An accelerated laboratory study evaluating the disintegration rates of plastic films in simulated aquatic environments

Six plastic films were exposed to accelerated sunlight while in simulated aquatic environments to determine the effects of chemical composition and environment on the disintegration rates. An environment of UV light/no water was used as a control to determine if the microorganisms in the aquatic systems enhanced the breakdown of the plastic films. The disintegration rate of the plastics was determined by monitoring changes in selected physical properties. The plastics included two conventional plastics commonly used in packaging (LDPE and polystyrene) and four plastics enhanced to have more rapid breakdown in the environment (2% ECO, 10% ECO, PE with ketone graft, and PE with starch). The two ECO copolymers had a significantly faster loss of physical properties than the other plastics evaluated in this study. Degradation was influenced by environmental conditions. Those plastics that showed a change in physical properties had a greater change faster in the UV light/no water than in the environments where water was present. Plastics on the surface of the water showed a more rapid loss of properties than those samples partially or completely submerged. This can be attributed to decreased light intensity and the lack of heat buildup.     

Role of refugia in recovery from disturbances: Modern fragmented and disconnected river systems

Habitats or environmental factors that convey spatial and temporal resistance and/or resilience to biotic communities that have been impacted by biophysical disturbances may be called refugia. Most refugia in rivers are characterized by extensive coupling of the main channel with adjacent streamside forests, floodplain features, and groundwater. These habitats operate at different spatial scales, from localized particles, to channel units such as pools and riffles, to reaches and longer sections, and at the basin level. A spatial hierarchy of different physical components of a drainage network is proposed to provide a context for different refugia. Examples of refugia operating at different spatial scales, such as pools, large woody debris, floodplains, below dams, and catchment basins are discussed. We hope that the geomorphic context proposed for examining refugia habitats will assist in the conservation of pristine areas and attributes of river systems and also allow a better understanding of rehabilitation needs in rivers that have been extensively altered.     

A regional framework for establishing recovery criteria

Effective assessments of aquatic ecosystem recovery require ecologically sound endpoints against which progress can be measured. Site-by-site assessments of end points and potential recovery trajectories are impractical for water resource agencies. Because of the natural variation among ecosystems, applying a single set of criteria nationwide is not appropriate either. This article demonstrates the use of a regional framework for stratifying natural variation and for determining realistic biological criteria. A map of ecoregions, drawn from landscape characteristics, formed the framework for three statewide case studies and three separate studies at the river basin scale. Statewide studies of Arkansas, Ohio, and Oregon, USA, streams demonstrated patterns in fish assemblages corresponding to ecoregions. The river basin study in Oregon revealed a distinct change at the ecoregion boundary; those in Ohio and Montana demonstrated the value of regional reference sites for assessing recovery. Ecoregions can be used to facilitate the application of ecological theory and to set recovery criteria for various regions of states or of the country. Such a framework provides an important alternative between site-specific and national approaches for assessing recovery rates and conditions.     

ASSESSING POTENTIAL SOURCES OF ASBESTOS FIBERS IN WATER SUPPLIES OF S. E. QUEBEC1

ABSTRACT: A comparative study of the concentration of asbestos fibers in drinking water supplies of southeastern Quebec was undertaken to assess the relative contributions of fibers by asbestos-bearing railway ballast and naturally occurring asbestos deposits. Water samples were taken from areas where one or the other potential sources or neither potential source was present. In addition, rainwater samples were taken to assess the importance of atmospheric contributions. The sampling design accounted for potential variations in fiber counts due to the season, location and analytical procedures. Fiber concentrations were estimated from counts made on a JEOL 100CX scanning transmission electron microscope and statistically compared among areas. These levels were then compared with levels found in other areas of Canada and the United States. The results indicate that the rail ballast could be contributing statistically (albeit marginally) significant quantities of fibers to water supplies during the summer but not in the spring. Estimated concentrations in water supplies ranged between 1.7 × 10⁶fibers/liter and 147.8 × 10⁶fibers/liter. Fiber levels in samples taken during the spring were significantly higher and more variable than those taken during the summer. The presence of fibers in rainwater samples at concentrations of 1.9 × 10⁶fibers/liter, 18.3 × 10⁶fibers/liter and 23.7 × 10⁶fibers/liter suggests that atmospheric transport may play an important role in contributing fibers to regional systems. Fiber levels found in these systems are not unique when compared to levels observed elsewhere in North America.     

Acid deposition in aquatic ecosystems: Setting limits empirically

The problem of acid deposition and its harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems has created a new branch of science that is called upon to provide the knowledge on which legislative controls can be based. However, because of the nature of existing legislation, which requires evidence of cause and effect between industrial emissions and pollution, and because of science's inability to provide this information over the short term, considerable controversy has arisen about whether sufficient information exists to warrant control measures at this time. Among those who advocate controls, there is genuine divergence of opinion about how stringent the controls must be to achieve any desired level of protection.The controversy has led to an impasse between the scientific and political participants, which is reflected in the slow pace of progress toward an effective management strategy. Resolution of the impasse, at least in the short term, may demand that science and politics rely on empirical models rather than explanatory ones. The empirical model, which is the major proposal in this article, integrates all of the major variables and many of the minor ones, and constructs a three-dimensionally curved surface capable of representing the status of any waterbody subjected to the effects of acid deposition. When suitably calibrated—a process involving the integration of knowledge and data from aquatic biology, geochemistry, meteorology, and limnology—it can be used to depict limits to the rate of acid deposition required for any level of environmental protection. Because it can generate a pictorial display of the effects of management decisions and legislative controls, the model might serve as a basis for enhancing the quality of communication among all the scientific and political participants and help to resolve many of their controversies.     

CHANNEL FORM AND STREAM ECOSYSTEM MODELS1

A system is proposed to classify running water habitats based on their channel form which can be considered in three different sedimentological settings: a cobble and boulder bed channel, a gravel bed channel, or a sand bed channel. Three physical factors (relief, lithology, and runoff) are selected as state factors that control all other interacting parameters associated with channel form. When these factors are integrated across the conterminous United States, seven distinct stream regions are evident, each representing a most probable succession of channel forms downstream from the headwaters to the mouth. Coupling these different channel profiles with typical biotic community structures usually associated with each of the channel types should result in considerable refinement of the applicability of the River Continuum Concept and other holistic ecosystem models by realizing the nonrandomness of the effects of geo-morphology on stream ecosystems. Thus, this regional perspective of streams should serve to make persons concerned with water resources more aware of the geographical considerations that affect their study areas.     

ASSESSMENT OF RESTORED RWERINE HABITAT USING RCHARC1

ABSTRACT: The Riverine Community Habitat Assessment and Restoration Concept (RCHARC) was developed to integrate habitat enhancement into the stream restoration process. RCHARC assumes that aquatic habitat quality is closely related to hydraulic diversity based upon a “comparison standard” reach approach to stream restoration. A Beta test was performed by applying the RCHARC process to Rapid Creek in Rapid City, South Dakota. Standard and restored stream reaches were selected and data were collected. A comparison of field data and velocity-depth distributions indicated that the restored stream closely replicated the standard reach. The RCHARC methodology has the potential to assess habitat quality for planned comparison reaches and indicate the level of success resulting from restoration.     

ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF SEVERE SUSTAINED DROUGHT1

ABSTRACT: Evaluation criteria for reservoir and stream resources were developed to provide decision makers with feedback on environmental consequences of water allocation decisions under conditions of severe sustained drought within the Colorado River Basin by using the AZCOL gaming simulation model. Seven categories of flow dependent resources were identified which highlight resource states associated with reservoirs or river reaches within the AZCOL model. AZCOL directly simulates impact of water management decisions on five resource categories: threatened, endangered or sensitive fish; native nonlisted fish; wetland and riparian elements; national or state wildlife refuges; and hatcheries or other flow dependent facilities. Two additional categories - cold and warm water sport fish - are not modeled explicitly but are incorporated in the evaluation of monetary benefits from recreation on Colorado River waters. Each resource category was characterized at each time step in the simulation according to one of four environmental states: stable, threatened, endangered, or extirpated. Changes in resource states were modeled by time and flow-dependent decision criteria tied to either reservoir level or stream flows within the AZCOL model structure. Gaming results using the AZCOL model indicate environmental impacts would be substantial and that water allocation decisions directly impacted environmental resource states.     

STATUS OF RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES1

ABSTRACT: An attempt was made to review all available data on the extent and status of riparian ecosystems in the U.S.A. This report presents a synthesis of the findings, including some estimates of how much land was originally covered by woody riparian vegetation, and how much remains in that condition today. A synopsis of information is presented on the status of riparian ecosystems in each of 10 regions: California, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, Arid Southwest, Plains-Grasslands, Lake States, Corn Belt, Mississippi Delta, Northeast-Appalachian, and Southeast. Woody riparian plant communities once covered an estimated 75 to 100 million acres of land in the contiguous 48 states. Mankind has converted at least two-thirds of that nationwide acreage to other non-forest land uses and it is estimated that only 25 to 35 million acres of riparian plant communities remain in a near natural condition. Across the country, loss of riparian acreages is directly attributable to water resource development (especially channel modification and water impoundment), floodplain clearing for agriculture, and urbanization. In many states of the arid west, the midwest, and the lower Mississippi alluvial valley, riparian vegetation has been reduced in area by more than 80 percent. Riparian woodlands are one of this country's most heavily modified natural vegetation types.     

SIDE EFFECTS OF 58 YEARS OF COPPER SULFATE TREATMENT OF THE FAIRMONT LAKES,MINNESOTA1

The shallow Fairmont Lakes in southern Minnesota have been treated with copper sulfate for 58 years to reduce excessive algal growth. Copper sulfate was applied to five lakes at cumulative rates upo to 1647 kg/ha (1470 1b/acre), totaling 1.5 million kilograms. Data collected since treatment of the Fairmont Lakes began in 1921 provide alarming insights into lake responses to sustained chemical treatment with copper sulfate. Short-term and long-term effects have occurred. Short-term effects include: a) the intended temporary killing of algae, b) dissolved oxygen depletion by decomposition of dead algae, c) accelerated phosphorus recycling from the lake bed and recovery of the algal population within 7 to 21 days, and d) occasional fish kills due to oxygen depletion or copper toxicity or both. Long-term effects are shown to include: a) copper accumulation in the sediments, b) tolerance adjustments of certain species of algae to higher copper sulfate dosages, c) shift of species from green to blue-green algae and from game fish to rough fish, d) disappearance of macrophytes, and e) reductions in benthic macroinvertebrates. The conclusion is that while copper sulfate treatments enjoy great popularity because they kill and remove algae almost instantaneously, other immediate or cumulative side effects can be harmful to many other aquatic organisms.