Assessing Landscape Condition Relative to Water Resources in the Western United States: A Strategic Approach

The Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) is proposing an ambitious agenda to assess the status of streams and estuaries in a 12-State area of the western United States by the end of 2003. Additionally, EMAP is proposing to access landscape conditions as they relate to stream and estuary conditions across the west. The goal of this landscape project is to develop a landscape model that can be used to identify the relative risks of streams and estuaries to potential declines due to watershed-scale, landscape conditions across the west. To do so, requires an understanding of quantitative relationships between landscape composition and pattern metrics and parameters of stream and estuary conditions. This paper describes a strategic approach for evaluating the degree to which landscape composition and pattern influence stream and estuary condition, and the development and implementation of a spatially-distributed, landscape analysis approach.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF INORGANIC PARTICLES IN SELECTED RESERVOIRS AND TRIBUTARIES OF THE NEW YORK CITY WATER SUPPLY1

ABSTRACT: Individual particle analysis (IPA) by scanning electron microscopy interfaced with automated image and X‐ray analyses was used to characterize inorganic particles in five reservoirs and four tributaries located within the Catskill and Delaware systems of the New York City water supply. Individual particle analysis provides combined elemental and morphologic characterizations. Results are presented in terms of particle projected area per unit volume (PAV), consistent with optical impacts, and partitioned into seven generic particle types according to composition. Minerals of terrigenous origins, particularly clay minerals, dominated the inorganic particle populations of all the study systems except one downstream reservoir. Higher PAV levels were observed in the Catskill system. Particle dynamics represented by PAV were driven primarily by runoff, while the reservoirs were also greatly influenced by the timing of sediment resuspension promoted by drawdown of the surface and fall mixing. The benefit of the serial configuration of the reservoirs in decreasing inorganic particles with progression downstream towards the city is demonstrated. The patterns in PAV levels among the study systems generally tracked those of more common metrics of impacts of suspensoids, including mass concentrations of suspended solids, turbidity, and Secchi disc transparency.     

METHODOLOGIES FOR CALIBRATION AND PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS OF A WATERSHED MODEL1

ABSTRACT: The use of a fitted parameter watershed model to address water quantity and quality management issues requires that it be calibrated under a wide range of hydrologic conditions. However, rarely does model calibration result in a unique parameter set. Parameter nonuniqueness can lead to predictive nonuniqueness. The extent of model predictive uncertainty should be investigated if management decisions are to be based on model projections. Using models built for four neighboring watersheds in the Neuse River Basin of North Carolina, the application of the automated parameter optimization software PEST in conjunction with the Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran (HSPF) is demonstrated. Parameter nonuniqueness is illustrated, and a method is presented for calculating many different sets of parameters, all of which acceptably calibrate a watershed model. A regularization methodology is discussed in which models for similar watersheds can be calibrated simultaneously. Using this method, parameter differences between watershed models can be minimized while maintaining fit between model outputs and field observations. In recognition of the fact that parameter nonuniqueness and predictive uncertainty are inherent to the modeling process, PEST's nonlinear predictive analysis functionality is then used to explore the extent of model predictive uncertainty.     

Boosted Regression Tree Models to Explain Watershed Nutrient Concentrations and Biological Condition

Boosted regression tree (BRT) models were developed to quantify the nonlinear relationships between landscape variables and nutrient concentrations in a mesoscale mixed land cover watershed during base‐flow conditions. Factors that affect instream biological components, based on the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), were also analyzed. Seasonal BRT models at two spatial scales (watershed and riparian buffered area [RBA]) for nitrite‐nitrate (NO₂‐NO₃), total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and total phosphorus (TP) and annual models for the IBI score were developed. Two primary factors — location within the watershed (i.e., geographic position, stream order, and distance to a downstream confluence) and percentage of urban land cover (both scales) — emerged as important predictor variables. Latitude and longitude interacted with other factors to explain the variability in summer NO₂‐NO₃ concentrations and IBI scores. BRT results also suggested that location might be associated with indicators of sources (e.g., land cover), runoff potential (e.g., soil and topographic factors), and processes not easily represented by spatial data indicators. Runoff indicators (e.g., Hydrological Soil Group D and Topographic Wetness Indices) explained a substantial portion of the variability in nutrient concentrations as did point sources for TP in the summer months. The results from our BRT approach can help prioritize areas for nutrient management in mixed‐use and heavily impacted watersheds.     

THE VULNERABILITY OF WETLANDS TO CLIMATE CHANGE: A HYDROLOGIC LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVE1

ABSTRACT: The vulnerability of wetlands to changes in climate depends on their position within hydrologic landscapes. Hydrologic landscapes are defined by the flow characteristics of ground water and surface water and by the interaction of atmospheric water, surface water, and ground water for any given locality or region. Six general hydrologic landscapes are defined; mountainous, plateau and high plain, broad basins of interior drainage, riverine, flat coastal, and hummocky glacial and dune. Assessment of these landscapes indicate that the vulnerability of all wetlands to climate change fall between two extremes: those dependent primarily on precipitation for their water supply are highly vulnerable, and those dependent primarily on discharge from regional ground water flow systems are the least vulnerable, because of the great buffering capacity of large ground water flow systems to climate change.     

山西省太谷县农业水环境地域划分研究

采用D8算法的典型方法,使用ArcGIS对DEM进行一系列数据分析,对太谷县水环境地域划分进行了研究。首先科学判断并纠正DEM数据,其次计算无洼地水流流向、汇流累积量,再次提取河网和分析特征。结果得出了太谷县29类集水区,并划分了7类农业水环境地域分布区：高集水区、较高集水区、一般集水区、较低集水区、低集水区、空集水区、非集水区,进而可划分出太谷县五大特色农业地域布局。     

WATERSHED FUNCTIONS1

ABSTRACT: Watershed functions that dominate the hydrologic environment are identified and discussed. Hydrological and ecological functions are considered in relation to the storm and annual hydrographs, and to water quality. Two integrative watershed responses to these functions are also articulated. Since most of the Earth's water is in storage, consideration of the hydrologic cycle as movement between water storage sites enhances this functional and response characterization of the watershed which, in turn, suggests guidance and direction for the restoration of watershed functions.     

流域水质时空分布特征及其影响因素初析

选取闽东南九龙江流域21个典型小流域开展2010年丰(8月)、平(11月)、枯(2月)3个水期的基流水质监测,并借助GIS、多元统计分析方法识别流域水质的时空分布特征及其影响因素,为九龙江流域水质监测、管理与控制提供依据.结果表明,九龙江水质枯水期最差,平水期次之,丰水期水质较好.表征生活污水、工业废水的污染因子对水质变化的贡献率为45.58%,表征农业污染的主成分的贡献率为21.28%.NH4+-N、SRP、高锰酸盐指数、K+、Cl-、Mg2+、Na+浓度与建设用地比例、人口密度呈显著的正相关,NO3--N浓度与耕地比例有显著的正相关,自然用地面积比例与NO3--N、K+、Cl-、Na+浓度有显著的负相关.建设用地比例较大、人口较密集的小流域NH4+-N、SRP、高锰酸盐指数、K+、Cl-的浓度较高,耕地比例较大的小流域NO3--N浓度则较高.在流域水质管理上,建议提高污水处理率,并重视由于化肥施用导致的农业非点源污染对水质的影响.     

水功能区划的问题识别及相应对策

总结和评价了现行水功能区划存在的3方面问题:尚未落实流域综合管理模式;以人类用水功能需求为区划基础,未考虑水生态系统的需水要求;管理目标体系不完整,忽视水资源、水环境与水生态之间的耦合关系与近中远期的动态调控.在此基础上,结合流域管理、综合水资源管理、水生态系统完整性评价、水生态服务功能和生态环境需水等理论或方法,提出补充现行水功能区划的3个协调对策:构建“源头控制”的流域综合管理模式;协调人类需求用水功能与水生态需求功能;形成“水资源-水环境-水生态”三位一体和近中远期动态调控相结合的综合管理目标体系.     

不同流域水陆过渡带氮磷有效态的特征对比及环境意义

为了解不同流域水陆过渡带氮磷的分布特征及其环境意义,对闽江上游、太湖西部和洪泽湖西部这3个研究区土壤及沉积物氮磷的总量和有效态特征进行了研究,分析了自然环境与人类活动方式对区域环境差异的影响.结果表明,太湖西部研究区土壤氮磷总量均高于其他两个流域,洪泽湖西部研究区沉积物氮磷含量均高于土壤.研究区有效态氮磷的分布趋势整体与总氮总磷分布趋势一致,太湖西部与洪泽湖西部的有效态氮磷占比高于闽江上游流域,沉积物有效态氮磷占比高于土壤.土壤及沉积物理化性质如pH值、有机质及铁铝氧化物对氮磷元素及其有效态的影响较大,但不同流域的影响程度存在差异.不同流域的自然环境及人类活动方式明显影响了滨岸带氮磷的分布,人类活动方式对氮磷形态的影响更为显著.