Prescribed fire has become a management tool utilized to restore or maintain the ecology of the mixed hardwoods ecosystem in the Ozark hills of southwestern Illinois. One effect of prescribed burning is consumption of fuel beds, including the litter layer that protects soil from erosion. Amount of sediment loss after prescribed burning in the steep topography of the Ozark hills is unknown. Erosion after prescribed burning could lead to increased soil loss and possibly stream sedimentation (Bladon etal., 2014). The objective of this research was to quantify the amount of sediment transport occurring on a watershed scale. Sediment yields were measured from five paired watersheds located in Trail of Tears State Forest in Union County, IL, USA from April 2009 into 2010. This location was selected because of the highly erodible loess soils and steeps slopes which present the highest probability of sediment transport following a prescribed burn treatment. One of the paired watersheds was randomly assigned as the control and the other assigned as the treatment. The treatment was a prescribed burn applied at standard burn prescription levels. Sediment loads were determined by collecting samples from a known volume of overland flow held in storage tanks below each watershed after rain events which produced runoff. The prescribed burn treatment significantly reduced the litter depth with 12.6%–31.5% litter remaining in the prescribed burn treatment watersheds. When data were combined across all watersheds, no significant differences were obtained between burn treatment and control watershed for total suspended solids and sediment concentrations or loads. The annual sediment losses varied between 1.41 to 90.54 kg·ha-1·year-1 in the four prescribed burn watersheds and 0.81 to 2.54 kg·ha-1·year-1 in the four control watersheds. Prescribed burn watershed 7 showed an average depth of soil loss of 4.2 mm, whereas control watershed 8 showed an average accumulation of sediments (9.9 mm), possibly due to steeper slopes. Prescribed burning did not cause a significant increase in soil erosion and sediment loss and can be considered acceptable in managing mixed hardwood forests of Ozark uplands and the Shawnee Hills physiographic regions of southern Illinois.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate which method for emptying of septic tanks that contributed with the lowest particle content in outgoing water during the period of a year. The methods for emptying in the comparison was mobile dewatering using polymer, complete pump-out and mobile dewatering using mechanic separation. Within the study, wastewater was sampled from septic tanks third compartment, however, only from septic tanks that were dewatered using polymer. Samples were taken one time before emptying followed by five occasions after emptying. The results from those samples were compared to previously existing results from complete pump-out and mobile dewatering using mechanic separation. Due to differences in method for sampling, the comparison in the discussion was limited to; samples taken before emptying and two weeks after emptying from septic tanks that had been completely pumped-out and dewatered using mechanic separation. The samples taken before emptying showed the particle content after using the septic tanks for a year since the previous emptying. Based on those samples there were no significant difference between mobile dewatering using polymer and complete pump-out or between mobile dewatering using polymer and mobile dewatering using mechanic separation. Two weeks after emptying the lowest particle contents were found in septic tanks that had been completely pumped-out followed by the two dewatering methods.

Tunnels have become increasingly important in the development of road networks to meet rising transportation demands. Washing of road tunnels must be performed regularly to ensure traffic safety. The washing procedure generates significant amount of polluted wash water. Before discharge to a receiving water body, treatment is necessary to avoid potential degradation of the water quality. In this study, 12 in situ sedimentation experiments were conducted to evaluate treatment efficiency of sedimentation, with and without the addition of chemical flocculent. The findings showed that untreated tunnel wash water was highly polluted with total suspended solids (804-9690 mg/l), PAHs (0.4–29 μg/l) and heavy metals. Most pollutants were associated with the particulate material. Significant correlations (r2 > 0.95) were found between suspended solids and metals. Efficient removal of pollutants was possible by sedimentation with addition of flocculent. Within 20 hours of sedimentation low concentrations were reached of suspended solids (<15mg/l), PAHs (<0.1 μg/l), Cd (<0.05 μg/l), Cr (< 8 μg/l), Hg (<0.02 μg/l), Pb (<0.5 μg/l) and Zn (< 60 μg/l). The results confirm the possibility to treat tunnel wash water with sedimentation and flocculation and to discharge treated wash water to a recipient, provided particular attention is given to very sensitive water bodies.

The introduction of pavement, buildings, and other impervious surfaces to urban landscapes greatly influences the quantity and quality of urban stormwater runoff. In this study, we designed and implemented modern stormwater monitoring technologies to establish a “smart” stormwater sensor network within the Northwest Field Canal (NWFC), an urban water conveyance located in Logan, Utah, USA. This network was designed to collect flow and water quality data at high frequencies and simultaneously at multiple locations. The observatory’s innovative method of inter-site communication and changing sampling frequencies during storm events was able to capture short duration events at the upstream and downstream ends of the NWFC and at multiple outfalls in the canal simultaneously without human intervention. We then investigated statistical regression models between turbidity and TSS so as to predict TSS at high frequencies. Finally, the addition of the high-frequency discharge data in the calibration procedure for a stormwater simulation model developed using the Environmental Protection Agency’s Stormwater Management Model did little to improve model performance at the downstream end of the canal, but did provide important insight into the overall contribution of discharge from individual stormwater outfalls to the NWFC. The results of this study inform water professionals on how to build and operate automated monitoring systems and how to create high-frequency estimates of TSS and TP loads in urban water systems.

Mud Lake is a wildlife refuge located in southeastern Idaho just north of Bear Lake that traps sediment from Bear River water flowing into Bear Lake.Very few water quality and sediment observations, if any, exist spatially in Mud Lake. Spatial patterns of sediment deposition may affect Mud Lake flows and habitat; prediction of those patterns should help refuge managers predict water quality constituents and spatial distribution of fine sediment.This will help sustain the purposes of Mud Lake as a habitat and migratory station for species. The main objective of the research is the development of Multivariate Relevant Vector Machine (MVRVM) to predict suspended fine sediment and water quality constituents, and to provide an understanding for the practical problem of determining the amount of data required for the MVRVM. MVRVM isa statistical learning algorithm that is based on Bayes theory.It has been widely used to predict patterns in hydrological systems and other fields. This research represents the first known attempt to use a MVRVM approach to predict transport of very fine sediment andwater quality constituents in a complex natural system. The results demonstrate the ability of the MVRVM to capture and predict the underlying patterns in data.Also careful construction of the experimental design for data collection can lead the Relevant Vectors (RVs is a subset of training observation which carries significant information that is used for prediction) to show locations of significant patterns. The predictions of water quality constituents will be of potential value to US Fish and Wildlife refuge managers in making decisions for operation and management in the case of Mud Lake based on their objectives, and will lead the way for scientists to expand the use of the MVRVM for modeling of suspended fine sediment and water quality in complex natural systems.

Frequently measured turbidity was examined as a surrogate for total phosphorus (TP) and total suspended solids (TSS) loads at two locations in the Little Bear River, Utah, USA. Using regression techniques, equations were developed for TP and TSS as functions of turbidity. The equations accounted for censored data, and additional explanatory variables to represent hydrological conditions were considered for inclusion in the equations. By using the resulting surrogate relationships with high frequency turbidity measurements, high frequency estimates of TP and TSS concentrations were calculated. To examine the effect of sampling frequency, reference loads were determined from the concentration records for two water years. The concentration records were artificially decimated to represent various frequencies of manual grab sampling from which annual loads were calculated and compared to the reference loads.

The goal of this study was to demonstrate the application of aerial imagery as a tool in detecting water quality indicators in a three mile segment of Tibbee Creek in, Clay County, Mississippi. Water samples from 10 transects were collected per sampling date over two periods in 2010 and 2011. Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured at each point, and water samples were tested for turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS). Relative reflectance was extracted from high resolution (0.5 meter) multispectral aerial images. A regression model was developed for turbidity and TSS as a function of values for specific sampling dates. The best model was used to predict turbidity and TSS using datasets outside the original model date. The development of an appropriate predictive model for water quality assessment based on the relative reflectance of aerial imagery is affected by the quality of imagery and time of sampling.

Bioflocculation of Wastewater Treatment Pond Suspended Solids Louis Lefebvre Wastewater treatment lagoons and high rate algae ponds (HRAPs) can provide cost effective wastewater treatment, but they commonly have high effluent concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS). In this thesis algae pond effluent was treated in a beaker testing apparatus (mixed and aerated) with various mixtures of activated sludge and primary effluent simulating differing activated sludge aeration basin compositions then was allowed to settle to assess settleability. Conventionally, microalgal suspended solids are removed by chemical coagulation followed by separation methods that often have a high cost relative to the low cost lagoon or HRAP system where the solids were produced. This separation step is often cost prohibitive or operationally complex for municipalities or too energy intensive for application in algae biofuels production. This research investigates using a small amount of activated sludge material to promote bioflocculation of algae in pond effluent. It was hoped that the findings may demonstrate a path for municipalities to keep their lagoons, while increasing capacity and improving treatment without excessive cost or complexity. Experiments were conducted on microalgae samples from a pilot-scale HRAP and activated sludge and primary effluent samples from a local municipal wastewater plant. The samples were placed in a mixing apparatus and allowed to settle for a given period of time, after which TSS was analyzed for settleability. The experiments investigated the effect of various lab-scale activated sludge reactor operational schemes by varying the volumes (and masses) of activated sludge, algae-rich water, and activated sludge in the beaker. Results in the sorption test (tests with only activated sludge and algae-rich water) demonstrated algae pond effluent treated with activated sludge concentrations of 3000 mg/L or greater produced final effluent TSS concentrations near discharge requirements (40-50 mg/L) with only 30 minutes of settling and without addition of primary effluent. However, such high activated sludge concentrations are not feasible at full scale. Furthermore, beakers with activated sludge concentrations greater than 3000 mg/L reduced TSS concentrations by more than 150 mg/L with only 30 minutes of settling and without addition of primary effluent. Results in the aerobic beaker tests (tests with primary effluent, activated sludge, and algae-rich water) showed greater than 200 mg/L TSS removal and final effluent TSS concentration less than 30 mg/L was achieved using activated sludge to primary effluent volumetric ratios of 1:1 and greater which corresponded to activated sludge concentrations of 730 mg/L and greater. Activated sludge concentrations of 730 mg/L may not be feasible at full scale. This report shows that a PETRO-like process is effective in lowering wastewater pond suspended solids, however not to typical discharge standards.

The following is a compilation of field data collected in 2011 and 2012 in Apalachicola, FL as part of a five year study assessing the ecological effects of sea level rise in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Many coastal communities, both natural and developed, will soon be working to mitigate the effects of sea level rise, if they are not already doing so. This thesis investigates the natural patterns of the Apalachicola estuarine system through the collection and analysis of in situ water, sediment, and biomass samples. Additionally, results of the field samples are presented and recommendations for additional sampling are given. The field methods and procedures developed in this study were designed to be repeated in other estuaries to build upon the work that has been conducted in Apalachicola. Water samples were tested for total suspended solids (TSS) and compared against hydrodynamic (tidal circulation and streamflow) and meteorological (wind and precipitation) characteristics. Streamflow was determined to influence a seasonal base level concentration of TSS. Wind strength and direction consistently influenced small TSS concentration fluctuations, an effect amplified by the shallow nature of the estuary. Tidal circulation appeared to have minor influences on TSS concentration fluctuations within the base level concentration range. Precipitation appeared to influence large TSS concentration fluctuations; however, due to limited data collection during storm events, more data is required to conclusively state this. Sediment cores throughout the lower Apalachicola River revealed that coarse particles settled out in upstream areas while fine particles tended to stay in suspension until low energy areas in the lower portions of the river or marsh system were reached. Finally, biomass samples were used to iv develop regression models utilizing remotely sensed data to predict biomass density in marsh areas with unprecedented accuracy. The documented patterns of this system are to be used as inputs and validation points to update an existing hydrodynamic model and to aid in the coupling and development of sediment transport and marsh equilibrium models. The field campaign developed and implemented here provides a foundation for this novel coupled modeling effort of estuarine systems. From the 2011 and 2012 sampling conducted, it is apparent that Apalachicola can be modeled as a closed system with river inflow and sediment influx as boundary conditions. Forcing local conditions should accurately represent the system. Ultimately, these models will be used to simulate future sea level rise scenarios and will provide useful decision making tools to coastal managers. Future work will include replicating water sampling in subsequent wet and dry seasons in Apalachicola, FL to confirm observed trends, in addition to implementing this sampling in Grand Bay, MS and Weeks Bay, AL. Additional biomass samples will be taken to validate the strong correlations found between remotely sensed data and in situ samples. In similar studies, it is recommended that water samples be taken to adequately represent influences from tidal cycles and riverine inflow. It is also recommended that spatially distributed biomass samples be taken to validate regression models.

The aquaculture industry has experienced a great expansion in recent years. Along with this growth, increased regulatory attention has been directed towards aquacultural effluents. The problem with the majority of these discharges is the solids and nutrient spikes that occur during times of high farm activity. Several studies have proven that these discharges have the potential to adversely affect downstream water quality. Although several treatment options are currently in use, the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs)has been recommended in recent years to improve the quality of these discharges. The implementation of one of these BMPs, the use of a high energy feed, was the focus of this study. In two separate experiments at trout raising facilities, the effluents of basins receiving a high energy feed were compared to similar basins receiving a standard trout grower feed. The water quality parameters of main concern were total suspended solids, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN). The results of these studies showed that the effluents of basins receiving a high energy feed generally contained significantly lower concentrations of TSS, but higher amounts of TKN than those receiving a standard grower feed. / Master of Science