Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States: Evolution of a Hierarchical Spatial Framework

Environmental Management, Год журнала: 2014, Номер 54(6), С. 1249 - 1266

Опубликована: Сен. 15, 2014

Язык: Английский

---

Consequential Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Assessment of Green and Gray Stormwater Infrastructures for Combined Sewer Systems

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2013, Номер 47(19), С. 11189 - 11198

Опубликована: Авг. 19, 2013

A consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted to evaluate the trade-offs between water quality improvements and incremental climate, resource, economic costs of implementing green (bioretention basin, roof, permeable pavement) versus gray (municipal separate stormwater sewer systems, MS4) alternatives infrastructure expansions against a baseline combined system with overflows in typical Northeast US watershed for typical, dry, wet years. Results show that bioretention basins can achieve improvement goals (e.g., mitigating freshwater eutrophication) least climate 61 kg CO2 eq. $98 per P reduction, respectively. MS4 demonstrates minimum fossil energy use 42 oil reduction. When integrated expansion infrastructure, implementation advanced wastewater treatment processes further reduce impact runoff on aquatic environment at minimal environmental cost (77 reduction), which provides support valuable insights development management wastewater. The consideration critical model parameters (i.e., precipitation intensity, land imperviousness, expectancy) highlighted importance implications varying local conditions characteristics benefits management. Of particular note highly dependent indicating prior potentially more cost-effective quality.

Язык: Английский

---

Increasing chloride in rivers of the conterminous U.S. and linkages to potential corrosivity and lead action level exceedances in drinking water

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2017, Номер 613-614, С. 1498 - 1509

Опубликована: Авг. 7, 2017

Corrosion in water-distribution systems is a costly problem and controlling corrosion primary focus of efforts to reduce lead (Pb) copper (Cu) tap water. High chloride concentrations can increase the tendency water cause distribution systems. The effects are also expressed several indices commonly used describe potential corrosivity water, chloride-sulfate mass ratio (CSMR) Larson Ratio (LR). Elevated CSMR has been linked galvanic Pb whereas LR indicative iron steel. Despite known importance chloride, CSMR, monitoring seasonal interannual changes these parameters not common among purveyors. We analyzed long-term trends (1992–2012) current status (2010–2015) order investigate short temporal variability US streams rivers. Among all sites trend analyses, increased slightly, with median 0.9 mg L− 1, 0.08, 0.01, respectively. However, urban-dominated had much larger increases, 46.9 2.50, 0.53, Median urban (4.01 1.34, respectively) greatly exceeded thresholds found (0.5 0.3, respectively). Urbanization was strongly correlated elevated LR, especially most snow-affected areas study, which likely use road salt. probability action-level exceedances (ALEs) drinking facilities along raw surface indicating statistical connection between chemistry facilities. Optimal control will require critical constituents reflecting waters.

Язык: Английский

---

Complex mixtures of Pesticides in Midwest U.S. streams indicated by POCIS time-integrating samplers

Environmental Pollution, Год журнала: 2016, Номер 220, С. 431 - 440

Опубликована: Окт. 5, 2016

Язык: Английский

---

Implications of urban growth and farmland loss for ecosystem services in the western United States

Land Use Policy, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 86, С. 1 - 11

Опубликована: Апрель 28, 2019

Язык: Английский

---

A Review of Urban Water Body Challenges and Approaches: (1) Rehabilitation and Remediation

Fisheries, Год журнала: 2014, Номер 39(1), С. 18 - 29

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2014

Abstract We review how urbanization alters aquatic ecosystems, as well actions that managers can take to remediate urban waters. Urbanization affects streams by fundamentally altering longitudinal and lateral processes in turn alter hydrology, habitat, water chemistry; these effects create physical chemical stressors affect the biota. Urban often suffer from multiple stressor have collectively been termed an “urban stream syndrome,” which no single factor dominates degraded conditions. Resource ways of combating syndrome. These approaches range whole‐watershed protection reach‐scale habitat rehabilitation, but prescription must be matched scale factors are causing problem, results will likely not immediate because lengthy recovery times. Although pristine or reference conditions far attainable, rehabilitation is a worthy goal appropriate provide ecosystem improvements increased service benefits for human society.

Язык: Английский

---

Assessment of Regional Variation in Streamflow Responses to Urbanization and the Persistence of Physiography

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2015, Номер 49(5), С. 2724 - 2732

Опубликована: Фев. 9, 2015

Aquatic ecosystems are sensitive to the modification of hydrologic regimes, experiencing declines in stream health as streamflow regime is altered during urbanization. This study uses records quantify type and magnitude changes across urbanization gradients nine U.S. cities (Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, Detroit, MI, Raleigh, NC, St. Paul, MN, Pittsburgh, PA, Phoenix, AZ, Portland, OR) two physiographic settings. Results indicate similar development trajectories among gradients, but heterogeneity responses this apparently uniform urban pattern. Similar patterns did not confer function. Study watersheds landscapes with level slopes high soil permeability had less frequent high-flow events, longer durations, lower flashiness response, flow maxima compared similarly developed landscape steep low permeability. Our results suggest that physical characteristics associated topography water-storage capacity buffer severity Urbanization overlain upon a diverse set templates creates multiple pathways toward impairment; therefore, we caution against use homogenization framework examining geophysically dominated processes.

Язык: Английский

---

High Nitrate Concentrations in Some Midwest United States Streams in 2013 after the 2012 Drought

Journal of Environmental Quality, Год журнала: 2016, Номер 45(5), С. 1696 - 1704

Опубликована: Июнь 7, 2016

Nitrogen sources in the Mississippi River basin have been linked to degradation of stream ecology and Gulf Mexico hypoxia. In 2013, USGS USEPA characterized water quality stressors ecological conditions 100 wadeable streams across midwestern United States. Wet 2013 followed a severe drought 2012, weather pattern associated with elevated nitrogen concentrations loads streams. Nitrate during May August sampling period ranged from <0.04 41.8 mg L as N (mean, 5.31 L). Observed mean June nitrate at sites were compared predicted regression model developed using historical data. for 17 sites, centered on Iowa southern Minnesota, outside 95% confidence interval regression-predicted mean, indicating that they anomalously high. The anomaly had significantly higher than without an (means, 19.8 3.6 L, respectively) antecedent precipitation indices, measure departure normal precipitation, 2012 2013. Correlations between watershed characteristics oxygen isotopes indicated fertilizer manure used crop production, principally corn, dominant nitrate. high levels parts Midwest coincide reported higher-than-normal River.

Язык: Английский

---

Linking the Agricultural Landscape of the Midwest to Stream Health with Structural Equation Modeling

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2018, Номер 53(1), С. 452 - 462

Опубликована: Дек. 11, 2018

Multiple physical and chemical stressors can simultaneously affect the biological condition of streams. To better understand complex interactions land-use practices, water quality, ecological integrity streams, U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Assessment Project is conducting regional-scale assessments stream across United States. In summer 2013, weekly samples were collected from 100 streams in Midwestern Employing watershed theory, we used structural equation modeling (SEM) to represent a general hypothesis for how 16 variables (previously identified be important condition) might inter-related. Again, using SEM, evaluated ability this "stressor network" explain variations multimetrics algal, invertebrate, fish community health, trimming away any environmental not contributing an explanation responses. Seven variables-agricultural urban land use, sand content soils, basin area, percent riparian area as forest, channel erosion, relative bed stability-were found all three-community metrics. The algal invertebrate models included water-chemistry model. Results suggest that Midwest are affected by both agricultural uses natural geologic setting, indicated soils. Chemicals related crops (pesticides nutrients) residential (pyrethroids) more strongly than factors (riparian soil character).

Язык: Английский

---

Addressing the urban stream disturbance regime

Freshwater Science, Год журнала: 2015, Номер 35(1), С. 278 - 292

Опубликована: Ноя. 20, 2015

Thresholds for particle entrainment and natural disturbance frequency vary across hydrogeomorphic settings, but urbanization increases the rate extent of channel erosion sediment transport in alluvial channels. The urban regime is a change frequency, magnitude, duration hydrologically induced on stream ecosystem that can lead to geomorphic ecological degradation. To preserve stability function, stormwater management systems should be optimized maintain streambed material within context societal environmental goals. Our proposed framework, based data from 195 sites 2 continents, shows tools river mechanics used develop relatively simple, regionally appropriate, streambed-specific guidance designers, so engineers calibrate facilities address regime. In absence detailed data, practitioners use our model predict an order-of-magnitude approximation critical discharge bed (Qc) solely class (e.g., cobble vs sand) respective 2-y peak (Q2). estimate also guide toward types strategies are likely most effective at protecting given setting. For example, controls large events (≥Q2) may very important preserving gravel/boulder streams where Qc expected >∼0.1 1 × Q2, could have little effect overall sand-dominated <0.01 Q2 much more frequent (<

Язык: Английский

---