West Nose Creek Watershed Analysis

Each year, at least 7.8 trillion gallons of water are drawn up from the Ogalla Aquifer to irrigate the crops planted on the High Plains. These cros are the main food sourrce for our entire country. Tragically, irrigation is depleting the aquifer faster than it can replenish itself, and that is the problem. In fact, only the tiniest fraction of the water is ever replaced in the Ogallala Aquifer. If the water were ever fully depleted, the aquifer would need 6,000 years to refill naturally (Zwingle 83). The only way the Ogalla can be replenished is by water seeping down through the layers of soil until it reaches the aquifer. This water comes from the small amount of precipitation in the region, as well as from streams, reservoirs, canals, and irrigation (McGuire and Sharpe).

Webb (2003) conducted numerical analysis of source-water dynamics of stream-bounded alluvial aquifers, along the Ohio River in northern panhandle of West Virginia, with consideration of lateral infiltration of groundwater from bedrock aquifer. However, the author did not verify her model to the field data. On the other hand, Kozar and McCoy (2004) presented groundwater-surface water interaction and simulation of groundwater flow in the alluvial aquifers from the northern panhandle of West Virginia without considering recharge form adjacent bedrock and leakage from overlying tributary streams. Although, Bader et al., (1997) and Unthank (1999) independently identified that the alluvium along the Ohio River, West Virginia and Kentucky respectively is recharged by the following means: (1) precipitation on the flood plain, (2) inflow from fractures in the bedrock beneath and adjacent to the alluvium, (3) inflow from tributary streams through gravel deltas and bedding-plane partings, and (4) induced inflow from the river. Water flowing in tributary streams can percolate through the deltas to the gravel under the clay-silt layer (Grain, 1966). Unthank (2013) updated model and reran it which generated significant difference between measured water levels and model-computed water levels in the aquifer. The author concluded that more accurate and site-specific estimates of field parameters, refined model geometry, and additional numerical method improve

The topography of the watersheds throughout Sevier County vary amongst three different watersheds in the Upper Tennessee River Basin (Upper). The Holston River Watershed covers approximately 999 square miles and it drains into the Tennessee River (Holston). The Pigeon River Watershed is partially located in Tennessee with only 153 square miles of its 704 square miles in Tennessee, and it drains into the Pigeon River (Pigeon). The Lower French Broad River Watershed is made up of 796 square miles, and it drains into the French Broad River (Lower).

Each watershed varies depending on location. The Salem Creek watershed naturally consists of rocks, vegetation, water, clay and loam soils, slopes, and juvenile aquatic life. Conversely, there is naturally some stream bank and soil erosion. As for human features, the watershed consists of drainage pipes, sewage pipes, bridges, mounds of cement, and pollution sources. Most of the human features are generally in the highly urbanized areas of the watershed, which consists of northwestern portion of Winston-Salem, NC. There were also impervious surfaces bordering both sides of the watershed. On the stretch parallel to Old Salem Road, there was Old Salem Road on one side of the watershed, and housing and other buildings on the other. With the portion that is appears near South Main Street, there is a multiuse development and major road bordering it. There is also cement on the furthest side of the watershed and a sidewalk on the other that border the wide portion of the watershed that is located in the Salem Creek Greenway.

“Only communities located downstream in a watershed need to be concerned about how the water resources are managed in the watershed.”

Through our research we aimed to determine if there were any differences in water quality of both the north and south forks of Strawberry Creek. As time progresses and the environment changes it is important to keep track of how certain species are being impacted by these features, and how they cope with change. We hypothesized that due to the lack of pollution, the south fork will promote a greater diversity of macroinvertebrates. This was due to the fact that there was less runoff and trash that could be introduced to the water in the south fork, than there was in the north fork. We gathered data by analyzing the different organisms living in both forks. We collected a total of fifty vials composed of five organisms from each fork, and inspected them under microscopic view. After gathering data and identifying the different kinds of organisms living in the different forks we assessed whether the organisms from the samples could live in high or low resolution water. We also took a t-test to assess the probability of these differences being due to relevant factors or by chance. Our major findings suggest that organisms in the south fork showed a higher demand to living in cleaner water indicating that our hypothesis was correct.

Newtown creek is a 3.8-mile waterway located on the border of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City and was once a busy center for industrial activity. More than 50 factories were located along its banks, including oil refineries, petrochemical plants, sawmills, and lumber and coal yards. The Creek was also the site of one of the largest oil spill in the U.S. (EPA, 2007). As a consequence, the soil surrounding the area became polluted with toxic heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and was declared a Superfund site. The Superfund Program requires responsible parties to perform cleanups or reimburse the government for cleanups led by EPA. Superfund sites are hazardous to human health and to the environment. benz[a]anthracene,

Background (1 ¶): What is the Duck Creek Watershed? What problems is it facing? What is being done so far to remedy these problems? Who is working on this problem?

The Laguna Creek Watershed is located in Fremont, California covering 25.1 mi2. Engineered channels along the flatlands of the watershed allow the water that comes from the Mission, Sabercat, Aqua Caliente, Vargas, Washington, Canada del Aliso, and Morrison creeks to flow into Laguna Creek. Laguna Creek drains into the foothills of the Diablo Range and Mud Slough. (Laguna Creek Watershed) The Laguna Creek Watershed Council is a nonprofit alliance that serves to protect Laguna Creek, associated riparian corridors, and tributary streams. The goals are accomplish through education of residents, community participation, and finding balanced solutions with all stakeholders. (Mission and Vision)

After researching all the chemicals that were given, I have concluded that the company, Sarah’s House of Wax, is responsible for the “burning water” in Big Darby Creek. They use the chemical petroleum ether, which is causing the many unwanted flames in the water. Petroleum ether has many physical and chemical properties that led me to believe it was the contender causing the problem. After watching the video of the burning water, petroleum ether’s slightly flammability, white color, insolubility in water, and extremely low flash point has caused me to believe it is the chemical to blame.

Describe the source of the groundwater, that is, where is the rainfall and snowmelt that feeds the aquifer coming from, and what are the best estimates of the travel time from the source to the point of withdrawal.

Describe the source of the groundwater, that is, where is the rainfall and snowmelt that feeds the aquifer coming from, and what are the best estimates of the travel time from the source to the point of withdrawal.

In California, groundwater is not merely part of the hydrologic cycle, but a key component that supports the state’s economy, contributes towards environmental stewardship, and supports communities that may range from being partially dependent to solely dependent on groundwater. Groundwater in California has always supported the urban settlement, irrigation in the arid Central Valley, and functioned as a backup water source during droughts. Given the importance of groundwater in the state, California pumps more groundwater than any other state, pumping roughly 16% of national groundwater use (California Department of Water Resources 2015). Despite groundwater’s importance, there has not been an established system to manage groundwater throughout

Lenz, ( 2003 ) studied the Ground-Water Flow and Rainfall Runoff with Emphasis on the Effects of Land Cover, Whittlesey Creek, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, 1999-2001 using SWAT model. The effects of land cover on flooding and base-flow characteristics of Whittlesey Creek, Bayfield County, Wis were examined in a study that involved ground-water-flow and rainfall-runoff modeling. Field data were collected during 1999-2001. Potentiometric-surface altitudes and stratigraphic descriptions were provided by well logs. Geological data, soil parameters, hydrography, altitude, and land-cover data were compiled into a geographic information system (GIS) and used in two ground-water-flow models (GFLOW and MODFLOW) and a rainfall-runoff model (SWAT). A base flow of 17-18 cubic feet per second is produced in a deep ground-water system which intersects Whittlesey Creek near the confluence with the North Fork.

The High Plains Aquifer encompasses approximately 174,000 square miles and stretches from Texas to South Dakota (Fig. 1). This aquifer is also known as the Ogallala Aquifer due to the geologic formation that it lies above. The development of this aquifer along with glacial till produced through the retreat of glaciers during previous ice ages, has yielded a very productive region for farming. The High Plains Aquifer is a valuable natural resource for farmers within the area, but several factors have caused the depletion of this aquifer. Some of the factors that have caused the depletion include a slow rate of recharge, the overlying formation, and heavy pumping within the aquifer.