LANDSCAPE‐SCALE ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TO RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS: PAST,PRESENT, AND FUTURE1

ABSTRACT: Analyses of cumulative impacts to riparian systems is an important yet elusive goal. Previous analyses have focused on comparing the number of hectares impacted to the number of hectares restored, without addressing the loss of riparian function or the effect of the spatial distribution of impacts. This paper presents an analysis of the spatial distribution of development‐related impacts to riparian ecosystems, that were authorized under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Impacts on habitat structure, contiguity, and landscape context were evaluated using functional indices scaled to regional reference sites. Impact sites were mapped using GIS and analyzed for spatial associations. Positive spatial autocorrelation (i.e. clustering of impact sites) resulted from the piecemeal approach to impact assessment, which failed to prevent cumulative impacts. Numerous small projects in close proximity have resulted in adverse impacts to entire stream reaches or have fragmented the aquatic resources to a point where overall functional capacity is impaired. Additionally, the ecological functions of unaffected areas have been diminished due to their proximity to degraded areas. A proactive approach to managing cumulative impacts is currently being used in Orange County, California as part of a Corps of Engineers sponsored Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). The SAMP process is evaluating the ecological conditions and physical processes of the study watersheds and attempting to plan future development in a manner that will guard against cumulative impacts.     

基于多种方法的长江上游小流域水质综合评价

选取大河和巴关河流域2018—2022年水质监测数据,运用单因子评价法、Spearman秩相关系数法、综合污染指数法和主成分分析法,对流域水质状况、变化趋势及主要污染物特征进行综合评价分析。结果表明:2018—2022年,大河流域水质未达到地表水Ⅲ类标准;流域整体综合污染指数超过了1,为重污染,下游污染程度较重;营养指标和有机污染物指标存在显著正相关。巴关河流域水质达到了地表水Ⅲ类标准;流域整体综合污染指数未超过1,为中污染,上游污染程度较重;营养指标、有机污染物指标和重金属指标等均呈现出不同程度的相关性。巴关河流域水质总体优于大河流域。TP、NH₃-N、COD_Mn、COD_Cr和BOD₅是影响大河流域和巴关河流域水质的主要因子,均属于有机型及富营养化污染指标,主要来自生活源和农业源。建议选择适宜的评价方法开展系统性小流域污染溯源,分河段有针对性地开展小流域水环境治理。     

中小企业安全生产“供求”与政府管制

从安全生产作为一种"公共产品"的视角,分析中小企业供给与需求状况,得出目前中小企业安全生产处于"供给低、需求低"的非正常状态,说明劳动力市场对安全供求的调节已经失灵;通过对安全管制下中小企业日常安全管理行动的调研,结合相关研究成果,说明中小企业安全生产管制存在"管制失灵";对安全生产管制存在的问题进行分析,并提出以完善安全生产法律法规体系为前提,以加强中小企业安全生产监管信息库建设为基础,以建立和完善中小企业安全生产三大机制为手段将中小企业安全生产引入良性发展轨道。     

Long‐Term Trends of Nutrients and Sediment from the Nontidal Chesapeake Watershed: An Assessment of Progress by River and Season

To assess historical loads of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and suspended sediment (SS) from the nontidal Chesapeake Bay watershed (NTCBW), we analyzed decadal seasonal trends of flow‐normalized loads at the fall‐line of nine major rivers that account for >90% of NTCBW flow. Evaluations of loads by season revealed N, P, and SS load magnitudes have been highest in January‐March and lowest in July‐September, but the temporal trends have followed similar decadal‐scale patterns in all seasons, with notable exceptions. Generally, total N (TN) load has dropped since the late 1980s, but particulate nutrients and SS have risen since the mid‐1990s. The majority of these rises were from Susquehanna River and relate to diminished net trapping at the Conowingo Reservoir. Substantial rises in SS were also observed, however, in other rivers. Moreover, the summed rise in particulate P load from other rivers is of similar magnitude as from Susquehanna. Dissolved nutrient loads have dropped in the upland (Piedmont and above) rivers, but risen in two small rivers in the Coastal Plain affected by lagged groundwater input. In addition, analysis of fractional contributions revealed consistent N trends across the upland watersheds. Finally, total N:total P ratios have declined in most rivers, suggesting the potential for changes in nutrient limitation. Overall, this integrated study of historical data highlights the value of maintaining long‐term monitoring at multiple watershed locations.     

Wetland Flowpaths Mediate Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations across the Upper Mississippi River Basin

Eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and human health impacts are critical environmental challenges resulting from excess nitrogen and phosphorus in surface waters. Yet we have limited information regarding how wetland characteristics mediate water quality across watershed scales. We developed a large, novel set of spatial variables characterizing hydrological flowpaths from wetlands to streams, that is, “wetland hydrological transport variables,” to explore how wetlands statistically explain the variability in total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations across the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB) in the United States. We found that wetland flowpath variables improved landscape-to-aquatic nutrient multilinear regression models (from R² = 0.89 to 0.91 for TN; R² = 0.53 to 0.84 for TP) and provided insights into potential processes governing how wetlands influence watershed-scale TN and TP concentrations. Specifically, flowpath variables describing flow-attenuating environments, for example, subsurface transport compared to overland flowpaths, were related to lower TN and TP concentrations. Frequent hydrological connections from wetlands to streams were also linked to low TP concentrations, which likely suggests a nutrient source limitation in some areas of the UMRB. Consideration of wetland flowpaths could inform management and conservation activities designed to reduce nutrient export to downstream waters.     

Assessing the Effectiveness of Winter Cover Crops for Controlling Agricultural Nutrient Losses

A nutrient loss reduction strategy is necessary to guide the efforts of improving water quality downstream of an agricultural watershed. In this study, the effectiveness of two winter cover crops, namely cereal rye and annual ryegrass, is explored as a loss reduction strategy in a watershed that ultimately drains into a water supply reservoir. Using a coupled optimization-watershed model, optimal placements of the cover crops were identified that would result in the tradeoffs between nitrate-N losses reduction and adoption levels. Analysis of the 10%, 25%, 50%, and 75% adoption levels extracted from the optimal tradeoffs showed that the cover crop placements would provide annual nitrate-N loss reductions of 3.0%–3.7%, 7.8%–8.8%, 15%–17.5%, and 20.9%–24.3%, respectively. In addition, for the same adoption levels (i.e., 10%–75%), sediment (1.8%–17.7%), and total phosphorus losses (0.8%–8.6%) could be achieved. Results also indicate that implementing each cover crop on all croplands of the watershed could cause annual water yield reduction of at least 4.8%, with greater than 28% in the months of October and November. This could potentially be detrimental to the storage volume of the downstream reservoir, especially in drought years, if cover crops are adopted in most of the reservoir's drainage area. Evaluating water yield impacts, particularly in periods of low flows, is thus critical if cover crops are to be considered as best management practices in water supply watersheds.     

A double‐edged sword: Realities of artisanal and small‐scale mining for rural people in the Alaotra region of Madagascar

A growing number of people are entering the artisanal and small‐scale mining (ASM) sector worldwide. In Madagascar, millions of individuals depend on this informal activity. Through a case study in the Alaotra‐Mangoro region of Madagascar, our research aimed to understand the “bottom‐up” dynamics and ripple effects of the sector, by looking at the realities for rural communities where inhabitants are both directly and indirectly affected by ASM. We were interested in community members' and miners' perceptions of the socio‐economic and environmental impacts of ASM, and in identifying the factors attracting people living in one of the country's agricultural hubs to this activity. Our results show a wide diversity of push and pull factors leading people to enter the sector. Although many positive impacts of ASM exist for miners and communities within the vicinity of mines, most miner participants considered themselves worse off since starting to mine, highlighting the high risk and low probability of return of ASM. ASM's potential for local and national development will remain squandered if its negative impacts continue to go unmanaged. Accounting for local contexts and the ripple effects of ASM will be crucial in achieving safety and security for miners, and to tap into the benefits it may offer communities while minimising environmental damage.     

北京山区植被恢复建设对流域径流量影响研究

植被恢复是山区保持水土资源、恢复生态环境的关键措施.为探究植被恢复对流域产水量的影响,以密云水库集水区红门川森林流域为研究对象,采用Mann-Kendall非参数趋势检验、基于分离评判原理的水文分析法、Zhang(2001)模型等方法,定量分析了1989－2009年间北京山区气候及森林变化对流域径流量的影响.研究结果表明:红门川流域年降水及产流性降水量在研究时段内均呈波动下降趋势(P>0.05);流域年径流呈显著性减少趋势,且年径流量在1998 年前后发生减少突变(P<0.01);气候变化对红门川流域径流减少贡献率为43%,植被恢复建设导致的森林数量及质量变化对流域径流减少贡献率为18.6%,其他人类活动影响贡献率为38.4%.综合比较得知,与植被恢复建设相比,降水减少对山区产水量减少影响更大.研究结果可为北京山区森林流域水土资源规划及管理提供参考.     

Treatment,residual chlorine and season as factors affecting variability of trihalomethanes in small drinking water systems

Seasonal variability in source water can lead to challenges for drinking water providers related to operational optimization and process control in treatment facilities. The objective of this study is to investigate seasonal variability of water quality in municipal small water systems (<3000 residents) supplied by surface waters. Residual chlorine and trihalomethanes (THM) were measured over seven years (2003–2009). Comparisons are made within each system over time, as well as between systems according to the type of their treatment technologies. THM concentrations are generally higher in the summer and autumn. The seasonal variability was generally more pronounced in systems using chlorination plus additional treatment. Chloroform, total THM (TTHM) and residual chlorine concentrations were generally lower in systems using chlorination plus additional treatment. Conversely, brominated THM concentrations were higher in systems using additional treatment. Residual chlorine was highest in the winter and lowest in the spring and summer. Seasonal variations were most pronounced for residual chlorine in systems with additional treatment. There was generally poor correlation between THM concentrations and concentrations of residual chlorine. Further study with these data will be beneficial in finding determinants and indicators for both quantity and variability of disinfection byproducts and other water quality parameters.     

陕北水蚀风蚀交错区小流域苔藓结皮的空间特征及其影响因子

生物结皮是旱区普遍存在的活性地被物,在生态系统中发挥重要的生态功能,研究其发育特征与形成机理是有效管理和利用该资源的基础。退耕还林（草）工程实施以来,黄土高原地区生物结皮大面积发育,但相比荒漠地区,相关的研究工作还较薄弱。生物结皮的发育具有过程的复杂性和空间的分异性,诸多荒漠地区的研究结果不能直接外推至黄土高原地区。鉴于此,论文选择黄土高原典型小流域,通过全面调查和测算分析,应用GIS 软件,探讨了生物结皮的空间特征及其影响因子。结果表明：①流域内藓类共有2 科8 属13 种,狭网真藓、真藓、尖叶对齿藓分布最广;②苔藓结皮占绝对优势,面积为4.18 km²,占流域面积的60.7%,主要分布在干扰少、侵蚀弱、水分好的梁峁坡或梁峁顶上;③土壤、植被、坡向均对苔藓结皮的发育有显著影响。同黄土地相比,沙地苔藓结皮的覆盖度高、呈连片分布。乔、灌植被下的生物结皮发育优于草本群落,植被盖度对苔藓结皮产生先促进后抑制的作用（拐点约在覆盖度30%处）。总体上,阴坡生物结皮的覆盖度、厚度均高于阳坡。