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At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
USGS1983

Atmospheric deposition: Sample handling, storage, and analytical procedures for chemical characterization of event-based samples in North Dakota

The North Dakota atmospheric-deposition network uses HASL-type collectors to sample wet and dry deposition on an event basis for analysis of 8 principal mineral, 3 nutrient, and 15 trace constituents. Comparison of the compositions of wet deposition collected in adjacent collectors sampled on weekly and event bases indicates that weekly sampling leads to significant contamination of wet deposition samples with dry deposition. Elevation of the collectors 10 feet above ground surface may decrease wind-blown soil contamination significantly. This manual presents a summary of the research procedures adopted by the North Dakota District of the U.S. Geological Survey to investigate the consequences of increased fossil-fuel combustion on the quality of atmospheric deposition. The manual has been tested by field operatives for 3 years and shown to be an effective field guide and management tool.

North Dakota↗
USGS1995

Simulated response of the High Plains aquifer to ground-water withdrawals in the Upper Republican Natural Resources District, Nebraska

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Soil Tilth Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, conducted a study as part of the multi- scale, interagency Management Systems Evaluation Area (MSEA) program to evaluate the effects of agricultural management (farming) systems on water quality. Data on surface flow, tileflow, and streamflow in the Walnut Creek watershed just south of Ames, Iowa, were collected during April 1991-September 1993 at five sites with drainage areas ranging from 366 to 5,130 hectares. Precipitation, flow discharge, and concentration, loads, and yields of nitrate as nitrogen, atrazine, and metolachlor were analyzed to relate the transport of agricultural chemicals to major water-flow processes and to examine and transport differences among three subwatersheds. Antecedent conditions and basin-characteristic differences had significant effects on the flow response from the subwatersheds. Monthly streamflow-to- precipitation ratios were greater than 1.0, as a result of snowmelt, and negative when streamflow was lost to the ground-water system in the downstream subwatershed. Dry antecedent conditions resulted in ratios less than 0.3 (July 1992), whereas wet antecedent conditions resulted in ratios from 0.7 to almost 1.0 (July 1993) during months with similar large rainfall amounts. Most of the streamflow from the upland subwatersheds came from tileflow. Surface flow (surface runoff, interflow, and return flow0 was highly variable and intermittent, usually lasting for only a few days after a storm, although it could be the dominant source of flow when stormflow was large. Tileflow was less variable and much more persistent, ceasing only after prolonged dry periods. Large quantities of nitrate as nitrogen were transported in Walnut Creek, with concen- trations often greater than the Maximum Contaminant Level of 10 milligrams per liter established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for finished drinking water. In the upland subwatersheds, ground-water flow from the tiles appears to have been the primary means of transport to the streams. Concentrations in tileflow and streamflow generally were 4 to 16 milligrams per liter, with the lower concen- trations often the result of dilution by surface runoff. Loss ratios, chemical yields expressed as a percentage of average application rates of nitrate as nitrogen for October 1992-September 1993, were about 10 percent for surface flow and more than 100 percent for tileflow from the 366-hectare basin and were more than 200 percent for streamflow from the downstream subwatershed. Concentrations of atrazine and metolachlor in streamflow, typically, were less than the Maximum Contaminant Level of 3.0 micrograms per liter, but were as high as 59 and 80 micrograms per liter, respectively, during stormflow. Concentrations as high as 170 micrograms per liter occurred in tileflow, but these were related to surface flow through surface inlets. The transport of herbicides was extremely variable, with most of the loads occurring during stormflow. Atrazine appeared more susceptable to transport losses to streamflow than did metolachlor. Loss ratios for streamflow from the subwatersheds for April- September periods were 0.3 to 20 percent for atrazine and 0.1 to 2.9 percent for metolachlor. Chemical loss ratios indicated differences in the transport characteristics of the three subwatersheds. The downstream subwatershed, which has steeper terrain, a more-developed natural drainage system, and fewer tiles than the two upland subwatersheds, had the largest loss rates for all three chemicals--206 percent for nitrate as nitrogen (October 1992-September 1993) and 20 percent for atrazine and 2.9 percent for metolachlor (April-September 1993). For May-July 1993, when most of the herbicides were transported, the downstream subwatershed also had the largest cumulative unit discharge and the largest streamflow-to-precipitation ra

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1996

Transport of agricultural chemicals in surface flow, tileflow, and streamflow of Walnut Creek Watershed near Ames, Iowa, April 1991-September 1993

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Soil Tilth Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, conducted a study as part of the multi-scale, inter-agency Management Systems Evaluation Area (MSEA) program to evaluate the effects of agricultural management (farming) systems on water quality. Data on surface flow, tileflow, and streamflow in the Walnut Creek watershed just south of Ames, Iowa, were collected during April 1991-September 1993 at five sites with drainage areas ranging from 366 to 5,130 hectares. Precipitation, flow discharge, and concentration, loads, and yields of nitrate as nitrogen, atrazine, and metolachlor were analyzed to relate the transport of agricultural chemicals to major water-flow processes and to examine flow and transport differences among three subwatersheds. Antecedent conditions and basin-characteristic differences had significant effects on the flow response from the subwatersheds. Monthly streamflow-to-precipitation ratios were greater than 1.0, as a result of snowmelt, and negative when streamflow was lost to the ground-water system in the downstream subwatershed. Dry antecedent conditions resulted in ratios less than 0.3 (July 1992), whereas wet antecedent conditions resulted in ratios from 0.7 to almost 1.0 (July 1993) during months with similar large rainfall amounts. Most of the streamflow from the upland subwatersheds came from tileflow. Surface flow (surface runoff, interflow, and return flow) was highly variable and intermittent, usually lasting for only a few days after a storm, although it could be the dominant source of flow when stormflow was large. Tileflow was less variable and much more persistent, ceasing only after prolonged dry periods. Large quantities of nitrate as nitrogen were transported in Walnut Creek, with concentrations often greater than the Maximum Contaminant Level of 10 milligrams per liter established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for finished drinking water. In the upland subwatersheds, ground-water flow from the tiles appears to have been the primary means of transport to the streams. Concentrations in tileflow and streamflow generally were 4 to 16 milligrams per liter, with the lower concentrations often the result of dilution by surface runoff. Loss ratios, chemical yields expressed as a percentage of average application rates of nitrate as nitrogen for October 1992-September 1993, were about 10 percent for surface flow and more than 100 percent for tileflow from the 366-hectare basin and were more than 200 percent for streamflow from the downstream subwatershed. Concentrations of atrazine and metolachlor in streamflow, typically, were less than the Maximum Contaminant Level of 3.0 micrograms per liter, but were as high as 59 and 80 micrograms per liter, respectively, during stormflow. Concentrations as high as 170 micrograms per liter occurred in tileflow, but these were related to surface flow through surface inlets. The transport of herbicides was extremely variable, with most of the loads occurring during stormflow. Atrazine appeared more susceptible to transport losses to streamflow than did metolachlor. Loss ratios for streamflow from the subwatersheds for April-September periods were 0.3 to 20 percent for atrazine and 0.1 to 2.9 percent for metolachlor. Chemical loss ratios indicated differences in the transport characteristics of the three subwatersheds. The downstream subwatershed, which has steeper terrain, a more-developed natural drainage system, and fewer tiles than the two upland subwatersheds, had the largest loss rates for all three chemicals 206 percent for nitrate as nitrogen (October 1992-September 1993) and 20 percent for atrazine and 2.9 percent for metolachlor (April-September 1993). For May-July 1993, when most of the herbicides were transported, the downstream subwatershed also had the largest cumulative unit discharge and the largest streamflow-to-precipitation ratios.

Iowa↗
USGS2008

Moist-soil seed abundance in managed wetlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley

Managed moist-soil units support early succession herbaceous vegetation that produces seeds, tubers, and other plant parts used by waterfowl in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), USA. We conducted a stratified multi-stage sample survey on state and federal lands in the MAV of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri during autumns 2002?2004 to generate a contemporary estimate of combined dry mass of seeds and tubers (herein seed abundance) in managed moist-soil units for use by the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture (LMVJV) of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. We also examined variation in mean seed abundance among moist-soil units in 2003 and 2004 in relation to management intensity (active or passive), soil pH and nutrient levels, proportional occurrence of plant life-forms (e.g., grass, flatsedge, and forb; vine; woody plants), and unit area. Estimates of mean seed abundance were similar in 2002 (X over bar = 537.1 kg/ha, SE = 100.1) and 2004 (X over bar = 555.2 kg/ha, SE = 105.2) but 35?40% less in 2003 (X over bar = 396.8 kg/ha, SE = 116.1). Averaged over years, seed abundance was 496.3 kg/ha (SE = 62.0; CV = 12.5%). Multiple regression analysis indicated seed abundance varied among moist-soil units inversely with proportional occurrence of woody vegetation and unit area and was greater in actively than passively managed units (R2adj = 0.37). Species of early succession grasses occurred more frequently in actively than passively managed units (P < 0.09), whereas mid- and late-succession plants occurred more often in passively managed units (P < 0.02). We recommend the LMVJV consider 556 kg/ha as a measure of seed abundance for use in estimating carrying capacity in managed moist-soil units on public lands in the MAV. We recommend active management of moist-soil units to achieve maximum potential seed production and further research to determine recovery rates of seeds of various sizes from core samples and the relationship between seed abundance and unit area.

Journal of Wildlife Management↗
USGS2014

Synthesis of thirty years of surface water quality and aquatic biota data in Shenandoah National Park: Collaboration between the US Geological Survey and the National Park Service

The eastern United States has been the recipient of acidic atmospheric deposition (hereinafter, “acid rain”) for many decades. Deleterious effects of acid rain on natural resources have been well documented for surface water (e.g., Likens et al. 1996; Stoddard et al. 2001), soils (Bailey et al. 2005), forest health (Long et al. 2009), and habitat suitability for stream biota (Baker et al. 1993). Shenandoah National Park (SNP) is located in northern and central Virginia and consists of a long, narrow strip of land straddling the Blue Ridge Mountains (Figure 1). The park’s elevated topography and location downwind of the Ohio River valley, where many acidic emissions to the atmosphere are generated (NSTC 2005), have made it a target for acid rain. Characterizing the link between air quality and water quality as related to acid rain, contaminants, soil conditions, and forest health is a high priority for research and monitoring in SNP. The US Geological Survey (USGS) and SNP have had a long history of collaboration on documenting acid rain effects on the park’s natural resources, starting in 1985 and continuing to the present (Lynch and Dise 1985; Rice et al. 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007; Deviney et al. 2006, 2012; Jastram et al. 2013).

Virginia↗
USGS2016

Assessing wildlife benefits and carbon storage from restored and natural coastal marshes in the Nisqually River Delta: Determining marsh net ecosystem carbon balance

Working in partnership since 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nisqually Indian Tribe have restored 902 acres of tidally influenced coastal marsh in the Nisqually River Delta (NRD), making it the largest estuary-restoration project in the Pacific Northwest to date. Marsh restoration increases the capacity of the estuary to support a diversity of wildlife species. Restoration also increases carbon (C) production of marsh plant communities that support food webs for wildlife and can help mitigate climate change through long-term C storage in marsh soils. In 2015, an interdisciplinary team of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers began to study the benefits of carbon for wetland wildlife and storage in the NRD. Our primary goals are (1) to identify the relative importance of the different carbon sources that support juvenile chinook ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) food webs and contribute to current and historic peat formation, (2) to determine the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) in a reference marsh and a restoration marsh site, and (3) to model the sustainability of the reference and restoration marshes under projected sea-level rise conditions along with historical vegetation change. In this fact sheet, we focus on the main C sources and exchanges to determine NECB, including carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) uptake through plant photosynthesis, the loss of CO 2 through plant and soil respiration, emissions of methane (CH 4 ), and the lateral movement or leaching loss of C in tidal waters.

Washington↗
USGS2013

The influence of precipitation, vegetation and soil properties on the ecohydrology of sagebrush steppe rangelands on the INL site

The INL Site and other landscapes having sagebrush steppe vegetation are experiencing a simultaneous change in climate and floristics that result from increases in exotic species. Determining the separate and combined/interactive effects of climate and vegetation change is important for assessing future changes on the landscape and for hydrologic processes. This research uses the 72 experimental plots established and initially maintained for many years as the “Protective Cap Biobarrier Experiment” by Dr. Jay Anderson and the Stoller ESER program, and the experiment is also now referred to as the “INL Site Ecohydrology Study.” We are evaluating long-term impacts of different plant communities commonly found throughout Idaho subject to different precipitation regimes and to different soil depths. Treatments of amount and timing of precipitation (irrigation), soil depth, and either native/perennial or exotic grass vegetation allow researchers to investigate how vegetation, precipitation and soil interact to influence soil hydrology and ecosystem biogeochemistry. This information will be used to improve a variety of models, as well as provide data for these models.

Report↗
USGS2012

Inferring local competition intensity from patch size distributions: a test using biological soil crusts

Dryland vegetation is inherently patchy. This patchiness goes on to impact ecology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry. Recently, researchers have proposed that dryland vegetation patch sizes follow a power law which is due to local plant facilitation. It is unknown what patch size distribution prevails when competition predominates over facilitation, or if such a pattern could be used to detect competition. We investigated this question in an alternative vegetation type, mosses and lichens of biological soil crusts, which exhibit a smaller scale patch-interpatch configuration. This micro-vegetation is characterized by competition for space. We proposed that multiplicative effects of genetics, environment and competition should result in a log-normal patch size distribution. When testing the prevalence of log-normal versus power law patch size distributions, we found that the log-normal was the better distribution in 53% of cases and a reasonable fit in 83%. In contrast, the power law was better in 39% of cases, and in 8% of instances both distributions fit equally well. We further hypothesized that the log-normal distribution parameters would be predictably influenced by competition strength. There was qualitative agreement between one of the distribution's parameters (&mu;) and a novel intransitive (lacking a 'best' competitor) competition index, suggesting that as intransitivity increases, patch sizes decrease. The correlation of &mu; with other competition indicators based on spatial segregation of species (the C-score) depended on aridity. In less arid sites, &mu; was negatively correlated with the C-score (suggesting smaller patches under stronger competition), while positive correlations (suggesting larger patches under stronger competition) were observed at more arid sites. We propose that this is due to an increasing prevalence of competition transitivity as aridity increases. These findings broaden the emerging theory surrounding dryland patch size distributions and, with refinement, may help us infer cryptic ecological processes from easily observed spatial patterns in the field.

Oikos↗
USGS2024

Facilitating comparable research in seedling functional ecology

Ecologists have worked to ascribe function to the variation found in plant populations, communities and ecosystems across environments for at least the past century. The vast body of research in functional ecology has drastically improved understanding of how individuals respond to their environment, communities are assembled and ecosystems function. However, with limited exceptions, few studies have quantified differences in plant function during the earliest stages of the plant life cycle, and fewer have tested how this early variability shapes populations, communities and ecosystems. Drawing from the literature and our collective experience, we describe the current state of knowledge in seedling functional ecology and provide examples of how this subdiscipline can enrich our fundamental understanding of plant function across levels of organisation. To inspire progressive work in this area, we also outline key considerations involved in seedling functional research (who, what, when, where and how to measure seedling traits) and identify remaining challenges and gaps in understanding around methodological approaches. Within this conceptual synthesis, we highlight three critical areas in seedling ecology for future research to target. First, given wide variation in the definition of a ‘seedling’, we provide a standard definition based on seed reserve dependence while emphasising the need to measure ontogenetic variation more clearly both within and following the seedling stage. Second, studies demonstrate that seedlings can be studied in multiple media (e.g. soil, agar, filter paper) and conditions (e.g. field, greenhouse, laboratory). We recommend that researchers select methods based on explicit goals, yet follow standard guidelines to reduce methodological noise across studies. Third, research is critically needed to assess the implications of different methodologies on trait measurement and compatibility across studies. By highlighting the importance of seedling functional ecology and suggesting pathways to address key challenges, we aim to inspire future research that generates useful and comparable data on seedling functional ecology. This work is critical to explain variation within and among populations, communities and ecosystems and integrate this most vulnerable stage of plant life into ecological frameworks.

Methods in Ecology & Evolution↗
USGS2010

Comparison of Penman-Monteith, Shuttleworth-Wallace, and modified Priestley-Taylor evapotranspiration models for wildland vegetation in semiarid rangeland

Eddy correlation measurements of sensible and latent heat flux are used with measurements of net radiation, soil heat flux, and other micrometeorological variables to develop the Penman-Monteith, Shuttleworth-Wallace, and modified Priestley-Taylor evapotranspiration models for use in a sparsely vegetated, semiarid rangeland. The Penman-Monteith model, a one-component model designed for use with dense crops, is not sufficiently accurate ( r 2 = 0.56 for hourly data and r 2 = 0.60 for daily data). The Shuttleworth-Wallace model, a two-component logical extension of the Penman-Monteith model for use with sparse crops, performs significantly better ( r 2 = 0.78 for hourly data and r 2 = 0.85 for daily data). The modified Priestley-Taylor model, a one-component simplified form of the Penman potential evapotranspiration model, surprisingly performs as well as the Shuttle worth-Wallace model. The rigorous Shuttleworth-Wallace model predicts that about one quarter of the vapor flux to the atmosphere is from bare-soil evaporation. Further, during daylight hours, the small leaves are sinks for sensible heat produced at the hot soil surface.

Water Resources Research↗
USGS1978

Dating Quaternary faults in the southwestern United States by using buried calcic paleosols

Calcareous soils are widespread on upper Pliocene to upper Pleistocene unconsolidated surflcial deposits in semiarid portions of the southwestern United States. Where these soils are related to faults, the soils may provide a means for quantitatively estimating timing and amounts of Quaternary faulting. Soil age estimates are based on the amount of pedogenic CaCO 3 (g/cm 2 -soil column) that has accumulated from soil processes, whereas rates of calcic-soil formation were calibrated by the K-Ar dating method, tephrochronology, vertebrate paleontology, and regional soil studies. The County Dump fault, west of Albuquerque, N. Mex. cuts a 500 000-yearold datum, the Llano de Albuquerque. The downdropped block of this fault contains a sequence of faulted younger deposits and intercalated calcic paleosols. Soil ages, and hence fault ages, can be calculated by measuring the total pedogenic calcium carbonate content in a section of buried paleosols and by using an independently established maximum soil formation rate of 0.35 g CaCO 3 • cm -2 • 10 -3 yr -1 for the Albuquerque area. This particular fault segment has had four discrete episodes of movement in the past 500 000 yr, the most recent of which occurred about 20000 yr B.P. Recurrence intervals on the segment are 90 000-190 000 yr, but the composite recurrence interval for all fault movements in this area may be less by several orders of magnitude. This technique of quantifying soil properties and calculating ages of relict soils can be used to estimate ages of Quaternary deposits and associated surfaces, to correlate such features over broad regions, and to analyze regional trends in calcic-soil formation.

New Mexico↗
USGS2026

Core microbiomes as a potential fingerprinting method of Western USA dust sources

Introduction: Changing frequency and intensity of dust emissions impacts ecosystems and human health. Dust carries microbes, nutrients, heavy metals, and other materials that may change environmental biogeochemistry at deposition sites. Identifying dust sources provides key information on where and when mitigation strategies should be employed. However, commonly used geochemical or isotopic tracers are often not capable of distinguishing between geographic regions. Methods: We explored whether soil bacterial communities may provide distinct fingerprints of dust sources in the western United States. We identified bacterial core communities of dust from ten locations monitored by the National Wind Erosion Research Network (NWERN) with varied land use (cropland, rangeland, and playa), and compared communities to location, soil, and regional characteristics. Samples were collected monthly from Modified Wilson and Cooke (MWAC) samplers, composited by season (spring, summer, and fall), and analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: We found distinct bacterial core communities that reflected dust source characteristics. In order of importance, precipitation levels ( p = 0.0001), location ( p = 0.0001), soil texture ( p = 0.0001), seasonality ( p = 0.0001), and elevation (p = 0.0002) were correlated with bacterial community composition. Discussion: Distinct bacterial core communities were associated with site characteristics such as biocrusts, playas, and military base proximity. Our results suggest that the use of core microbiomes may offer a fingerprinting method to identify dust source regions.

Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklaho↗
USGS2002

Environmental impacts of petroleum production: Fate of inorganic and organic chemicals in produced water from the Osage-Skiatook Petroleum Environmental Research sites, Osage County, Oklahoma

About 15 scientists from the U. S. Geological Survey, other Federal agencies and academia are involved in a multidisciplinary investigation to study the transport, fate, and natural attenuation of inorganic salts, trace metals, radionuclides and organic compounds present in produced water, and their impacts on soil, surface and ground water and the local ecosystem at the Osage-Skiatook Petroleum Environmental Research (OSPER) A and B sites, located in Osage County, OK. The Branstetter lease, OSPER B site, is typical of many aging petroleum fields in Osage County, which ranks among the top oil and gas producing counties in Oklahoma with close to 40,000 wells. Current production in Osage County is mainly from stripper wells (averaging ~2.8 bbls/d oil and >30 bbls/d brine) that are shallow, mostly 300-700 m in depth, and produce from several sandstones of Pennsylvanian age. About one hectare of land at the OSPER B site is affected by salt scarring, soil salinization and brine and petroleum contamination due to the leakage of produced water and associated hydrocarbons from two brine pits and due to accidental releases from active tank batteries. Eventually, the bulk of inorganic salts and some dissolved organic species in the released brine reach, directly or via the two local streams, the adjacent Skiatook Lake, a 4250-hectare reservoir that provides drinking water to the local communities and is a major recreational fishery. About 40 water samples were obtained from several oil wells at the B site and adjoining areas, the two brine pits, several brine pools and seeps in the impacted area, local streams, Skiatook Lake, and from about 20 boreholes (1-71 m deep), recently drilled and completed with slotted PVC tubing. Water level monitoring and additional sampling is continuing. Results to date show that the produced water is a high-salinity (~150,000 mg/L total dissolved solids) Na-Ca-Cl brine, with relatively high concentrations of Sr, Mg and NH4, but low amounts of SO4 and H2S. With the exception of Fe and Mn, the concentrations of trace metals are low, and the values of dissolved organics are relatively low. As the brine flows from the brine pits through the shallow eolian sand, colluvial and alluvial deposits to the streams and Skiatook Lake, it is diluted by infiltrating water from precipitation. Its chemical composition is modified by sorption, mineral precipitation/dissolution, transpiration, volatilization and oxidation/reduction reactions. Bacteria likely play an important role in many of these reactions.

Oklahoma↗
USGS2003

Environmental impacts of petroleum production--Initial results from the Osage-Skiatook Petroleum Environmental Research Sites, Osage County, Oklahoma

Exploration for and production of petroleum have caused major detrimental impacts to soils, surface and ground waters, and the local ecosystems in the United States. These impacts arise primarily from the improper disposal of large volumes of saline water produced with oil and gas, from accidental hydrocarbon and produced water releases, and from abandoned oil wells that were not correctly sealed. It is important to understand the long-term and short-term effects of produced water and hydrocarbon releases from these sites in order to develop risk-based remediation plans. Remediation is particularly needed in aging and depleted fields where land use is changing from petroleum production to residential, agricultural or recreational uses. About 20 scientists from the USGS and other governmental agencies and academia are involved in a multidisciplinary investigation to study the transport, fate, and natural attenuation of inorganic salts, trace metals, organic compounds and radionuclides present in produced water, and their impacts at the Osage-Skiatook Petroleum Environmental Research (OSPER) 'A' and 'B' sites, located on the Osage Reservation in Osage County, Oklahoma. Stakeholders in the project include the Osage Nation, which holds the mineral rights, the Bureau of Indian Affairs with trust responsibility, and the Army Corps of Engineers, which owns the surface rights at these sites and manages adjacent Skiatook Lake. The 4250-hectare Skiatook Lake provides drinking water to local Tulsa suburban communities and a rural water district, and offers recreational fishing and boating opportunities to tens of thousands of visitors each year. Approximately 1.5 and 1.0 hectare of land at the OSPER 'A' (depleted Lester lease) and 'B' (active Branstetter lease) sites, respectively, are affected by salt scarring, tree kills, soil salinization and brine and petroleum contamination due to the leakage of produced water and associated hydrocarbons from brine pits and accidental releases from active and inactive pipes and tank batteries. The leases are typical of many depleted and aging petroleum fields in Osage County, which ranks among the top oil and gas producing counties in Oklahoma with about 39,000 wells. Oil and gas production has occurred in Osage county for over one hundred years, but current production is mainly from stripper wells (averaging ~2.8 bbl/d oil and >30 bbl/d brine) that are shallow, mostly 300-700 m in depth, and produce from several sandstones of Pennsylvanian age. Results to date show that the produced water source is a Na-Ca-Cl brine (~150,000 mg/L total dissolved solids), with relatively high concentrations of Mg, Sr, and NH4, but low SO4 and H2S. With the exception of Fe and Mn, the concentrations of trace metals are low. Results also show that some and, eventually, the bulk, of inorganic salts and some dissolved organic species in the released brine from both sites will reach Skiatook Lake. Results at the 'A' site show that the salts have essentially been removed from the sandy soil which formed in a surficial layer of eolian sand, but degraded and weathered oil persists on the surface of old oil and brine pits, close to sites of old tanks, on old channels that carried oil from tanks to the oil pits and other impacted areas. Results also show a plume of high salinity water (5,000-30,600 mg/L TDS) is present at intermediate depths that extend from below the old oil and brine pits to Skiatook Lake. No liquid petroleum was found in the contaminated groundwater, but soluble petroleum byproducts, including organic acid anions and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present. Results to date clearly show that significant amounts of salts from produced-water releases and petroleum hydrocarbons still remain in the soils and rocks of the impacted area after more than 60 years of natural attenuation.

Oklahoma↗
USGS2016

Migratory bird habitat in relation to tile drainage and poorly drained hydrologic soil groups

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is home to more than 50% of the migratory waterfowl in North America. Although the PPR provides an abundance of temporary and permanent wetlands for nesting and feeding, increases in commodity prices and agricultural drainage practices have led to a trend of wetland drainage. The Northern Shoveler is a migratory dabbling duck species that uses wetland habitats and cultivated croplands in the PPR. Richland County in North Dakota and Roberts County in South Dakota have an abundance of wetlands and croplands and were chosen as the study areas for this research to assess the wetland size and cultivated cropland in relation to hydrologic soil groups for the Northern Shoveler habitat. This study used geographic information system data to analyze Northern Shoveler habitats in association with Natural Resource Conservation Service soil data. Habitats, which are spatially associated with certain hydrologic soil groups, may be at risk of artificial drainage installations because of their proximity to cultivated croplands and soil lacking in natural drainage that may become wet or inundated. Findings indicate that most wetlands that are part of Northern Shoveler habitats were within or adjacent to cultivated croplands. The results also revealed soil hydrologic groups with high runoff potential and low water transmission rates account for most of the soil within the Northern Shoveler‘s wetland and cropland habitats. Habitats near agriculture with high runoff potential are likely to be drained and this has the potential of reducing Northern Shoveler habitat.

Conference Paper↗
USGS2024

Establishing quantitative benchmarks for soil erosion and ecological monitoring, assessment, and management

Soil erosion can have a multitude of negative impacts on agroecosystems and society and there remains an urgent need for tools to support its management. Quantitative benchmarks based on holistic understanding of erosion processes, ecosystem function, and land use objectives can be used with monitoring data and models to inform assessments and make objective and actionable decisions about erosion management. However, managers currently lack a framework for establishing benchmarks. Here, we present a framework and evaluation of different approaches to establishing quantitative benchmarks for soil erosion and ecological monitoring and assessment that can inform land management decisions. We use monitoring data collected across Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems in the United States and an aeolian sediment transport model to illustrate how benchmarks can be established. Approaches include establishing benchmarks from relationships between soil erosion indicators, reference states and land potential, including state-and-transition models, and desired conditions from existing monitoring data. We discuss the benefits and caveats of the different approaches and show how combining different benchmarking approaches can help users ensure that benchmarks appropriately reflect thresholds for soil erosion and achievable management outcomes. We finish by identifying future research needs to support establishment and application of erosion benchmarks across agroecosystems and recognize the opportunity to extend the benchmarking approaches to management of other agroecosystem processes and services.

Ecological Indicators↗
USGS2023

Modeling global indices for estimating non-photosynthetic vegetation cover

Non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) includes plant litter, senesced leaves, and crop residues. NPV plays an essential role in terrestrial ecosystem processes, and is an important indicator of drought severity, ecosystem disturbance, agricultural resilience, and wildfire danger. Current moderate spatial resolution multispectral satellite systems (e.g., Landsat and Sentinel-2) have only a single band in the 2000–2500 nm shortwave infrared “SWIR2” range where non-pigment biochemical constituents of NPV, including cellulose and lignin, have important spectral absorption features. Thus, these current systems have suboptimal capabilities for characterizing NPV cover. This research used simulated spectral mixtures accounting for variability among NPV and soils to evaluate globally-appropriate hyperspectral and multispectral indices for estimation of fractional NPV cover. The Continuum Interpolated NPV Depth Index (CINDI), a weighted ratio index measuring lignocellulose absorption near 2100 nm, was found to produce the lowest error in estimating NPV cover. CINDI was less sensitive to variability in soil spectra and green vegetation cover than competing indices. While CINDI was sensitive to the relative water content of soil and NPV, this sensitivity allowed for correcting error in estimated NPV cover as water content increased. CINDI bands were less capable than Dual Absorption NPV Index (DANI) bands for maintaining continuity with the heritage Landsat SWIR2 band, but combining multiple CINDI bands demonstrated adequate continuity. Three SWIR2 bands with band centers at 2038, 2108, and 2211 nm can provide superior capabilities for future moderate resolution multispectral/superspectral systems targeting NPV monitoring, including the next generation Landsat mission (Landsat Next). These bands and the associated CINDI index provide potential for global NPV monitoring using a constellation of future superspectral sensors and imaging spectrometers, with applications including improving soil management, preventing land degradation, evaluating impacts of drought, mapping ecosystem disturbance, and assessing wildfire danger.

Remote Sensing of Environment↗
USGS2012

Coal-tar-based pavement sealcoat and PAHs: implications for the environment, human health, and stormwater management

Coal-tar-based sealcoat products, widely used in the central and eastern U.S. on parking lots, driveways, and even playgrounds, are typically 20−35% coal-tar pitch, a known human carcinogen that contains about 200 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds. Research continues to identify environmental compartments—including stormwater runoff, lake sediment, soil, house dust, and most recently, air—contaminated by PAHs from coal-tar-based sealcoat and to demonstrate potential risks to biological communities and human health. In many cases, the levels of contamination associated with sealed pavement are striking relative to levels near unsealed pavement: PAH concentrations in air over pavement with freshly applied coal-tar-based sealcoat, for example, were hundreds to thousands of times higher than those in air over unsealed pavement. Even a small amount of sealcoated pavement can be the dominant source of PAHs to sediment in stormwater-retention ponds; proper disposal of such PAH-contaminated sediment can be extremely costly. Several local governments, the District of Columbia, and the State of Washington have banned use of these products, and several national and regional hardware and home-improvement retailers have voluntarily ceased selling them.

Environmental Science & Technology↗