Blue River Research Articles

Integrative Review of Riparian Buffers Benefits in Urbanized Watersheds

Riparian buffers or riparian corridors are areas of vegetation in the floodplains and areas surrounding a stream. By the early 2000s, numerous national reports and studies of riparian buffer benefits established that vegetation near streams is helpful in protecting the stream from increasing urban runoff, minimizing bank erosion, reducing flooding, and improving overall water quality. However, influential studies concluded that buffer benefits dwindle as urbanization increases, eventually becoming ineffective. This study evaluates more recent research that suggests riparian buffers are more effective at countering urbanization impacts than previously understood, and considers the extent to which we can quantify these benefits and identify the factors that maximize their effectiveness (i.e. greater efficiency based on buffer distance from the stream, extent of stream setbacks, and percentage of impervious cover in the area). Much of the research has been conducted in the Kansas City area in the Blue River Watershed, which begins in Kansas and flows into Missouri River east of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. About 800,000 residents live in the watershed, which includes some of the region’s fastest growing areas. It is critical to protect this major resource, and other regional rivers and streams, for residents of the Kansas City Metropolitan area and the ecosystems that depend on them. It is also critical to provide the latest and best information to the community-of-practice currently updating regional stormwater management planning and design guidance.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Vegetable Production: A Review

Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in vegetable production, emphasizing its potential to address critical challenges such as climate change, population growth, and resource scarcity. AI technologies, including machine learning, computer vision, and robotics, are revolutionizing agricultural practices. AI-driven innovations in crop management, pest control, and soil analysis enhance productivity, reduce labour costs, and ensure sustainable farming practices. Notable advancements include precision spraying by Blue River Technology, significantly reducing herbicide use, and deploying autonomous tractors and drones for efficient farm management. AI applications, such as PEAT's Plantix and Trace Genomics, provide accurate diagnostics for soil health and pest management. Satellite-based solutions like Farm Shots and aWhere offer real-time crop monitoring and weather prediction, optimizing resource use and mitigating risks. The review highlights the importance of making AI technologies more affordable and accessible to farmers, particularly in developing regions. Collaboration between researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers is crucial to harness AI's full potential in agriculture. As AI continues to evolve, its integration into vegetable production promises a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable agricultural sector, contributing to global food security and environmental preservation. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in vegetable production, focusing on how AI technologies enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. The objectives are to assess current AI applications, analyze their benefits and challenges, and provide recommendations for future improvements and wider adoption in the agricultural sector. The research methodology for the study on the role of Artificial Intelligence in vegetable production involves a comprehensive literature review of existing AI technologies and their applications in agriculture, coupled with the analysis of case studies to evaluate real-world implementations. Additionally, expert interviews and surveys with farmers and industry professionals will be conducted to gather insights on the benefits, challenges, and future potential of AI in this sector. The theoretical implications of the study on the role of Artificial Intelligence in vegetable production include advancing the understanding of AI's capabilities in agricultural optimization and contributing to the academic discourse on sustainable farming practices. Practically, the study provides actionable insights for farmers and agribusinesses on implementing AI technologies to enhance crop yields, reduce resource wastage, and improve overall farm management efficiency.

Seasonal trophic niche width and overlap of mottled sculpin and brown trout in a regulated high‐elevation river

AbstractIn temperate ecosystems, resource availability fluctuates seasonally due to changes in environmental conditions and productivity. Intra‐ and inter‐specific trophic niche overlap under resource limitation is a measure of competitive interactions and influences species coexistence and community dynamics, but patterns of this overlap are influenced by anthropogenic activities. To investigate seasonal trophic niche dynamics of coexisting fish species in a flow‐altered river, we analysed prey resources, stomach content samples and stable isotope signatures of mottled sculpin Cottus bairdii and juvenile brown trout Salmo trutta in the Blue River, Colorado, USA, a high‐elevation oligotrophic river. Prey biomass (i.e. benthic macroinvertebrates) peaked in spring and declined through summer and autumn. Stomach content and stable isotope analysis results showed that diet composition of mottled sculpin and brown trout varied seasonally in response to changes in prey availability. Stomach content analysis results revealed that in autumn, both species exhibited the highest frequency of empty stomachs and expanded population trophic niches due to increased inter‐individual diet variation despite decreased individual trophic niche breadth. Inter‐specific trophic niche overlap was relatively high across all seasons, but the lowest degree of overlap occurred in autumn of both years when prey availability was lowest. Isotopic analysis revealed similar trends to stomach content analysis, of wider isotopic niches and reduced overlap in autumn compared to spring. Our data indicated that seasonal variation affected individual‐ and population‐level trophic niche dynamics and inter‐specific niche overlap between mottled sculpin and brown trout. This trophic segregation under resource limitation may serve as a mechanism that facilitates species coexistence in a flow‐regulated, oligotrophic river.

The Reflection of Examples of Material Culture in the Classical Works of the Eastern-Islamic Renaissance on Archaeological Materials

The Islamic Renaissance achieved extraordinary successes in the social, political, economic and spiritual life of the eastern world. During this period, new works on a number of sciences were created, and cultural and aesthetic thought entered a new stage of development. Scientific discoveries and works of such geniuses as Fergani, Firdavsi, Nizami, Biruni, Abu Ali ibn Sina, Mahmud Kashgari, Ahmad Yasevi led to revolutionary changes in the development of human thought. The Renaissance also led to the transformation of various states of the East into centres of science and culture, including Azerbaijan, the cities of the Blue River, Khwarazm. This article examines the traces of archaeological and material-cultural monuments reflecting the ancient past of the peoples in the works of Renaissance classics and determines their place and importance in the development of scientific and cultural thought in the eastern world, in the establishment of relations of societies with different cultures. Descriptive and comparative methodology was used to achieve this goal. The original basis of the article is the works of the classics of the Eastern Islamic Renaissance.

Determination of Sesquiterpenic Acids with Sedative Properties in Extracts of Medicinal Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.)

Plant raw materials with a calming effect on the nervous system are increasingly used in modern phytotherapy. Lavender belongs to this group of plants, due to the content of essential oil with known therapeutic properties and other phytoconstituents that can be responsible for the sedative effect. Our studies confirmed the presence of sesquiterpenic acids characterized by sedative activity in lavender extracts. The contents of valerenic acid and acetoxyvalerenic acids in flowers and leafy stalks of two various Lavandula angustifolia cultivars—‘Blue River’ and ‘Ellagance Purple’—were determined. Analyses of methanolic extracts performed using the HPLC method showed that content of these sesquiterpenic acids varied with the cultivars and the morphological parts of the plant. The amount of acetoxyvalerenic acid was significantly higher than the amount of valerenic acid. In the ‘Blue River’ cultivar, higher levels of both compounds characterized by sedative properties were found. The content of valerenic acid in flowers ranged from 0.50 mg/100 g d.m. in the ‘Ellagance Purple’ cultivar to 1.75 mg/100 g d.m. in the ‘Blue River’ cultivar. In turn, leafy stalks contained 0.81 mg/100 g d.m. of valerenic acid in the ‘Ellagance Purple’ cultivar and 1.16 mg/100 g d.m. in the ‘Blue River’ cultivar. Interestingly, the ‘Blue River’ cultivar contained about 10 times more acetoxyvalerenic acid (65.80 mg/100 g d.m.) in flowers and four times more acetoxyvalerenic acid in leafy stalks (50.1 mg/100 g d.m.), in comparison with the ‘Ellagance Purple’ cultivar. The higher content of valerenic and acetoxyvalerenic acids in the flowers and leafy stalks of the ‘Blue River’ lavender cultivar can be important for its possible medical applications.

Holocene and late Pleistocene bioclimatic change inferred from δ13C of organic carbon in buried alluvial soils in the tallgrass prairie, northeastern Kansas

The tallgrass prairie of the Central Plains is one of the largest North American biomes, yet little is known about the history of late-Quaternary bioclimatic change in the region because settings that are favorable for the preservation of traditional paleoenvironmental proxies, such as pollen and plant macrofossils, are rare. However, the valleys of large streams contain thick soil-stratigraphic sequences that span the Holocene and terminal Pleistocene and are archives of other paleoenvironmental proxies. To better understand late-Quaternary bioclimatic change in the tallgrass prairie, we analyzed the stable carbon isotope (δ13C) composition of soil organic matter (SOM) preserved in buried soils in floodplain, terrace, and alluvial fan deposits in the Big Blue River valley of northeast Kansas. A combination of eight cores and three outcrops at six localities were investigated, and 27 radiocarbon ages provide a robust numerical chronology. Based on our analysis, the tallgrass prairie has experienced significant bioclimatic changes over the past 27,000 years. From the LGM to the beginning of the late Holocene (ca. 25,000–4500 cal yr BP), there is an overall increase in C4 plant contributions to SOM, suggesting general warming for that period. However, warming and C4 grass expansion occurred in a non-linear fashion, with minor variations in the abundance of C4 vs C3 plants reflecting either small fluctuations in temperatures during general warming trends or other environmental factors, such as landscape disturbance, periods of drought, or the seasonal distribution of precipitation. The δ13C record also suggests that a major warming event occurred in the region between ca. 3000–1300 cal yr BP, when the contribution of C4 biomass to SOM exceeded 95 %. This climatic event does not appear to be an anomaly, as multiple paleoenvironmental proxies indicate a brief but exceedingly warm and dry interval occurred from 3300 to 2800 cal yr BP.

Illustrating land cover change associated with erosion management of the Little Blue River, Kansas, USA

AbstractErosion is a concern due to environmental degradation, loss of valuable cropland, increased sediment loads in aquatic systems, and reduced reservoir capacity. To manage erosion, riparian forest buffers and bendway weirs were installed in the Little Blue River, Kansas, during years 2002–2010. To illustrate land cover changes associated with management for upland and streambank erosion, indicated through terrestrial land gains, particularly of permanent tree cover relative to short‐lived crop cover, we digitized 1 m orthoimagery. For the pretreatment interval of 1991–2002, we digitized streambank edges to approximate change in river area. Due to river dynamics, for the 2002 and 2014 interval before and after treatment, we used land ownership parcels as fixed locations to assess changes in land area and land classes for 24 treated and 24 untreated parcels, each parcel group totaling 1575 ha. We appraised two extents of the unified streambank for both years and all land in parcels rather than isolating the river from the surrounding watershed. During 1991 to 2002, treated land parcels lost terrestrial land, whereas untreated land parcels gained land. During 2002–2014, treated land had greater river and crop cover, and less tree cover than untreated land. For the entire extent, with similar trends for the unified streambank extent, by 2014, treated parcels gained 27.3 ha of terrestrial land compared to 4.6 ha gained by untreated parcels. Gains occurred in tree cover and losses in river water and sediments cover. In treated parcels crop cover decreased, whereas in untreated parcels crop cover increased. Streamflows decreased over time, likely contributing to streambank stability. Despite lack of documented cost‐share agreements, in untreated parcels, landowners managed land by increasing tree cover to protect soil from erosion. All measurements were consistent with erosion followed by management for erosion through terrestrial land gains of tree cover.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Gentamicin in Combination with Essential Oils Isolated from Different Cultivars and Morphological Parts of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) against Selected Bacterial Strains.

The aim of the study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of essential oils isolated from different cultivars and morphological parts of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) in combination with the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin. This in vitro study analyzed the effectiveness of the combinations of gentamicin and lavender essential oils against the following strains: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus aureus MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027. The effect of the combination of lavender oils with gentamicin was tested using the checkerboard method. A synergistic effect against S. aureus strain ATCC 25923 was found when gentamicin was combined with lavender essential oils isolated from flowers and leafy stalks (flowers: 'Blue River' FICI-0.192; 'Ellagance Purple' FICI-0.288; leafy stalks: 'Blue River' FICI-0.192; 'Ellagance Purple' FICI-0.320). A synergistic effect was also observed for the combination of gentamicin with lavender essential oils from flowers against the resistant strain of S. aureus (MRSA) ('Blue River' FICI-0,191; 'Ellagance Purple' FICI-0.263), as well as for the essential oils from leafy stalks ('Blue River' FICI-0.076; 'Ellagance Purple' FICI-0.089). No interaction was observed for the combination of studied essential oils with gentamicin against P. aeruginosa strain ATCC 9027 (FICI = 1.083-1.300).

Characterization of volatiles in flowers from four Rosa chinensis cultivars by HS-SPME-GC × GC-QTOFMS.

Rosa chinensis cultivars with volatile aromas are important resources in the perfume industry. The four rose cultivars introduced to Guizhou province are rich in volatile substances. In this study, volatiles from four Rosa chinensis cultivars were extracted using headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME), and analyzed with two-dimensional gas chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-QTOFMS). A total of 122 volatiles were identified; the main compounds in these samples were benzyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, citronellol, beta-myrcene and limonene. A total of 68, 78, 71, and 56 volatile compounds were identified in Rosa 'Blue River' (RBR), Rosa 'Crimson Glory' (RCG), Rosa 'Pink Panther' (RPP), and Rosa 'Funkuhr' (RF) samples, respectively. The total volatile contents were in the following order: RBR > RCG > RPP > RF. Four cultivars exhibited similar volatility profiles, with alcohols, alkanes, and esters as the major chemical groups, followed by aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, benzene, and other compounds. Alcohols and aldehydes were quantitatively the two most abundant chemical groups that included the highest number and highest content of compounds. Different cultivars have different aromas, and RCG had high contents of phenyl acetate, rose oxide, trans-rose oxide, phenylethyl alcohol and 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene, characterized by floral and rose descriptors. RBR contained a high content of phenylethyl alcohol, and RF contained a high content of 3,5-dimethoxytoluene. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of all volatiles showed that the three cultivars (RCG, RPP, and RF) had similar volatile characteristics and were significantly different from RBR. Differential metabolites among cultivars were screened based on the OPLS-DA model, and there were six main enriched pathways of differential metabolites: biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, monoterpenoid biosynthesis, metabolic pathways, limonene and pinene degradation, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism. The biosynthesis of secondary metabolites is the most differential metabolic pathway.

Small increases in stream drying can dramatically reduce ecosystem connectivity

AbstractHabitat fragmentation drives biodiversity loss in rivers around the world. Although the effects of anthropogenic barriers on river connectivity are well known, there has been little research on the ways in which stream drying may alter connections among habitats and resources. Given that stream drying is increasing in many regions, there is a pressing need to understand the effects of drying on habitat fragmentation. Here, we quantify spatiotemporal drying patterns under current and future climate scenarios in the Upper Blue River Basin, Oklahoma. We used a hydrologic model to simulate daily streamflow for nine climate scenarios. For each scenario, we calculated metrics of streamflow temporal continuity (dry days, dry periods, and dry period duration) and spatial connectivity (wetted length, number of dry stream fragments, length of dry stream fragments, and dendritic connectivity index) from simulated daily streamflow. We found that stream drying is likely to increase in all future climate scenarios and that increases in stream drying reduce connectivity. However, the effects of stream drying on connectivity were highly nonlinear. Specifically, we observed a threshold around which a small increase in stream drying led to a rapid drop in connectivity. We also found that the greatest increases in stream drying were not associated with the highest emission scenarios, underscoring the complex linkages among climate, water availability, and connectivity. Given that connectivity is essential to ecosystem structure and function, we discuss water management strategies informed by impacts of stream drying.

Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oils as Effective Enhancers of Fluconazole Antifungal Activity against Candida albicans.

The increasing prevalence of Candida albicans resistance to commercial antifungal agents in recent decades has prompted modern medicine and veterinary medicine to search for combined treatment options. The aim of the study was to determine the activity of essential oils from different cultivars and morphological parts of the medicinal lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) in combination with fluconazole against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 strain. The effect of the combination of lavender essential oil with fluconazole was tested using the checkerboard method, and the obtained results were interpreted on the basis of fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs). A synergistic interaction was found for all combinations of fluconazole with essential oils isolated both from flowers and leafy stalks of two tested lavender cultivars: 'Blue River' and 'Ellagance Purple'. The observed enhancement effect of fluconazole antifungal activity was significantly stronger in the case of essential oils obtained from flowers and leafy stalks of 'Blue River' cultivar. Analogous studies were performed for linalool, one of the main components of lavender essential oils, and a similar synergistic interaction with fluconazole was found.

Comparing the Effects of Environmental Enrichment, Seasonality, and Soft Release on Site Retention and Survivorship of Captive-Reared Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis)

Translocations of captive-reared animals are commonly used to stabilize declining wildlife populations. However, captive-reared animals are often raised in conditions dissimilar to their release sites and lacking natural characteristics, which could alter movement patterns and postrelease survivorship. These patterns can be further altered by season of release and soft-release conditions. We reared juvenile Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) for 18 mo in captivity in one of two conditions: a control condition with low-velocity water flow (unconditioned) or a treatment condition with moving water (conditioned) that simulated natural flow velocities at their intended release site. We divided 4-yr-old Hellbenders (n = 118) into six treatment groups to determine the effects of release season (fall or summer), release type (standard soft release or enhanced soft release), and conditioning (unconditioned or conditioned) on the number of days until first movement, release site retention, and survival. In November 2017, we released 80 radio-tagged individuals (40 conditioned and 40 unconditioned) into soft-release structures in the Blue River, Indiana. In July 2018, we released another 38 radio-tagged individuals (18 conditioned and 20 unconditioned) into soft-release structures at the same site. After release, we tracked each individual one to three times weekly for 10 mo (fall release) or 12 mo (summer release). We found that treatment groups released into caged cobble beds (i.e., enhanced soft release) delayed their first movement and had higher release site retention relative to groups released under caged shelter rocks (i.e., standard soft release). We found that conditioning had a positive effect on survival but only in the treatment group released in the summer. By combining techniques and releasing conditioned individuals in the summer using enhanced soft releases, we increased annual survival of captive-reared Hellbenders from a probability of 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31–0.79) to 0.74 (95% CI = 0.55–0.99). Our results provide important information about techniques that can be adopted across captive-rearing programs to help maximize the conservation success of Eastern Hellbenders.

Optimal construction of montages from mathematical functions on a spectrum of order–disorder preference

ABSTRACT We previously generated diverse mathematical functions that are difficult for optimization algorithms. Represented as 2D contour plots, each image depicts a ‘blue river’ running through an intricate landscape. This paper describes the challenge of constructing an aesthetic montage of these images. A survey revealed a spectrum of tastes, divergent in preference from order to disorder, considering the structure created by connecting these ‘blue rivers’. A new artwork, Negentropy Triptych, was created to depict this spectrum by manually swapping images from a random arrangement, guided by human eye to enhance or destroy the structure. An optimization algorithm automates the process, with the results of its efforts to emulate the artistic vision presented and discussed. The challenges faced by the algorithm, despite exploring several objective functions, highlight the difficulties of capturing the goals that a human decision-maker can easily achieve. Therefore, machine learning of these goals is a promising future direction.

Industrial Activities Board Grows to Meet New Challenges and Future Opportunities [Industry Activities

More robotics companies have been formed in the past 10 years than in the rest of the history of the field ( <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Figure 1</xref> ). The strong industry participation at the 2022 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, with 96 industry exhibitors and sponsors, is another indicator of this rapid growth and a credit to the Organizing Committee and the industry and exhibits chairs, Jim Ostrowski (Figure 2) of Blue River Technologies, and Zeynep Temel of Carnegie Mellon University.

How a New Cenozoic Geology and Glacial History Paradigm Explains Arkansas-Red River Drainage Divide Area Topographic Map Evidence in and near Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, USA

A new Cenozoic geology and glacial history paradigm (new paradigm), fundamentally different from the accepted Cenozoic geology and glacial history paradigm (accepted paradigm), describes a thick North American continental icesheet (located where continental icesheets are usually reported to have been) which by deep erosion and uplift of surrounding regions created and occupied a deep “hole” (the accepted paradigm does not see this thick ice sheet or the deep “hole”). Unusual erosional landform features in the southeast Oklahoma Pontotoc County region including the asymmetric Canadian-Red River drainage divide, a large escarpment-surrounded basin in which most south-oriented Clear Boggy Creek headwaters begin, and a large escarpment-surrounded upland on which the south-oriented Blue River begins, are used to test the new paradigm’s ability to use large and prolonged south-oriented melt water floods to explain previously unexplained or poorly explained detailed topographic map drainage system and erosional landform evidence. Numerous low points (referred to as divide crossings) indicate large and prolonged south-oriented melt water floods did flow across what is now the Canadian-Red River drainage divide (an interpretation also consistent with Clear Boggy Creek escarpment-surrounded basin and Blue River escarpment-surrounded upland shapes). The new paradigm described massive and prolonged melt water floods also account for previously unrecognized deep regional erosion (which is determinable from detailed topographic map evidence). East-oriented Canadian River valley headward erosion (from the Arkansas River valley) diverted the long-lived south-oriented meltwater floods to the Arkansas River valley and to what ultimately became the deep “hole’s” only southern exit. Previous southeast Oklahoma drainage history interpretations (made from the accepted paradigm perspective in which Rocky Mountain glacier melt water flowed to east-oriented rivers) do not provide adequate water volumes or flow directions to explain the detailed topographic map drainage system and erosional landform evidence, which the new paradigm’s massive and prolonged south-oriented melt water floods do explain.

Investigating hydro-climates of the Upper Blue Nile River Basin

ABSTRACT The Upper Blue Nile Basin (UBNB) is the main flow contributor to the downstream river. Given the competing demands, we characterize the water balance by statistical analysis of past observations and data assimilation models. UBNB runoff shows minimal trend (1% of variance) and a large annual cycle (69%) governed by the equatorial trough and Hadley circulation. The diurnal cycle linked to local heat fluxes contrasts with modulation by the slower Pacific El Niño Southern Oscillation and faster Indian Dipole. Using daily measurements over ~25 years, we found that the inflow to Lake Tana (average 48 m3/s) obtains a linear regression fit of r 2 = 76% with the discharge at Khartoum (average 1380 m3/s) at a lag of +6 days, implying that the small catchment conveys the hydro-climate signal to the entire Nile Basin. The inflow-induced turbidity in Lake Tana was studied using changes in colour detected by satellite. Land-use changes in the UBNB were quantified by satellite infra-red temperature and aerosol density. Trends in vegetation temperatures showed a + 0.2°C/year rise in agricultural zones. Ensemble model-projected trends in runoff are upward and may keep pace with the growing demand for Nile water.

Ecological Status as the Basis for the Holistic Environmental Flow Assessment of a Tropical Highland River in Ethiopia

There is an increasing need globally to establish relationships among flow, ecology, and livelihoods to make informed decisions about environmental flows. This paper aimed to establish the ecological foundation for a holistic environmental flow assessment method in the Gumara River that flows into Lake Tana in Ethiopia and the Blue Nile River. First, the ecological conditions (fish, macro-invertebrate, riparian vegetation, and physicochemical) of the river system were characterized, followed by determining the hydrological condition and finally linking the ecological and hydrological components. The ecological data were collected at 30 sites along the Gumara River on March 2016 and 2020. River hydrology was estimated using the SWAT model and showed that the low flow decreased over time. Both physico-chemical and macroinvertebrate scores showed that water quality was moderate in most locations. The highest fish diversity index was in the lower reach at Wanzaye. Macroinvertebrate diversity was observed to decrease downstream. Both the fish and macroinvertebrate diversity indices were less than the expected maximum, being 3.29 and 4.5, respectively. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for 30 m and 60 m buffer distances from the river decreased during the dry season (March–May). Hence, flow conditions, water quality, and land-use change substantially influenced the abundance and diversity of fish, vegetation, and macroinvertebrate species. The pressure on the ecology is expected to increase because the construction of the proposed dam is expected to alter the flow regime. Thus, as demand for human water consumption grows, measures are needed, including quantification of environmental flow requirements and regulating river water uses to conserve the ecological status of the Gumara River and Lake Tana sub-basin.

Mapping dynamic non-perennial stream networks using high-resolution distributed hydrologic simulation: A case study in the upper blue river basin

More than half of all streams globally are non-perennial, and thus dynamic due to their expanding and retracting nature. Field mapping in conjunction with observational data from gauges and/or in-situ loggers is a typical approach for studying non-perennial stream dynamics, but these approaches underrepresent their spatiotemporal variability. High-resolution distributed hydrological modeling promises to bridge this gap, thanks to advances in model physics, remote sensing, and computational power. As the first step towards this goal, we investigate the capability of distributed hydrologic modeling to capture stream dynamics in Upper Blue River Basin, OK. Coupled Routing and Excess STorage (CREST), a distributed hydrological model, is used to simulate spatiotemporally varied streamflow at 10-meter spatial resolution and daily time steps. USGS stream gauge data and in-situ state logger data are used to calibrate and validate the simulation at the watershed outlet and small headwater tributaries, respectively. Dynamic Surface Water Estimate (DSWE), a LANDSAT product is also compared with simulated water presence in high-order streams. Results show that the CREST model can capture low-moderate streamflow values at the watershed outlet with a log-NSE value over 0.7 in the validation period, while underestimating high flow values due to the daily time step. Also, the calibrated model can accurately estimate wet/dry status as monitored by in-situ state loggers in nine headwater catchments. The dynamic stream networks are mapped over 2510 stream segments using the CREST simulation. Non-perennial streams are the most dynamic in small headwater tributaries (contributing area <2 km2) and high-order streams are sustained by perennial flow. As hydrologic interpretation of the stream dynamics, the interannual and seasonal variability in rainfall and evapotranspiration is well reflected by the water occurrence in streams. Across various catchments, a consistent threshold behavior is found between drainage density and unit discharge, indicating the control of runoff generation on the flowing stream networks. The mapping also identifies differences in stream dynamics caused by heterogeneities in land cover and soil properties. Given the prevalence of dynamical streams worldwide, our analysis illustrates the potential for mapping them using distributed hydrologic models.

Successful Restoration of a Native Fish Assemblage in the Blue River, Arizona

AbstractTranslocation is one of the most commonly proposed management actions for securing and recovering native fish species. However, the success of native fish translocations has varied widely due to several limiting factors, including the presence of nonnative fishes. The Blue River Native Fish Restoration Project involved construction of a fish passage barrier, removal of nonnative fish, translocation of three native fish species (Spikedace Meda fulgida, Loach Minnow Rhinichthys cobitis, and Roundtail Chub Gila robusta), and monitoring to determine the success of these actions. After construction of a physical fish passage barrier, the three focal species were stocked several times upstream of the barrier. Nonnative fish were removed annually using multiple gear types, including spearfishing, backpack electrofishing, and trapping. Monitoring data demonstrated a significant shift in the fish assemblage from one with a substantial component of nonnative fishes to one that was exclusively native fishes. Persistence, reproduction, increased abundance, and dispersal were documented for all three focal species within the study area, meeting criteria for establishment success. All nonnative fishes, including the primary targets of removal efforts—Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus—were successfully suppressed, if not eradicated entirely, during the study period. Our results illustrate the importance of long‐term monitoring to track and successfully achieve native fish recovery goals. In addition, our results demonstrate that nonnative fish can be mechanically removed from warmwater streams if initial abundance is low, distribution is restricted, and fish passage barriers are in place. Results from this study may be informative for managers hoping to improve the conservation status of warmwater stream fishes through creation of a fish passage barrier, nonnative species removal, and native fish translocation efforts.

Concurrent Changes in Extreme Hydroclimate Events in the Colorado River Basin

Extreme events resulting in catastrophic damage have more than doubled in the last five years, costing hundreds of lives and thousands of homes, and heavily undermining regional economic stability. At present, most of these hydroclimatic extreme events are documented by the media as individual events; however, in scientific terms, many are better understood as concurrent events—concurrent extremes of both temperature and precipitation (e.g., drought, floods). This paper considers concurrent changes in hydroclimate extremes, including heatwaves, drought, flooding, and low flows, in six historical-to-future (1970–1999, 2070–2099) Earth System Model (ESM) climate scenarios for the Colorado River basin. Results indicate that temperature-driven Impacts (heatwaves, drought) have the strongest responses while precipitation-driven Impacts have weaker responses. All Impacts exhibit an increase in magnitude from synoptic to annual time scales, with heatwaves increasing in strength about three times at the annual time scale versus the synoptic, while low flows only increase slightly. Critical watersheds in the Colorado were identified, highlighting the Blue River basin, Uncompahgre, East Taylor, Salt/Verde watersheds, locations of important water infrastructures, water resources, and hydrological research. Our results indicate that concurrent extreme hydroclimate events are projected to increase in the future and intensify within critical regions of the Colorado River basin. Considering extreme hydroclimate events concurrently is an important step towards linking economic and social effects of these events and their associated instabilities on a regional scale.