ROLE OF WATERSHED SUBDIVISION ON MODELING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITH SWAT1

Distributed parameter watershed models are often used for evaluating the effectiveness of various best management practices (BMPs). Streamflow, sediment, and nutrient yield predictions of a watershed model can be affected by spatial resolution as dictated by watershed subdivision. The objectives of this paper are to show that evaluation of BMPs using a model is strongly linked to the level of watershed subdivision; to suggest a methodology for identifying an appropriate subdivision level; and to examine the efficacy of different BMPs at field and watershed scales. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was calibrated and validated for streamflow, sediment, and nutrient yields at the outlet of the Dreisbach (623 ha) and Smith Fry (730 ha) watersheds in Maumee River Basin, Indiana. Grassed waterways, grade stabilization structures, field borders, and parallel terraces are the BMPs that were installed in the study area in the 1970s. Sediment and nutrient outputs from the calibrated model were compared at various watershed subdivision levels, both with and without implementation of these BMPs. Results for the study watersheds indicated that evaluation of the impacts of these BMPs on sediment and nutrient yields was very sensitive to the level of subdivision that was implemented in SWAT. An optimal watershed subdivision level for representation of the BMPs was identified through numerical simulations. For the study watersheds, it would appear that the average subwatershed area corresponding to approximately 4 percent of total watershed area is needed to represent the influence of these BMPs when using the SWAT model.     

小流域面源污染特征及其控制对策

水环境面源污染的严重性已受到国内外的普遍关注,其中小流域面源污染已成为面源污染问题研究的热点。文章系统的分析了小流域面源污染的发生机理和农业面源污染的特点,探讨了小流域面源污染对水环境的影响。并提出了小流域面源污染的控制对策。     

最佳管理措施对非点源污染控制效果的预测——以北京密云县太师屯镇为例

选取北京市密云水库上游太师屯镇为研究区,针对该区农业非点源污染特征,设计了最佳管理措施(BMPs).同时,在非点源污染损失估算的基础上,率先尝试从经济学角度预测8种不同非点源污染措施在控制氮、磷和泥沙流失的效果及所获得的环境效益、经济效益,并将各单项措施的控制效率进行了比较分析.研究结果表明：改变土地利用类型的3种措施中,25°以上荒草坡还林措施效果最好,对总氮、总磷、泥沙流失的控制效果都超过15%,最高可达30%以上,且经济效益最大;25°以上坡耕地还林效果次之,对总氮、总磷、泥沙流失的控制效果都超过5%,最高可达12%;15°~25°坡耕地变果园措施最差,对总氮、总磷、泥沙流失的控制效果一般为4%~8%.坡度为0°~15°坡耕地在土壤侵蚀控制中具有重要地位;坡耕地植物篱和保护性耕作对土壤侵蚀类非点源污染的控制效果相近,削减的污染损失占非点源污染损失总价值的13%,具有明显的环境效益.针对畜禽养殖污染设计的农村户用沼气池,其经济效率在10%左右;测土施肥技术可减少氮素流失、节约大量化肥,且削减的污染损失达到非点源污染损失总价值的19%.作为综合污染控制措施的河岸缓冲带,可以有效地拦截氮、磷和泥沙的流失,对泥沙的控制效果最好,为83%,对氮的控制效果最低,仅为27%;而从经济效益方面比较,缓冲带减少氮素流失所获得的经济效益最大,约为该措施总经济效益的56%,泥沙次之,占28%;植被缓冲带削减非点源污染的总经济效率最高,可达35%,折合经济价值约1.69×106元.     

DEM合成实验的优化设计

正交实验法就是一种研究多因子实验问题的重要数学方法,目前已在冶金,化工,橡胶,纺织,无线电,医药卫生等方面得到了广泛的应用。根据前人的试验总结出影响DEM合成产率的因素主要有反应时间,催化剂比例和原料配比。本文采用三因素三阶梯的正交表设计了的DEM合成实验方案,并根据该方案进行了9组实验（每组均包含2-3次平行实验）。由实验结果并根据正交实验的统计分析方法,分析了上述三因素对DEM产品含量的影响,确定了主要影响因素,并得到了最佳反应条件。     

Teaching industrial ecology and environmental management in Second Life

Second Life is a virtual, open-access, and user-generated environment that has served as a platform for hosting everything from rock concerts to scientific conferences. Many institutions have also used Second Life as an educational tool, for example by, showcasing scientific exhibits or embedding video and images for learning purposes. Here we discuss the creation and use of an interactive, virtual industrial facility - the Elihu Paper Company - as a way to complement a traditional facility tours in a course in industrial environmental management. Virtual facilities offer a number of educational advantages over real-life ones: they are always open and available for tours, they can be accessed instantaneously from anywhere where there is an adequate internet connection, and most importantly, tours and embedded information can be tailored to specific educational objectives. Our experience in using Elihu Paper as a formal facility visit for the past several years shows that students had significantly more time than usual to ask questions, could and did explore the facility independently, and were still able to produce facility reports that fulfilled the educational objectives of the visits, including mapping material flows and explaining pollution prevention and sustainability opportunities.     

前郭灌区居民发汞含量及影响因素研究

从第二松花江(二松)下游的前郭灌区内采集了120名居民的头发样品(发样),测定了发样中的总汞(发汞)含量,分析了人体汞累积的影响因素,评价了当地居民的汞暴露风险水平.结果表明,居民发汞含量为0.15～1.01mg/kg,平均含量为0.56mg/kg.其中,男性发汞平均含量为0.55mg/kg,略低于女性发汞平均含量(0.60mg/kg).随年龄的增长,居民发汞含量呈现先增长后降低的趋势.其中,低于20岁人群的发汞含量最低,平均值为0.47mg/kg;40～50岁人群发汞含量最高,平均值为0.73mg/kg;发汞含量与个体性别、身高、体重等生理特征及吸烟、饮酒、食鱼量等生活习惯的相关关系不显著.120份发样中,仅有1例发汞含量超过了美国环保局制定的参考剂量(RFD)限值(1.00mg/kg).本研究表明,目前二松下游居民的汞暴露风险水平已经很低,长期提取二松江水灌溉对当地居民健康未构成威胁.据此推断,以二松为主要水源的哈达山水库建成后,通过灌溉对当地居民健康造成的影响也较低.     

Optimization of process parameters using response surface methodology for bioconversion of activated sludge by Penicillium corylophilum

The optimization of process parameters for the bioconversion of activated sludge by Penicillium corylophilum was investigated using response surface methodology （RSM）. The three parameters namely temperature of 33℃, agitation of 150 r/min, and pH of 5 were chosen as center point from the previous study of fungal treatment. The experimental data on chemical oxygen demand （COD） removal （%） were fitted into a quadratic polynomial model using multiple regression analysis. The optimum process conditions were determined by analyzing response surface three-dimensional surface plot and contour plot and by solving the regression model equation with Design Expert software. Box-Behnken design technique under RSM was used to optimize their interactions, which showed that an incubation temperature of 32.5℃, agitation of 105 r/min, and pH of 5.5 were the best conditions. Under these conditions, the maximum predicted yield of COD removal was 98.43%. These optimum conditions were used to evaluate the trail experiment, and the maximum yield of COD removal was recorded as 98.5%.     

Agricultural BMP Effectiveness and Dominant Hydrological Flow Paths: Concepts and a Review

We present a conceptual framework that relates agricultural best management practice (BMP) effectiveness with dominant hydrological flow paths to improve nonpoint source (NPS) pollution management. We use the framework to analyze plot, field and watershed scale published studies on BMP effectiveness to develop transferable recommendations for BMP selection and placement at the watershed scale. The framework is based on the location of the restrictive layer in the soil profile and distinguishes three hydrologic land types. Hydrologic land type A has the restrictive layer at the surface and BMPs that increase infiltration are effective. In land type B1, the surface soil has an infiltration rate greater than the prevailing precipitation intensity, but there is a shallow restrictive layer causing lateral flow and saturation excess overland flow. Few structural practices are effective for these land types, but pollutant source management plans can significantly reduce pollutant loading. Hydrologic land type B2 has deep, well‐draining soils without restrictive layers that transport pollutants to groundwater via percolation. Practices that increased pollutant residence time in the mixing layer or increased plant water uptake were found as the most effective BMPs in B2 land types. Matching BMPs to the appropriate land type allows for better targeting of hydrologically sensitive areas within a watershed, and potentially more significant reductions of NPS pollutant loading.     

Assessing BMP Effectiveness and Guiding BMP Planning Using Process‐Based Modeling

There is an increasing need for improved process‐based planning tools to assist watershed managers in the selection and placement of effective best management practices (BMPs). In this article, we present an approach, based on the Water Erosion Prediction Project model and a pesticide transport model, to identify dominant hydrologic flow paths and critical source areas for a variety of pollutant types. We use this approach to compare the relative impacts of BMPs on hydrology, erosion, sediment, and pollutant delivery within different landscapes. Specifically, we focus on using this approach to understand what factors promoted and/or hindered BMP effectiveness at three Conservation Effects Assessment Project watersheds: Paradise Creek Watershed in Idaho, Walnut Creek Watershed in Iowa, and Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed in Missouri. These watersheds were first broken down into unique land types based on soil and topographic characteristics. We used the model to assess BMP effectiveness in each of these land types. This simple process‐based modeling approach provided valuable insights that are not generally available to planners when selecting and locating BMPs and helped explain fundamental reasons why long‐term improvement in water quality of these three watersheds has yet to be completely realized.     

Implementing Innovative Drainage Management Practices in the Mississippi River Basin to Enhance Nutrient Reductions

In the Mississippi River Basin (MRB), practices that enhance drainage (e.g., channelization, tile drainage) are necessary management tools in order to maintain optimal agricultural production in modern farming systems. However, these practices facilitate, and may speed the delivery of excess nutrients and sediments to downstream water bodies via agricultural streams and ditches. These nonpoint sources contribute to elevated nutrient loading in the Gulf of Mexico, which has been linked to widespread hypoxia and associated ecological and economic problems. Research suggests agricultural drainage ditches are important links between farm fields and downstream ecosystems, and application of new management practices may play an important role in the mitigation of water quality impairments from agricultural watersheds. In this article, we describe how researchers and producers in the MRB are implementing and validating novel best management practices (BMPs) that if used in tandem could provide producers with continued cropping success combined with improved environmental protection. We discuss three BMPs — low‐grade weirs, slotted inlet pipes, and the two‐stage ditch. While these new BMPs have improved the quality of water leaving agricultural landscapes, they have been validated solely in isolation, at opposite ends of the MRB. These BMPs have similar function and would greatly benefit from stacked incorporation across the MRB to the benefit of the basin as a whole.