Managing Centrarchid Fisheries in Rivers and Streams

<em>Abstract.</em>—The Ozark Plateau is located at the southern extent of native Smallmouth Bass <em>Micropterus dolomieu </em>range and water temperature and drought conditions during summer months may potentially affect growth of Smallmouth Bass in this region. Groundwater streams in the region do not warm to the same extent as runoff streams during summer months and could provide a thermal refuge habitat for Smallmouth Bass from high summer temperatures and drought conditions. Our study objective was to examine differences in body condition and diet of Smallmouth Bass through summer months between groundwater and runoff streams. We sampled Smallmouth Bass from eight streams across two flow regimes monthly from June–September from 2014 to 2016 in the Ozark Plateau of Arkansas and Missouri. Relative weights were calculated and diet contents were examined for each fish. Linear mixed model analyses indicated that relative weights declined in both stream types in 2014 and 2015, but not in 2016. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference in change in relative weights between runoff and groundwater streams in any year. No diet shifts over the course of the summer were noted in any year, and no differences were seen between stream types. Our results suggest that further work should investigate the refuge qualities of groundwater streams for Smallmouth Bass in this region as Smallmouth Bass from both stream types may currently respond similarly to summer conditions.

Searching for the missing nitrogen: biogenic nitrogen gases in groundwater and streams

SUMMARYBiogenic nitrogen (N2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) accumulations were measured in groundwater, streams and the vadose zone of small agricultural watersheds in the Mid-Atlantic USA. In general, N2and N2O in excess of atmospheric equilibrium were found in groundwater virtually everywhere that was sampled. Excess N2in groundwater ranged from undetectable to 616 μmol N2-N/l, the latter representingc. 50% of background N2. The N2O-N concentrations varied from undetectable to 75 μm, and usually greatly exceeded values at atmospheric equilibrium (25–30 nM); however, N2O was generally 1–10% of excess N2. Intermediate levels of deficit and excess N2in flowing streams (−65 to +250 μmol N2-N/L) resulting from both abiotic and biotic processes were also measured. In vadose zone gases, multiple N2/Ar gas profiles were measured which exhibited seasonal variations with below atmospheric values when the soil was warming in spring/summer and above atmospheric values when groundwater was cooling in fall/winter. Both abiotic and biotic processes contributed to the excess N2and N2O that was observed. The current data indicate that large concentrations of excess N gases can accumulate within soil, groundwater, and streams of agriculturally dominated watersheds. When excess N gases are exchanged with the atmosphere, the net fluxes to the atmosphere may represent an important loss term for watershed N budgets.

Optimizing Reservoir-Stream-Aquifer Interactions for Conjunctive Use and Hydropower Production

Conjunctive management of water resources involves coordinating use of surface water and groundwater resources. Very few simulation/optimization (S-O) models for stream-aquifer system management have included detailed interactions between groundwater, streams, and reservoir storage. This paper presents an S-O model doing that via artificial neural network simulators and genetic algorithm optimizer for multiobjective conjunctive water use problems. The model simultaneously addresses all significant flows including reservoir-stream-diversion-aquifer interactions in a more detailed manner than previous models. The model simultaneously maximizes total water provided and hydropower production. A penalty function implicitly poses constraints on state variables. The model effectively finds feasible optimal solutions and the Pareto optimum. Illustrated is application for planning water resource and minihydropower system development.

Catchment microbial dynamics: the emergence of a research agenda

Parallel policy developments driven in the USA by the Clean Water Act and in Europe by the Water Framework Directive have focused attention on the need for quantitative information on the fluxes of faecal indicator bacteria in catchment systems. Data are required on point and diffuse source loadings, fate and transport of these non-conservative parameters, on the land surface, within soil systems, in groundwater, streams, impoundments and nearshore waters. This new information is needed by regulators to inform Total Maximum Daily Load estimates in the USA and Programmes of Measures in Europe both designed to prevent impairment of water quality at locations where compliance is assessed against health-based standards for drinking, bathing or shellfish harvesting. In the UK, the majority of catchment-scale activity in this field has been undertaken by physical geographers although microbial flux analysis and modelling has received much less attention from the research and policy communities than, for example, the nutrient parameters. This paper charts the policy drivers now operative and assesses the evidence base to support current policy questions. Finally, gaps and priority research questions are identified.

Mobility of phosphorus through intact soil cores collected from the Adelaide Hills, South Australia

Intact cores were collected from a variety of soils in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, and tested for phosphorus retention and mobility (P in drainage) under various rainfall intensities (5, 25, and 50 mm/h). Phosphorus mobility was high in soils with significant macropore structure. However, all soils exhibited some degree of preferential flow of P, including the heavy-textured soils with high P adsorption that were not P saturated. A phosphorus adsorption index based only on the chemical properties of the soil did not accurately predict the mobility of P through soils with macroporosity. A phosphorus mobility index was developed encompassing both soil chemical and physical parameters. Results showed the sandy soils, and the loams over clays with high macroporosity that are located in the more elevated parts of the Adelaide hills, are most susceptible to P leaching. Management to reduce P loss to groundwater, streams, or surface water storages must aim to increase the residence time of P within soils and thereby allow mineral and organic fractions time to sorb P. Phosphorus loss through wet soils was significantly less than P loss through dry soils with high macroporosity. Application of P fertiliser to soils with high macroporosity may need to be delayed until later in the growing season than is currently practised.