daily, monthly, seasonal, and annual time scales. At all time scales evaluated, the relation was improved when baseflow was used as the discharge variable instead of total streamflow. Nitrate concentrations were found to be highly stratified according to flow, but there was little relation of nitrate to streamflow within each flow range. Simple linear regression models developed to predict monthly mean nitrate concentrations explained as much as 76 percent of the variability in the monthly nitrate concentration data for 2001. Extrapolation of current nitrate baseflow relations to historical conditions in the Raccoon River revealed that increasing baseflow over the 20th century could account for a measurable increase in nitrate concentrations.     

艾比湖流域不同植物群落土壤呼吸研究

利用开路式土壤碳通量测量系统LI-8100测定艾比湖流域4种植物群落土壤呼吸速率日变化,分析土壤温度、湿度和气温以及空气相对湿度对土壤呼吸速率的影响.结果表明:胡杨、梭梭、芦苇和盐节木4种植物群落的土壤呼吸速率日变化基本呈单峰曲线.胡杨、梭梭和盐节木群落的土壤呼吸速率与地上10 和150 cm处气温均表现为极显著相关.除芦苇群落外,各植物群落土壤呼吸速率与不同深度土壤温度呈极显著负相关.除沙地梭梭群落外,胡杨、盐渍地梭梭、芦苇和盐节木群落的土壤呼吸速率与地上10和150 cm处的空气相对湿度均呈极显著负相关.不同植物群落土壤呼吸速率与土壤湿度呈极显著负相关.多元逐步回归拟合的回归模型均达极显著水平,由土壤温度和湿度共同拟合出的回归模型能够解释土壤呼吸速率变化87%以上的原因.不同植物群落土壤呼吸差异原因的分析显示,细菌、真菌、放线菌以及根系干质量不是造成植物群落土壤呼吸差异的主要原因.      

LONG‐TERM CHANGES IN REGIONAL HYDROLOGIC REGIME FOLLOWING IMPOUNDMENT IN A HUMID‐CLIMATE WATERSHED1

ABSTRACT: We analyzed the type of hydrologic adjustments resulting from flow regulation across a range of dam types, distributed throughout the Connecticut River watershed, using two approaches: (1) the Index of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) and (2) log‐Pearson Type III flood frequency analysis. We applied these analyses to seven rivers that have extensive pre‐and post‐disturbance flow records and to six rivers that have only long post‐regulation flow records. Lastly, we analyzed six unregulated streams to establish the regional natural flow regime and to test whether it has changed significantly over time in the context of an increase in forest cover from less than 20 percent historically to greater than 80 percent at present. We found significant hydrologic adjustments associated with both impoundments and land use change. On average, maximum peak flows decrease by 32 percent in impounded rivers, but the effect decreases with increasing flow duration. One‐day minimum low flows increase following regulation, except for the hydro‐electric facility on the mainstem. Hydrograph reversals occur more commonly now on the mainstem, but the tributary flood control structures experience diminished reversals. Major shifts in flood frequency occur with the largest effect occurring downstream of tributary flood control impoundments and less so downstream of the mainstem's hydroelectric facility. These overall results indicate that the hydrologic impacts of dams in humid environments can be as significant as those for large, multiple‐purpose reservoirs in more arid environments.     

TECIIMQUES FOR DETECTING HYDROLOGIC CHANGE IN HIGH RESOURCE STREAMS1

ABSTRACT: A “synthetic paired basin” technique that combines hydrologic monitoring and watershed modeling proves to be a useful tool in detecting hydrologic change in creeks draining basins undergoing urbanization. In this approach, measured stream flow following subbasin treatment (a period of urbanization) is compared with flow from a control subbasin over the same time period. The control subbasin is the pretreatment subbasin itself as represented by a well‐calibrated hydrologic model that is input with post‐treatment meteorological data. The technique is illustrated for stream monitoring sites at the outlets of two high‐resource sub‐basins in the Bear Creek basin of King County, Washington. Application of this technique holds promise to provide earlier warning of cumulative, human impacts on aquatic resources and to better inform adaptive watershed management for resource protection.