The overall goal of this thesis is to present a comprehensive understanding of the Nottawasaga River system. In the first chapter, we will examine how landscape features (geomorphology and land cover) drive spatial variation in nutrient and sediment loading from 11 sub-watersheds to the Nottawasaga River. The second chapter will relate how tributary loading and other in-stream processes (riffles, substrate, dissolved oxygen) contribute to the longitudinal variation in water quality along with middle and lower reaches of the Nottawasaga River. Finally, in the last chapter we use 13 water quality variables to develop a Stream Water Quality Index (SWQI) to identify critical areas in the NRW that are most at risk. This thesis will provide environmental agencies with useful information to help implement management strategies to improve the health of riverine systems at a watershed scale. / Eutrophication from agricultural runoff is a global problem, often resulting in formation of anoxic zones in receiving water bodies. The Nottawasaga River Watershed (2,900 km2) is dominated by agricultural land-use, and is a major source of nutrients and sediment to Nottawasaga Bay, Georgian Bay (Lake Huron). The primary objective of our study was to develop a holistic understanding of the different sources and processes that influence spatial variation of water quality across the Nottawasaga River (121 km). In our first chapter, we use landscape features to develop 6 models that predict daily base flow loading rates of total phosphorus (TP) and total suspended solids (TSS) from 11 sub-watersheds. We found that drainage area and % pasture land were the most significant predictive variables driving spatial variability in TP and TSS loading. We also found a significant positive relationship between TP and % wetland, suggesting that the Minesing Wetlands (largest inland wetland in southern Ontario) are a source of nutrients to the river. In our second chapter, we evaluate how tributary inputs and in-stream processes contribute to the longitudinal variation in water quality along the Nottawasaga River. We found that tributary concentration and discharge significantly predict downstream turbidity (TURB), but do not predict downstream TP. We also found that riffles improve water clarity, and that silt and clay substrate is significantly associated with high TURB. In our third chapter, we develop a Stream Water Quality Index (SWQI) using 13 variables collected at 15 stations along the Nottawasaga River. To predict SWQI scores for any site, we have provided 9 equations that use various combinations of available variables. Understanding landscape variables, as well as tributary and in-stream processes that influence water quality will enhance the development of restoration initiatives to improve ecosystem health in lotic systems at a watershed scale. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Eutrophication from agricultural runoff is a global problem, often resulting in formation of anoxic zones. The Nottawasaga River Watershed is dominated by agricultural land-use, and is a major source of nutrients and sediment to Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. The objective of our study was to develop a holistic understanding of sources and processes that influence spatial variation of water quality across the Nottawasaga River. We found that landscape features (drainage area, pasture, wetland), tributary inputs, and in-stream processes (riffles, substrate) significantly influence water quality. Our results will enhance restoration initiatives to improve health of riverine systems at a watershed scale.

114 pp. / Riparian areas occupy less than 2% of the arid Western United States. Their importance is disproportionate to the small area they occupy because of their multiple use applications. Riparian areas provide recreational amenities, habitat and travel corridors for wildlife, livestock grazing areas and influence water quality and quantity. In Arizona, as in many other states, there is a need to provide science-based educational publications to inform the public on riparian areas. In this publications the information will focus on: 1) the definition, importance and characterization of riparian areas 2) hydrologic, geomorphic, climatic, and biological processes in riparian areas, and 3) human alterations to riparian areas. This information is essential for land-managers and the general public to manage properly or restore healthy riparian areas.

Les eaux résiduaires urbaines du bassin versant du lac du Bourget sont largement collectées et traitées. Les gestionnaires du lac s'interrogent, dans le contexte de l'évolution climatique et de l'évolution des usages des sols, sur l'impact et les modalités de maîtrise des pertes en phosphore et en particulier de la contribution des sources diffuses d'origine agricole. La thèse vise à modéliser les régimes d'exportation du phosphore vers le lac, dans la perspective de tester des scénarios de maîtrise des flux. Elle s'inscrit dans un dispositif de recherche opérationnelle CIFRE entre le bureau d'étude SAFEGE et l'UMR CARRTEL, en partenariat avec le CISALB (Comité Intersyndical pour l'Assainissement du Lac du Bourget). Dans ce cadre, deux sous bassins versants expérimentaux emboîtés représentatifs de la géographie du bassin du Bourget, (l'un rural dominé par l'élevage laitier de 250 ha, l'autre périurbain et agricole de 6800 ha) ont été équipés et suivis à leur exutoire durant une période de 18 mois. Les suivis hydrochimiques ont permis une caractérisation qualitative et quantitative des régimes d'exportations à l'exutoire de chaque bassin versant (flux hydrologique, de matières en suspension, du phosphore total, particulaire, et dissous, et de certaines formes d'azote – nitrate, ammonium). Ces flux ont été modélisés à l'aide du modèle SWAT. Pour rendre compte de certains processus spécifiques de mobilisation et de transfert de la charge en phosphore, des développements ont été mis en œuvre (extension de l'aire de saturation des sols en relation avec la mise en charge des nappes, stockages transitoires, remobilisations au sein du réseau hydrographique) qui constituent une des principales avancées de la thèse. Les résultats obtenus apportent une amélioration des connaissances scientifiques sur les mécanismes de transfert du phosphore. Les développements en termes de modélisation constituent un outil adapté pour accompagner la mise en place d'un plan d'actions visant la réduction des flux de phosphore parvenant au lac du Bourget, ceci dans la perspective des évolutions climatiques. / Urban wastewater are now widely collected and treated. Many questions still remain about the impact of climatic or anthropic evolution on the mobilisation and the transfer of phosphorus to Lake Bourget. This work deals with hydrological and nutrient modelling to understand phosphorus mobilization and transfers processes and to test mitigation options. Thesis is supported by a CIFRE agreement between SAFEGE office and UMR CARRTEL, in partnership with the CISALB. In this context, 2 experimental watersheds nested and variable in land uses (one agricultural of 250 ha, the other suburban and agricultural of 6,800 ha) were instrumented and followed at their outlet over a period of 18 months (continuous measurement of flow and some key parameters of physico-chemical water quality). Hydro-chemical measurements led to a qualitative and quantitative characterization of the exports regime at the outlet of each watershed (water flow, suspended solids, some forms of phosphorus – total, particulate, dissolved - and nitrogen). The exports were then modeled. To account for some specifics processes of mobilization and transfer of phosphorus (variable source areas, "in-stream" processes), some developments of the SWAT model were implemented. IIn this context, this works provides an improved scientific understanding of the mechanisms of transfer of phosphorus. Modeling tool can support the development of mitigation options for best management practices included in the framework of the "Lake Bourget watershed contract".

[pt] Processos Multicanal (PMC) estão presentes nas linhas de produção de muitos segmentos industriais, tais como na indústria alimentícia, farmacêutica, de fabricação de aço e de papel. No entanto, há poucos trabalhos na literatura dedicados ao controle estatístico de processos dessa natureza. O trabalho de Boyd (1950) é o primeiro deles. Neste trabalho são descritos os gráficos de controle de grupos (GCG). Este é o procedimento tradicional, recomendado em textos didáticos de CEP como Pyzdek (1992) e Montgomery (até a 3a edição, de 1997). Posteriormente, Mortell e Runger (1995) elaboram um modelo matemático mais realista para PMC, decompondo a fonte de variação do processo em duas componentes distintas: uma, comum a todos os canais e outra, correspondendo à variação individual de cada canal do processo. Tal modelo foi tão bem aceito na literatura que, desde a sua publicação, tem sido utilizado para o desenvolvimento de esquemas de controle mais eficientes para PMC. Dos esquemas desenvolvidos na versão Shewhart, para o controle estatístico das médias das componentes individuais de variação, devem ser destacados os gráficos de controle de Mortell e Runger (1995), de Runger, Alt e Montgomery (1996) e o GCG de Barbosa (2008). Dentre os esquemas mencionados, somente os dois primeiros foram desenvolvidos tanto em uma versão de Shewhart como em uma versão EWMA (Exponentially Weighted Moving Average), visando obter maior sensibilidade a pequenas alterações na média. Esta tese traz novas propostas para PMC bem representados pelo modelo de Mortell e Runger (1995). Propõe-se a análise da eficiência dos gráficos de controle existentes na detecção de aumentos na dispersão de um canal, bem como o desenvolvimento, na versão Shewhart e EWMA, de novos GCG especificamente destinados à sinalização de tais aumentos. Quando não é viável obter mais de uma observação por canal do processo, propõem-se os gráficos: GCG de MR das diferenças em relação ao nível-base (DNB) e GCG EWMA MR DNB. Já para as situações em que é possível obter mais de uma observação por canal, propõem-se: GCG de S(2) e GCG EWMA de ln[S(2)]. É importante ressaltar que todos os trabalhos desenvolvidos na literatura (seguindo o modelo de Mortell e Runger, 1995) foram dedicados exclusivamente ao controle estatístico da média das componentes individuais de variação, portanto, esta tese tem caráter inédito. Além das contribuições mencionadas, visando obter maior sensibilidade a alterações de pequena magnitude na média das componentes individuais, propõe-se e analisa-se uma versão EWMA do GCG de Barbosa (2008), o mais eficiente na versão Shewhart. Adicionalmente, para obter esquemas EWMA mais eficientes, são obtidos os projetos ótimos de todos os esquemas EWMA apresentados nesta tese, incluindo os gráficos de controle de EWMA de R(t) de Mortell e Runger (1995) e de MEWMA de S(2) de Runger, Alt e Montgomery (1996). São analisadas as curvas de desempenho de todos os esquemas de controle para uma variedade de situações. Nas análises de desempenho, pode-se observar que os esquemas propostos nesta tese são os mais eficientes. / [en] In a multiple stream process (MSP), a same quality variable is measured in several streams in parallel. The first tool proposed for monitoring MSPs was the Group Control Chart (GCC) by Boyd (1950). These schemes are recommended in textbooks and guides as Pyzdek (1992) and Montgomery (until 3rd edition, 1997). Its efficiency is impaired by the presence of cross correlation between streams. A useful model for MSPs (Mortell and Runger, 1995) represents the value of the quality variable in each stream at any time t as the sum of a random variable (or stochastic process) but that is common to all streams, which can be called base level, plus the individual variation of each stream relative to the base level. In the literature, three different Shewhart schemes were developed to control the individual variation of each stream: Mortell e Runger (1995), Runger, Alt and Montgomery (1996) and Barbosa (2008). Only the two first ones were developed both in a Shewhart-type and a EWMA (Exponentially Weighted Moving Average) version. All these schemes were devoted to monitoring the mean of the individual components of the streams; to the best of our knowledge, no previous work considered the case of increases in the variance of a stream. In this thesis four different GCCs for monitoring the inner variability of the individual streams are developed: a GCC of S(2), the sample variance of each stream (which is not the same as Runger, Alt and Montgomery’s statistics); a GCC of EWMA[lnS(2)]; a GCC of the Moving Ranges of the residuals of each stream to the estimated base level, and an EWMA version of it. The last two GCCs cater for the case where, at every sampling time, only individual observations per stream are feasible, which is frequent with a large number of streams. Beyond the mentioned contributions, aiming at more sensitivity to the small shifts in the mean of the individual components, this work proposes a EWMA version of the GCC by Barbosa (2008), the most efficient in the Shewhart version. The ARL performance of every one of these schemes is analyzed, in a variety of situations, including the case of increases in the variance of one stream when the schemes are designed for monitoring the means of individual streams. The results show that the proposed schemes are the fastest in detecting special causes that affect one individual stream.