Journal Of The American Water Resources Association Research Articles

Looking Back at 2018

Looking Back at 2018

Reply to Discussion

JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources AssociationVolume 54, Issue 3 p. 761-763 Reply Reply to Discussion† by Michael J. Darr†“Evaluating Flow Diversion Impacts to Groundwater-Dependent Riparian Vegetation with Flow Alteration and Groundwater Model Analysis”‡ Deborah L. Hathaway, Corresponding Author Deborah L. Hathaway dhathaway@sspa.com S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., Boulder, Colorado, USASearch for more papers by this authorGilbert Barth, Gilbert Barth S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., Boulder, Colorado, USAKatie Kirsch, who co-authored the original paper, was unavailable to participate in this reply.Search for more papers by this author Deborah L. Hathaway, Corresponding Author Deborah L. Hathaway dhathaway@sspa.com S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., Boulder, Colorado, USASearch for more papers by this authorGilbert Barth, Gilbert Barth S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., Boulder, Colorado, USAKatie Kirsch, who co-authored the original paper, was unavailable to participate in this reply.Search for more papers by this author First published: 13 March 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12641 †Reply No. JAWRA-18-0002-Y of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). ‡Discussion No. JAWRA-17-0014-D of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12638. §Paper No. JAWRA-15-0098-P of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 52 (6): 1311–1326. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12454. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume54, Issue3June 2018Pages 761-763 RelatedInformation

Strengthen Your Journal Article

The Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) publishes peer-reviewed journal articles from a wide range of disciplines (Wigington, 2015). Regardless of the disciplinary perspective, there are basic ways to strengthen journal articles. The initial idea for a journal article can arise in a number of ways. Typically, authors are seeking to publish the results of an experimental study, modeling study, or a literature review. A critical first step in converting a journal article idea into a tangible manuscript is to define the objectives and scope of the paper. At this early stage, it is also essential to identify who will be authors of the paper and the role each author will play in the preparation of the manuscript. At a minimum, all authors are expected to make intellectual contributions to the content of the article and to read and approve the final version of the journal article before it is submitted to a journal. Another important step is to identify the journal that is the best outlet for your paper. Journal article manuscripts are commonly returned to the authors without review if the paper does not match the scope of the journal. Wigington (2015) describes the nature of multidisciplinary articles published in JAWRA. Other factors to consider when selecting a journal include the journal's readership, stature, efficiency of the peer-review process, timeliness of publication, and cost. An excellent practice is to begin planning journal articles concurrently with the development of research studies. Although the ultimate audience for a journal article is the readership of a given journal, the initial audience is comprised of a journal's editors and peer reviewers. A major focus of peer reviewers’ evaluation is the quality of the journal article. In general, they are looking to see if the work presented is new and novel and if the research approach, analyses, results, and conclusions are valid. They assess if the text, tables, and figures present the work described in a clear and concise fashion. In addition, reviewers evaluate whether or not literature is appropriately cited and discussed. Well-written, well-organized journal articles make the review process a pleasure for editors and reviewers. Below I offer several practical steps that will strengthen journal articles and improve the likelihood of successful peer review. Cargill and O'Conner (2013) provide a more thorough discussion of how to prepare high quality journal articles and how to navigate the peer review process.

Large‐Scale Journal Articles Addressing Pressing Issues

The Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) publishes multidisciplinary water resources journal articles reporting research results across a wide range of spatial scales providing critical scientific information on diverse topics. Increasingly, water policy issues dealing with matters such as climate change and coastal eutrophication require a large-scale, integrated research to address these and other pressing problems. JAWRA has a strong tradition of publishing large-scale research articles. A few examples of the variety of large-scale journal articles follow. JAWRA has published numerous articles focused on the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Recent articles include Linker et al. (2013) who computed atmospheric nutrient loads to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Shenk and Linder (2013) who describe the development and application of the 2010 Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load model, and Weller and Baker (2014) who used statistical models to provide the first empirical estimates of riparian buffer effects on cropland nitrate export to streams throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The SPAtially Referenced Regression on Watershed attributes (SPARROW) models have been used to address the large-scale water quality issues across the United States (U.S.). Recently-published JAWRA journal articles examined the nitrogen and phosphorus export to the Gulf of Mexico (Robertson et al., 2014; McLellan et al., 2015a, b), dissolved solids in the Upper Colorado River (Keum and Kaluarachchi, 2015), and nitrogen (Saleh et al., 2015) and phosphorus (Domagalski and Saleh, 2015) sources and transport to California streams and rivers. JAWRA has published many other types of large-scale water quality or contaminant articles. For example, Flanagan Pritz et al. (2014) analyzed fish samples from remote water bodies in national parks in Alaska and the western U.S. for semivolatile organic compounds. White et al. (2015) used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to develop nutrient and sediment export coefficients for land-use settings in ecoregions across the U.S. Stets et al. (2015) examined the long-term water quality monitoring data to evaluate the changes instream nitrate across the U.S. and to quantify the relationships of these changes to the land use and other factors. JAWRA articles also examine the large-scale hydrologic processes. Sanford and Selnick (2013) combined a water-balance approach with a climate and land-cover regression equation to estimate the actual evapotranspiration across the conterminous U.S. Patil et al. (2014) used a spatially lumped hydrologic model to predict the daily streamflow of watersheds across the state of Oregon and analyzed the model's performance using the statewide Oregon Hydrologic Landscape Classification (Wigington et al., 2013). Fleming and Barton (2015) conducted a 90-year trend analysis on the annual temperature, precipitation, and streamflow for three major river basins in the southern interior ecoprovince of British Columbia. Evaluation of projected hydrologic responses to climate change is another important topical area for JAWRA. Qiao et al. (2013) used Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment, streamflow, and groundwater data to reduce the parameter uncertainty for the application of SWAT to the lower Missouri River basin and then used the model (Qiao et al., 2014), along with climate scenarios, to estimate the changes in future streamflow quantity and variability. Using a physically based hydrologic model and an ensemble of statistically downscaled global climate model scenarios, Tohver et al. (2014) examined the projected changes of hydrologic extremes, such as floods and low flows, for numerous river locations in the Pacific Northwest. Johnson et al. (2015) used SWAT to model streamflow, total suspended solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus responses to climate and urban land use change scenarios in large watersheds across the U.S. Water resources issues needing to be addressed at a large spatial scale continue to grow. The number and diversity of JAWRA large-scale journal articles illustrates the commitment of the JAWRA to publish large-scale research. Please feel free to contact me ([email protected]) if you have questions regarding a potential large-scale journal article for JAWRA. Inquiries related to other topics are always welcome as well.

Featured Collection Introduction: Synthesis and Analysis of Conservation Effects Assessment Projects for Improved Water Quality

JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources AssociationVolume 51, Issue 2 p. 302-304 Featured Collection: Synthesis and Analysis of Conservation Effects Assessment Projects for Improved Water Quality Jan Boll - Guest Coordinator Featured Collection Introduction: Synthesis and Analysis of Conservation Effects Assessment Projects for Improved Water Quality† Jan Boll, Jan Boll Director & Professor [email protected] Environmental Science and Water Resources Program, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Featured Collection Introduction, Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). © 2015 American Water Resources Association. DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12297.Search for more papers by this authorTammo S. Steenhuis, Tammo S. Steenhuis Professor Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14843Search for more papers by this authorErin S. Brooks, Erin S. Brooks Research Assistant Professor Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Search for more papers by this authorLyubov A. Kurkalova, Lyubov A. Kurkalova Professor Departments of Economics and Energy & Environmental Systems, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27411Search for more papers by this authorRebecca A. Rittenburg, Rebecca A. Rittenburg Graduate Research Assistant Water Resources Program, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Search for more papers by this authorAudrey L. Squires, Audrey L. Squires Graduate Research Assistant Water Resources Program, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Search for more papers by this authorGeorge Vellidis, George Vellidis Professor Crop and Soil Sciences Department, University of Georgia, Tifton, Georgia, 31793Search for more papers by this authorZachary M. Easton, Zachary M. Easton Assistant Professor Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061Search for more papers by this authorJ.D. Wulfhorst, J.D. Wulfhorst Professor Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Search for more papers by this author Jan Boll, Jan Boll Director & Professor [email protected] Environmental Science and Water Resources Program, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Featured Collection Introduction, Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). © 2015 American Water Resources Association. DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12297.Search for more papers by this authorTammo S. Steenhuis, Tammo S. Steenhuis Professor Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14843Search for more papers by this authorErin S. Brooks, Erin S. Brooks Research Assistant Professor Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Search for more papers by this authorLyubov A. Kurkalova, Lyubov A. Kurkalova Professor Departments of Economics and Energy & Environmental Systems, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27411Search for more papers by this authorRebecca A. Rittenburg, Rebecca A. Rittenburg Graduate Research Assistant Water Resources Program, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Search for more papers by this authorAudrey L. Squires, Audrey L. Squires Graduate Research Assistant Water Resources Program, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Search for more papers by this authorGeorge Vellidis, George Vellidis Professor Crop and Soil Sciences Department, University of Georgia, Tifton, Georgia, 31793Search for more papers by this authorZachary M. Easton, Zachary M. Easton Assistant Professor Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061Search for more papers by this authorJ.D. Wulfhorst, J.D. Wulfhorst Professor Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3006, Moscow, Idaho, 83844Search for more papers by this author First published: 19 March 2015 https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12297Citations: 1 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Citing Literature Volume51, Issue2April 2015Pages 302-304 RelatedInformation

Discussion

JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources AssociationVolume 51, Issue 2 p. 569-572 Discussion Discussion† “Evaluation of Overtopping Riprap Design Relationships” by Steven R. Abt, Christopher I. Thornton, Bryan A. Scholl, and Theodore R. Bender† Steven E. Pells, Steven E. Pells Ph.D. Candidate s.pells@wrl.unsw.edu.au Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, King St., Manly Vale, New South Wales, 2093 AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorWilliam L. Peirson, William L. Peirson Director Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, King St., Manly Vale, New South Wales, 2093 AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author Steven E. Pells, Steven E. Pells Ph.D. Candidate s.pells@wrl.unsw.edu.au Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, King St., Manly Vale, New South Wales, 2093 AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorWilliam L. Peirson, William L. Peirson Director Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, King St., Manly Vale, New South Wales, 2093 AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 11 November 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/jawr.12260 †Discussion No. JAWRA-14-0010-D of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). © 2014 American Water Resources Association. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12260 ‡Paper No. JAWRA-12-0095-P of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 49(4):923-937. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume51, Issue2April 2015Pages 569-572 RelatedInformation

Discussion

JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources AssociationVolume 51, Issue 2 p. 567-567 Discussion Discussion† “Prediction of Annual Streambank Erosion for Sequoia National Forest, California” by Hilda Kwan and Sherman Swanson† David L. Rosgen, David L. Rosgen Principal Hydrologist wildland@wildlandhydrology.com Wildland Hydrology, 11210 North County Rd 19, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524Search for more papers by this author David L. Rosgen, David L. Rosgen Principal Hydrologist wildland@wildlandhydrology.com Wildland Hydrology, 11210 North County Rd 19, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524Search for more papers by this author First published: 27 October 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/jawr.12258Citations: 3 †Discussion No. JAWRA-14-0136-D of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). ‡Paper No. JAWRA-13-0006-P of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12200. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume51, Issue2April 2015Pages 567-567 RelatedInformation

Reply to Discussion

JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources AssociationVolume 49, Issue 4 p. 975-976 Reply to Discussion Reply to Discussion† by Daniel A. Auerbach† “America's Rivers and the American Experiment”‡ Martin W. Doyle, Martin W. Doyle Professor of River Science & Policy [email protected] Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, North Carolina, 27708-0328Search for more papers by this author Martin W. Doyle, Martin W. Doyle Professor of River Science & Policy [email protected] Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, North Carolina, 27708-0328Search for more papers by this author First published: 13 May 2013 https://doi.org/10.1111/jawr.12061Citations: 2 †Reply No. JAWRA-13-0040-Y of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). ‡Discussion No. JAWRA-12-0241-D of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). §Paper No. JAWRA-11-0129-P of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(4):820-837. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume49, Issue4August 2013Pages 975-976 RelatedInformation

Featured Collection Introduction: Collaborative Modeling for Decision Support as a Tool to Implement IWRM

JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources AssociationVolume 49, Issue 3 p. 605-608 Technical Paper Featured Collection Introduction: Collaborative Modeling for Decision Support as a Tool to Implement IWRM† Elizabeth C. Bourget, Elizabeth C. Bourget Senior Water Resources Engineer Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, Virginia, 22315Search for more papers by this authorStacy M. Langsdale, Stacy M. Langsdale Water Resources Collaboration Expert [email protected] Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, Virginia, 22315Search for more papers by this authorMarjan van den Belt, Marjan van den Belt Associate Professor and Director of Ecological Economics Research New Zealand Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this author Elizabeth C. Bourget, Elizabeth C. Bourget Senior Water Resources Engineer Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, Virginia, 22315Search for more papers by this authorStacy M. Langsdale, Stacy M. Langsdale Water Resources Collaboration Expert [email protected] Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, Virginia, 22315Search for more papers by this authorMarjan van den Belt, Marjan van den Belt Associate Professor and Director of Ecological Economics Research New Zealand Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSearch for more papers by this author First published: 13 May 2013 https://doi.org/10.1111/jawr.12071Citations: 6 †Featured Collection Introduction. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Citing Literature Volume49, Issue3June 2013Pages 605-608 This article also appears in:Collaborative Modeling for Decision Support as a Tool to Implement Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) RelatedInformation

A New Flood Index for Use in Evaluation of Local Flood Severity: A Case Study of Small Ungauged Catchments in Korea1

Ahn, Jae Hyun and Hyun Il Choi, 2013. A New Flood Index for Use in Evaluation of Local Flood Severity: A Case Study of Small Ungauged Catchments in Korea. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 49(1): 1‐14. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12025Abstract: The aim of this article is to develop a new index measuring the severity of floods in small ungauged catchments for initial local flood information by the regression analysis between the new flooding index and rainfall patterns. Although a rapid local flood caused by heavy storm in a short period of time is now one of common natural disasters worldwide, such a sudden and violent hydrologic event is difficult to forecast. As local flooding rises rapidly with little or no advance warning, the key to local flood forecasting is to quickly identify when and where local flooding above a threshold is likely to occur. The new flooding index to characterize local floods is measured by the three normalized relative severity factors for the flood magnitude ratio, the rising curve gradient, and the flooding duration time, quantifying characteristics of flood runoff hydrographs. The new flooding index implemented for the two selected small ungauged catchments in the Korean Peninsula shows a very high correlation with logarithm of the 2‐h maximum rainfall depth. This study proposes 30 mm of rainfall in a 2‐h period as a basin‐specific guidance of precaution for the incipient local flooding in the two study catchments. It is expected that the best‐fit regression equation between the new flooding index and a certain rainfall rate can provide preliminary observations, the flood threshold, and severity information, for use in a local flood alert system in small ungauged catchments. Editor's note: This paper is part of a featured series on Korean Hydrology. The series addresses the need for a new paradigm of river and watershed management for Korea due to climate and land use changes.

Estimation of Evapotranspiration Across the Conterminous United States Using a Regression With Climate and Land‐Cover Data1

Sanford, Ward E. and David L. Selnick, 2012. Estimation of Evapotranspiration Across the Conterminous United States Using a Regression with Climate and Land‐Cover Data. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐14. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12010Abstract: Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important quantity for water resource managers to know because it often represents the largest sink for precipitation (P) arriving at the land surface. In order to estimate actual ET across the conterminous United States (U.S.) in this study, a water‐balance method was combined with a climate and land‐cover regression equation. Precipitation and streamflow records were compiled for 838 watersheds for 1971‐2000 across the U.S. to obtain long‐term estimates of actual ET. A regression equation was developed that related the ratio ET/P to climate and land‐cover variables within those watersheds. Precipitation and temperatures were used from the PRISM climate dataset, and land‐cover data were used from the USGS National Land Cover Dataset. Results indicate that ET can be predicted relatively well at a watershed or county scale with readily available climate variables alone, and that land‐cover data can also improve those predictions. Using the climate and land‐cover data at an 800‐m scale and then averaging to the county scale, maps were produced showing estimates of ET and ET/P for the entire conterminous U.S. Using the regression equation, such maps could also be made for more detailed state coverages, or for other areas of the world where climate and land‐cover data are plentiful.

Projected Freshwater Withdrawals Under Efficiency Scenarios for Electricity Generation and Municipal Use in the United States for 20301

Chen, Limin, Sujoy B. Roy, and Robert A. Goldstein, 2012. Projected Freshwater Withdrawals Under Efficiency Scenarios for Electricity Generation and Municipal Use in the United States for 2030. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐16. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12013Abstract: Water withdrawals in the United States (U.S.) have been relatively uniform over the past two decades on a nationally aggregated basis, although on a more highly resolved geographical basis, increases have occurred, largely associated with growth in population and the cooling needs for new electricity generation. Using recent county‐level water use data, we develop projections for five different scenarios, bracketing a range of future conditions, and representing different levels of efficiency in the municipal and electricity generation sectors, where the municipal sector includes public and self‐supplied domestic withdrawals. Starting with the 2005 estimate of 347 billion gallons per day (bgd) of freshwater withdrawal in the continental U.S., our analysis shows that under a business‐as‐usual scenario of growth, there will be a need for additional water over current levels: 11 bgd in the municipal sector, with a smaller requirement for new electricity generation (1 bgd). However, we also estimate that withdrawals could be reduced significantly over current levels, through increased water use efficiencies in the electric power and municipal sectors. The study shows that if water withdrawals are to be held at their current levels for the thermoelectric and municipal sectors individually at a county level over the next 25 years, large improvements in efficiency will be needed in many parts of the Southeast and Southwest.

Mapping River Bathymetry With a Small Footprint Green LiDAR: Applications and Challenges1

Kinzel, Paul J., Carl J. Legleiter, and Jonathan M. Nelson, 2012. Mapping River Bathymetry with a Small Footprint Green LiDAR: Applications and Challenges. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐22. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12008Abstract: Airborne bathymetric Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) systems designed for coastal and marine surveys are increasingly sought after for high‐resolution mapping of fluvial systems. To evaluate the potential utility of bathymetric LiDAR for applications of this kind, we compared detailed surveys collected using wading and sonar techniques with measurements from the United States Geological Survey’s hybrid topographic/bathymetric Experimental Advanced Airborne Research LiDAR (EAARL). These comparisons, based upon data collected from the Trinity and Klamath Rivers, California, and the Colorado River, Colorado, demonstrated that environmental conditions and postprocessing algorithms can influence the accuracy and utility of these surveys and must be given consideration. These factors can lead to mapping errors that can have a direct bearing on derivative analyses such as hydraulic modeling and habitat assessment. We discuss the water and substrate characteristics of the sites, compare the conventional and remotely sensed river‐bed topographies, and investigate the laser waveforms reflected from submerged targets to provide an evaluation as to the suitability and accuracy of the EAARL system and associated processing algorithms for riverine mapping applications.

Effect of Flow Depth and Velocity on Nitrate Loss Rates in Natural Channels1

Carleton, James N. and Yusuf M. Mohamoud, 2012. Effect of Flow Depth and Velocity on Nitrate Loss Rates in Natural Channels. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐12. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12007Abstract: Loss rates of nitrate from streams and rivers are governed by movement of the ion from water column to anoxic bed sediments. Quantitative representations of nitrate in streams and rivers have often treated such losses as governed by first‐order mechanisms that are invariant with respect to potential modulating factors other than temperature. Results of studies in recent years, however, suggest that rates of water column‐sediment mass transfer are influenced by stream geometry and associated hydraulics. We develop expressions for the instream nitrate loss rate coefficient, k, as a function of water velocity and depth, using hydraulic geometry to empirically relate velocity to depth for two cases: (1) variability in mean conditions among reaches; and (2) temporal variability in conditions at a single reach, under changing flow. The result is expressions for k as functions of water column depth. Measured stream k values reported in the literature are shown to be well represented by expressions developed for the first case, and the potential for application to probabilistic analysis is briefly examined. We explore the latter case using the Hydrologic Simulation Program – FORTRAN (HSPF) model, modified to incorporate the dependence of k on instantaneous stream depth. In example simulations of two nitrate‐exporting watersheds, the incorporation of depth‐dependence of k produces improvement in the model’s ability to match observed stream nitrate concentrations.

“Nutrient Inputs to the Laurentian Great Lakes by Source and Watershed Estimated Using SPARROW Watershed Models” by Dale M. Robertson and David A. Saad2

Richards, R. Peter, Ibrahim Alameddine, J. David Allan, David B. Baker, Nathan S. Bosch, Remegio Confesor, Joseph V. DePinto, David M. Dolan, Jeffrey M. Reutter, and Donald Scavia, 2012. Discussion –“Nutrient Inputs to the Laurentian Great Lakes by Source and Watershed Estimated Using SPARROW Watershed Models” by Dale M. Robertson and David A. Saad. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐10. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12006Abstract: Results from the Upper Midwest Major River Basin (MRB3) SPARROW model and underlying Fluxmaster load estimates were compared with detailed data available in the Lake Erie and Ohio River watersheds. Fluxmaster and SPARROW estimates of tributary loads tend to be biased low for total phosphorus and high for total nitrogen. These and other limitations of the application led to an overestimation of the relative contribution of point sources vs. nonpoint sources of phosphorus to eutrophication conditions in Lake Erie, when compared with direct estimates for data‐rich Ohio tributaries. These limitations include the use of a decade‐old reference point (2002), lack of modeling of dissolved phosphorus, lack of inclusion of inputs from the Canadian Lake Erie watersheds and from Lake Huron, and the choice to summarize results for the entire United States Lake Erie watershed, as opposed to the key Western and Central Basin watersheds that drive Lake Erie’s eutrophication processes. Although the MRB3 SPARROW model helps to meet a critical need by modeling unmonitored watersheds and ranking rivers by their estimated relative contributions, we recommend caution in use of the MRB3 SPARRROW model for Lake Erie management, and argue that the management of agricultural nonpoint sources should continue to be the primary focus for the Western and Central Basins of Lake Erie.

Oregon Hydrologic Landscapes: A Classification Framework1

Wigington, Parker J., Jr., Scott G. Leibowitz, Randy L. Comeleo, and Joseph L. Ebersole, 2012. Oregon Hydrologic Landscapes: A Classification Framework. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐20. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12009Abstract: There is a growing need for hydrologic classification systems that can provide a basis for broad‐scale assessments of the hydrologic functions of landscapes and watersheds and their responses to stressors such as climate change. We developed a hydrologic landscape (HL) classification approach that describes factors of climate‐watershed systems that control the hydrologic characteristics of watersheds. Our assessment units are incremental watersheds (i.e., headwater watersheds or areas draining directly into stream reaches). Major components of the classification include indices of annual climate, climate seasonality, aquifer permeability, terrain, and soil permeability. To evaluate the usefulness of our approach, we identified 30 rivers with long‐term streamflow‐gauging records and without major diversions and impoundments. We used statistical clustering to group the streams based on the shapes of their annual hydrographs. Comparison of the streamflow clusters and HL distributions within river basin clusters shows that the Oregon HL approach has the ability to provide insights about the expected hydrologic behavior of HLs and larger river basins. The Oregon HL approach has potential to be a useful framework for comparing hydrologic attributes of streams and rivers in the Pacific Northwest.

Riparian Grazing Impacts on Streambank Erosion and Phosphorus Loss Via Surface Runoff1

Tufekcioglu, Mustafa, Richard C. Schultz, George N. Zaimes, Thomas M. Isenhart, and Aydin Tufekcioglu, 2012. Riparian Grazing Impacts on Streambank Erosion and Phosphorus Loss via Surface Runoff. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐11. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.12004.xAbstract: Surface runoff is one of the major pathways of sediment and phosphorus (P) transport to surface waters. Rainfall simulations were conducted on nine grazed pasture sites with different stocking rates in three different Iowa (United States) regions. The purpose of the simulations was to determine the impacts of cattle grazing on the amounts of sediment and P in surface runoff within a 15‐m wide strip on both sides of the stream from different source areas (SAs). These riparian SAs included stream‐side loafing areas, cattle streambank access paths to the stream, and the other vegetated areas adjacent to the streambanks. The runoff samples collected during the simulations were analyzed for suspended sediment (SS) and total phosphorus (TP). Soil bulk density and antecedent soil moisture samples were collected around the rainfall simulation plots to identify differences in compaction, infiltration, and surface runoff among the SAs. SS and TP losses from access paths and loafing areas within the 15‐m wide strips accounted for up to 72 and 55% of the total losses, respectively, even though they accounted for only 2.7% of the total area within the 15‐m wide strips. This suggests that access paths and loafing areas require special attention to mitigate the impacts of cattle on stream water pollution. Significant correlations were found between stocking rates and both SS and TP losses suggesting that low stocking rates can reduce sediment and P export to streams from the SAs.

Effect of Soils on Water Quantity and Quality in Piedmont Forested Headwater Watersheds of North Carolina1

Boggs, Johnny, Ge Sun, David Jones, and Steven G. McNulty, 2012. Effect of Soils on Water Quantity and Quality in Piedmont Forested Headwater Watersheds of North Carolina. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐19. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12001Abstract: Water quantity and quality data were compared from six headwater watersheds on two distinct soil formations, Carolina Slate Belt (CSB) and Triassic Basins (TB). CSB soils are generally thicker, less erodible, and contain less clay content than soils found in TB. TB generated significantly more discharge/precipitation ratio than CSB (0.33 vs. 0.24) in the 2009 dormant season. In the 2009 growing season, TB generated significantly less discharge/precipitation ratio than CSB (0.02 vs. 0.07). Over the entire monitoring period, differences in discharge/precipitation ratios between CSB and TB were not significantly different (0.17 vs. 0.20, respectively). Storm‐flow rates were significantly higher in TB than CSB in both dormant and growing season. Benthic macroinvertebrate biotic index scores were excellent for all streams. Nutrient concentrations and exports in CSB and TB were within background levels for forests. Low‐stream nitrate and ammonium concentrations and exports suggested that both CSB and TB were nitrogen limited. Soils appear to have had a significant influence on seasonal and storm‐flow generation, but not on long‐term total water yield and water quality under forested conditions. This study indicated that watersheds on TB soils might be more prone to storm‐flow generation than on CSB soils when converted from forest to urban. Future urban growth in the area should consider differences in baseline hydrology and effects of landuse change on water quantity and quality.

Characterization of Storm Flow Dynamics of Headwater Streams in the South Carolina Lower Coastal Plain1

Epps, Thomas H., Daniel R. Hitchcock, Anand D. Jayakaran, Drake R. Loflin, Thomas M. Williams, and Devendra M. Amatya, 2012. Characterization of Storm Flow Dynamics of Headwater Streams in the South Carolina Lower Coastal Plain. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐14. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12000Abstract: Hydrologic monitoring was conducted in two first‐order lower coastal plain watersheds in South Carolina, United States, a region with increasing growth and land use change. Storm events over a three‐year period were analyzed for direct runoff coefficients (ROC) and the total storm response (TSR) as percent rainfall. ROC calculations utilized an empirical hydrograph separation method that partitioned total streamflow into sustained base flow and direct runoff components. ROC ratios ranged from 0 to 0.32 on the Upper Debidue Creek (UDC) watershed and 0 to 0.57 on Watershed 80 (WS80); TSR results ranged from 0 to 0.93 at UDC and 0.01 to 0.74 at WS80. Variability in event runoff generation was attributed to seasonal trends in water table elevation fluctuation as regulated by evapotranspiration. Groundwater elevation breakpoints for each watershed were identified based on antecedent water table elevation, streamflow, ROCs, and TSRs. These thresholds represent the groundwater elevation above which event runoff generation increased sharply in response to rainfall. For effective coastal land use decision making, baseline watershed hydrology must be understood to serve as a benchmark for management goals, based on both seasonal and event‐based surface and groundwater interactions.

Modeling Monthly Fluctuations in Submersion Area of a Dammed River Reservoir: A Case Study1

Lu, Haorong, S. Samuel Li, and Jinsong Guo, 2012. Modeling Monthly Fluctuations in Submersion Area of a Dammed River Reservoir: A Case Study. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐13. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12003Abstract: Fluctuations in water submersion of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China have not been explored in spite of their important implications for shoreline erosion and other undesirable consequences. This article aims to quantify the monthly fluctuations in response to changing hydraulic parameters and regional climatic factors. Flow velocity and water levels distributed along the 609‐km long dammed river reservoir are calculated with a one‐dimensional hydrodynamics model. Evaporation of water from the surface of the reservoir is determined using mass transfer‐based methods. Calculated flow velocities and water levels compare well with field data. We show that the water surface slope decreases with rising water level at the dam, and decreases to almost zero during the winter months of water storage when the downstream water level reaches the normal pool level. The submersion area varies between 830 and 1,070 km2 over the year or over 20% of the reservoir zone will experience the annual cycle of dry land and partial or complete submersion. These fluctuations are of relevance to shoreline management and to the prevention and restoration of shoreline erosion. Evaporation is estimated to fluctuate between 1,240 and 26,110 tons of water per month per kilometer length of reservoir channel; this can possibly affect the hydrological budget of the reservoir region. The simple methodologies discussed in this article can easily be applied to other dammed river reservoirs for submersion estimates.