COST EFFECTIVENESS OF VEGETATIVE FILTER STRIPS AND INSTREAM HALF‐LOGS FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION1

ABSTRACT: This paper presents the results of cost effectiveness (CE) analysis of vegetative filter strips (VFS) and instream half‐logs as tools for recovering scores on a fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) in the upper Wabash River watershed (UW) in Indiana. Three assumptions were made about recovery time for IBI scores (5,15, and 30 years) and social discount rates (1, 3, and 5 percent), which were tested for sensitivity of the estimated CE ratios. Effectiveness of VFS was estimated using fish IBIs and riparian forest cover from 49 first‐order to fifth‐order stream reaches. Half‐log structures had been installed for approximately two years in the UW prior to the study and provided a basis for estimates of cost and maintenance. Cost effectiveness ratios for VFS decreased from $387 to $277 per 100 m for a 1 percent increase in IBI scores from first‐to fifth‐order streams with 3 percent discount and 30‐year recovery. This cost weighted by proportion of stream orders was $360. The ratio decreased with decreasing time of recovery and discount rate. Based on installation costs and an assumption of equal recovery rates, half‐logs were two‐thirds to one‐half as cost‐effective as VFS. Half‐logs would be a cost‐effective supplement to VFS in low order streams if they can be proven to recover IBI scores faster than VFS do. This study provides baseline data and a framework for planning and determining the cost of stream restoration.     

Inconsistent seasonal variation of antibiotics between surface water and groundwater in the Jianghan Plain: Risks and linkage to land uses

Antibiotics are widely used in humans and animals, but their transformation from surface water to groundwater and the impact of land uses on them remain unclear. In this study, 14 antibiotics were systematically surveyed in a complex agricultural area in Central China. Results indicated that the selected antibiotic concentrations in surface waters were higher in winter (average: 32.7 ng/L) than in summer (average: 17.9 ng/L), while the seasonal variation in groundwaters showed an opposite trend (2.2 ng/L in dry winter vs. 8.0 ng/L in summer). Macrolides were the predominant antibiotics in this area, with a detected frequency of over 90%. A significant correlation between surface water and groundwater antibiotics was only observed in winter (R² = 0.58). This study further confirmed the impact of land uses on these contaminants, with optimal buffer radii of 2500 m in winter and 500 m in summer. Risk assessment indicated that clarithromycin posed high risks in this area. Overall, this study identified the spatiotemporal variability of antibiotics in a typical agricultural area in Central China and revealed the impact of land uses on antibiotic pollution in aquatic environments.     

Cropland Riparian Buffers throughout Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Spatial Patterns and Effects on Nitrate Loads Delivered to Streams

We used statistical models to provide the first empirical estimates of riparian buffer effects on the cropland nitrate load to streams throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. For each of 1,964 subbasins, we quantified the 1990 prevalence of cropland and riparian buffers. Cropland was considered buffered if the topographic flow path connecting it to a stream traversed a streamside forest or wetland. We applied a model that predicts stream nitrate concentration based on physiographic province and the watershed proportions of unbuffered and buffered cropland. We used another model to predict annual streamflow based on precipitation and temperature, and then multiplied the predicted flows and concentrations to estimate 1990 annual nitrate loads. Across the entire Chesapeake watershed, croplands released 92.3 Gg of nitrate nitrogen, but 19.8 Gg of that was removed by riparian buffers. At most, 29.4 Gg more might have been removed if buffer gaps were restored so that all cropland was buffered. The other 43.1 Gg of cropland load cannot be addressed with riparian buffers. The Coastal Plain physiographic province provided 52% of the existing buffer reduction of Bay‐wide nitrate loads and 36% of potential additional removal from buffer restoration in cropland buffer gaps. Existing and restorable nitrate removal in buffers were lower in the other three major provinces because of less cropland, lower buffer prevalence, and lower average buffer nitrate removal efficiency.     

Effects of riparian land use on water quality and fish communities in the headwater stream of the Taizi River in China

Riparian land use remains one of the most significant impacts on stream ecosystems. This study focuses on the relationship between stream ecosystems and riparian land use in headwater regions. Four riparian land types including forest, grassland, farmland, and residential land were examined to reveal the correlation between stream water and fish communities in headwater streams of the Taizi River in north-eastern China. Four land types along riparian of 3 km in length were evaluated at 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 m widths, respectively. Generally, the results found a significant relationship between riparian land uses and stream water quality. Grassland was positively correlated with water quality parameters (conductivity and total dissolved solids) at scales from 100 to 500 m riparian width. Farmland and residential land was negatively correlated with water quality parameters at scales from 25 to 500 m and from 50 to 200 m riparian widths, respectively. Although the riparian forest is important for maintaining habitat diversity and fish communities, the results found that only fish communities were significantly correlated with the proportion of riparian farmland. Farmland had a positive correlation with individual fish abundance within a riparian corridor of 25 to 50 m, but a negative correlation with fish diversity metrics from 25 to 100 m. This study indicates that effective riparian management can improve water quality and fish communities in headwater streams.     

凌钢冷轧带钢厂酸洗车间环境治理

对凌钢冷带酸洗线环保方面存在主要问题进行了详细分析,针对不同污染源具体状况,对治理方法分别进行了阐述,对国内中小型带钢酸洗线的环境治理提供了借鉴。     

基于GIS的耕地定级方法及其应用

根据模糊数学和多元统计分析原理,建立了一个定量的耕地定级方法,并以湖北省鄂州市进行了实例说明,从而为该地区耕地的合理利用与管理提供依据,有利于实现耕地资源的信息共享和城乡土地市场一体化的建立。首先采用灰色关联分析法筛选定级因子,层次分析法确定相应的权系数;矢量化相关图层并提取农贸中心和道路作缓冲区分析后,采用多边形法确定耕地评价单元;通过采用不同的分值函数对因子属性值进行标准化;最后采用综合指数模型计算定级指数并根据聚类分析法将鄂州市耕地划分为5级,利用ArcGIS实现定级结果图的输出。定级结果表明：鄂州市耕地质量中等偏上,以二、三级地为主,共占74.78 %,该评价结果基本符合实际,同时利用GIS引入缓冲区分析方法来获取部分评价因子数据,提高了评价结果的准确性。     

电梯部件错误安装的危害

通过检验案例发现的隐患,阐述了安全部件在电梯运行中的重要性。对安全部件安装过程中存在的问题,分析了失效原因以及存在的问题,提出了解决方法。     

Impact of Vegetative Cover on Runoff and Soil Erosion at Hillslope Scale in Lanjaron, Spain

Soil loss and surface runoff patterns over a four-year period (1997–2000) were studied in erosion plots from three hillslopes under different vegetative covers (Rosmarinus officinalis, Triticum aestivum and natural-spontaneous vegetation) in Lanjaron (Alpujarras) on the south flank of the Sierra Nevada of southeast Spain. The erosion plots were located on the hillslopes at 35.5% incline, at 1,480 m in altitude and with 41.8 m² (21 m×1.9 m) in area. The vegetative covers were tested for effectiveness in controlling the surface runoff and soil loss production. The highest runoff and erosion values, ranging from 114.1 to 1.7 mmyr^–1 and from 14,564.3 to 6.6 kgha^–1yr^–1, respectively, over the entire study period, were measured under the Triticum aestivum. In the Rosmarinus officinalis, runoff ranged from 7.9 to 1.3 mmyr^–1 and erosion from 156.4 to 2.3 kgha^–1yr^–1, while on the hillslope under natural-spontaneous vegetation, runoff ranged from 4.4 to 0.9 mmyr^–1 and erosion from 322.3 to 2.2 kgha^–1yr^–1. According to the results the vegetative covers of Rosmarinus officinalis and natural-spontaneous vegetation reduced the soil losses by 99 and 98%, with respect to the Triticum aestivum, and the runoff losses by 94 and 96%, respectively. Also, the Rosmarinus officinalis and natural-spontaneous plants influenced infiltration by intercepting much of the rainfall water respect to the Triticum aestivum. Monitoring allowed more direct linkages to be made between management practices and their impacts on runoff and soil erosion, thereby enabling to identify problems and take appropriate preventive measures to improve the management practices.     

Techniques to Reduce the Impact of Asulam Drift from Helicopter Sprayers on Native Vegetation

Asulam is often applied from the air to control bracken. This herbicide affects other ferns and spray drift could affect their survival. This paper discusses the use of bioassays to assess drift (a) spatially around a single bracken patch, (b) downwind from sprayed areas, and (c) spatially in undulating terrain and with different vegetation cover types. The aims were to develop policies to protect sensitive habitats. It is suggested that “no-spray” buffer zones in excess of 160–180 m are needed to minimise risk. Protection of rare ferns from overstorey vegetation or from steep slopes did not occur. Although less drift was found upwind there was significant damage at the end of the helicopter runs because of errors in switching the sprayer on and off.     

WATER-ENERGY CONFLICTS IN MONTANA'S YELLOWSTONE RIVER BASIN1

ABSTRACT The abundant, high-quality waters of the Yellowstone River Basin have fostered a strong agricultural-based economy in eastern Montana. The region also contains the nation's largest strippable coal reserves. Numerous conflicts have developed around the mining of coal and in-state conversion of coal into electricity and synthetic fuels – processes that require large volumes of water. Competition for water among industrialists, agriculturalists, and others is a critical state issue. Probable effects of increased water diversions, the nature of water-energy conflicts, and state efforts to control development are discussed.