This dissertation includes 3 chapters which focus on algal bloom of the tidal fresh James River. The first chapter describes nutrient and light limitation assays performed on algal cultures and draw conclusions about long-term patterns in nutrient limitation by comparing results with a previous study . This chapter also describes the influence of riverine discharge upon nutrient limitation in a point-source dominated estuary. This chapter was published in Estuaries and Coasts (Wood and Bukaveckas 2014). The second chapter presents the first comprehensive assessment of the occurrence of the cyanotoxin Microcystin in water and biota of the James River. Data presented in this chapter show that bivalve grazing declines in the presence of Microcystin in the water. The chapter also describes feeding habits in fish as a predictor for inter-specific differences in Microcystin accumulation in their tissues. The work presented in this chapter was published in Environmental Science & Technology (Wood et al. 2014). The third chapter describes the fate of algal carbon in the James River Estuary and the importance of autochthonous and allochthonous sources of organic matter in supporting production of higher trophic levels. Here I draw upon ecosystem metabolism data (NPP and R), abundance and grazing estimates for primary consumers and estimates of advective losses of chlorophyll and external inputs of nitrogen to place ‘top-down’ effects in the broader context of factors influencing chlorophyll and nitrogen fluxes in the James. . This chapter also describes results from mesocosm experiments used to assess the influences of grazers on chlorophyll, nutrients and Microcystis. This work will be submitted in the summer of 2014 to the journal Ecosystems.

The natural reefs of the world are experiencing higher use and pressures, resulting in anthropogenic impacts that are deteriorating many coral stands and creating poor water quality. The Florida Keys rely primarily on the reef system that surrounds the archipelago for their socioeconomic health and successful future. The Florida Keys shares the symbiotic relationship of the terrestrial and marine realms with many other states and countries and the experience of higher demand on the resource. Artificial reefs could provide a substitute to the natural reefs for commercial and recreational users. An increased demand for derelict vessels of the U.S. Navy and Maritime Administration has illustrated the popularity of their use as artificial reefs.Local decision-makers do not have the experience to apply to an artificial reef proposal and many rely on existing anecdotal data and "expert" testimony. A lack of evaluation criteria adds to the difficulties of determining if an artificial reef proposal is appropriate for their community. With little empirical data available in the literature and a lack of comprehensive pre and post deployment data completed, how does the decision-maker decide? This study seeks to determine if a method exists that provides criteria and best practices for evaluation of artificial reef projects. Although the study's focus is on artificial reefs, this matrix could be modified to apply to any project where similar dynamics apply. The matrix uses a disaggregate method modeled after the Goeller scorecard. The model provides a best practice's matrix developed through a meta-analysis of three existing artificial reef projects, a comprehensive literature review, and interviews with three decision-makers at different levels of participation. The matrix applies identified best practices and provides a scoring method that can assist the decision-making process. This study acknowledges the limitations of a research project such as this and realizes that many decisions in a political realm have variables not covered in a study of this scope. However, an identified lack of decision-making continuity demonstrates the need for such a study and the research provided within this study is an important first step.

Nutrient inputs into the environment greatly impact urban ecosystems. Appropriate management strategies are needed to limit eutrophication of surface water bodies and contamination of groundwater. In many existing urban environments, retrofits or complete upgrades are needed for stormwater and/or wastewater infrastructure to manage nutrients. However, sustainable urban nutrient management requires comprehensive baseline data that is often not available. A Framework for Urban Nutrient (FUN) Management for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was developed to specifically address those areas with limited data access. Using spatial analysis in GIS, it links water quality, land use, and socio-demographics, thereby reducing data collection and field-based surveying efforts. It also presents preliminary results in a visually accessible format, potentially improving how data is shared and discussed amongst diverse stakeholders. This framework was applied to two case studies, one in Orange County Florida and one in Placencia, Belize. A stormwater pond index (SPI) was developed to evaluate 961 residential wet ponds in Orange County, Florida where data was available for land use and socio-demographic parameters, but limited for water quality. The SPI consisted of three categories (recreation, aesthetics, education) with a total of 13 indicators and provided a way to score the cultural and ecosystem services of 41 ponds based on available data. Using only three indicators (presence of a fence, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) < 4 mg/l, and water depth < 3 ft), 371 out of 961 stormwater ponds were assessed. Additional criteria based on socio-demographic information (distance to a school, population density, median household income under $50,000, percentage of population below the poverty line, and distance to parks) identified seven wet ponds as optimum for potential intervention to benefit residents and urban nutrient management purposes. For the second case study, a water quality analysis and impact assessment was performed for the Placencia peninsula and lagoon in Belize. This study had access to water quality data, but limited land use data and very limited socio-demographic data. Since May 2014, water quality samples have been taken from 56 locations and analyzed monthly. For this study, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Nitrate (NO3--N), Ammonia (NH3), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and 5-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Enterococci were selected to assess spatial and temporal variation of water quality in the groundwater on the peninsula as well as the surface water in lagoon, estuaries and along the coast. A spline interpolation of DO, Nitrate, BOD5, and COD for June 2016 indicated the concentration distribution of those parameters and areas of special concern. A spatial analysis was conducted that showed that Nitrate and Enterococci exceeded the effluent limits of Belize very frequently in the complete study area while the other parameters contributed to the identification of key areas of concern. As a high variability of concentrations over time was observed, a temporal analysis was conducted identifying a link between the water quality data and two temporal impact factors, rainfall and tourism. The two case studies showed the broad and flexible application of the FUN management for GIS and the great advantages the use of GIS offers to reduce costs and resources use.

Small water reservoirs in urban areas have important landscape-forming and environmental roles. However, numerous anthropogenic activities can influence the water quality in these urban ponds. This thesis evaluates and compares the water quality in selected ponds in Prague area (Motol, Stodůlky, Háje) by means of regular water monitoring between May and November 2013. Parameters commonly used as indicators of anthropogenic load were monitored (NO3 - , NH4 + , PO4 3- , Cl- , dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand) and supplemented with the investigation of other chemical and physico-chemical parameters (alkalinity, acidity, water hardness, pH, Ca2+ , NO2 - , specific conductivity). Data were evaluated using Czech technical norm (ČSN - EN 75 7221), which defines five categories of surface water quality. Our data indicated that surface water from reservoirs in Motol exhibited the best water quality (1st category), reservoirs from Stodůlky were slightly polluted and reservoirs from Háje exhibited the poorest water quality (with some parameters exhibiting values corresponding to the 4th category). We found statistically significant correlations between the alkalinity, water hardness, COD and concentrations of NO3 - , Ca2+ , Cl- and PO4 3- . Moreover, numerous parameters are dependent on cumulative...

The water quality is an essential abiotic factor of the environment, particularly for water-linked ecosystems. It also necessary for human society for which the absence of drinking water could have disastrous consequences. This diploma thesis is focused on small resources of groundwater located in the protected area Křivoklátsko - the springs and wells. A water from the monitored wells was subjected to basic physico-chemical analysis plus some of these wells were also tested for microbiological contamination. These results were presented against current legislation and were also compared with results from Tomáš Brabenec's bachelor thesis. Key words: Křivoklátsko, wells, springs, water quality

Watercourses influenced by anthropogenic activity increases in recent years and streams lose their natural character. This situation is critical particularly in small streams with minimal flow rates. The present work deals with the assessment of streams affected by discharges of treated wastewater from small waste water treatment plants. The results showed that in case of average flow in the recipient none of the monitored waste water treatment plants do not negatively affect the stream. Problems can occur when snow melts, when the lower temperature of the flowing water in the wastewater treatment plants negatively affect biological cleaning processes.

This diploma thesis deals with monitoring of water quality in the reservoirs which form the Litovicko- Šárecká cascade. It is a cascade of ponds, waterworks and retention reservoirs situated on the Litovicko-Šárecký stream and is composed of 9 major reservoirs. These reservoirs have different functions: from landscaping, retention, biological as well as recreation: fishing and swimming. Many of these reservoirs flow through human settlements, which have a negative impact on the quality of water within the whole cascade. The goal of this thesis is to monitor physical and chemical indicators of water as well as to determine the composition of phytoplankton populations, assess the state of water depending on the human activities in the basin and also to monitor how has the water quality changed in time and what are the main pollution sources. The water quality was determined from 11 samples collected with monthly intervals during March 2012 to May 2013. Samples were collected on all the reservoirs from the inflow, in the middle and at the outflow for chemical analysis and only from the middle for biological analysis. The following indicators were monitored: temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, indicators of neutralization capacity (ZNK8.3 a KNK4.5), hardness, CODMn, the concentration of...

Master of Science / Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering / Philip Barnes / Sediment is a large pollutant concern for the United States and is a major impairment source in water bodies (MARC 2013). Rivers and streams assessed in Kansas resulted in 87.8% being considered impaired, as well as 97.8% of the assessed lakes, reservoirs, and ponds (EPA 2012d). Tuttle Creek Reservoir is filling with sediment faster than any other federal reservoir in the region. Due to the importance of Tuttle Creek Reservoir, limiting the water impairments has been made a priority. The tributaries feeding the reservoir are all considered impaired, and TMDLs should be developed to limit the amount of sediment allowed in the water body. This study focuses on the stream energy and sediment loads occurring in a watershed in northeast Kansas over a six year period. When bankfull conditions occur, significant amounts of work are performed on the stream and excessive erosive forces may occur. The estimated bankfull discharge was 6.5 m3/s, and this event occurred every year except in 2012. At the same location the bankfull discharge was estimated, automated and grab water samples were collected and stream power was calculated. The samples were analyzed for total suspended sediment, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, and the total annual loads were estimated. The total sediment load occurring in the watershed was 10,298,283 kilograms. The nutrient loads occurring were 78,213 kg of TN and 22,625 kg TP. Elevations were measured at equal intervals in a sub-watershed. Energy gradients were calculated, and it was observed that many of the gradients could create favorable conditions for sediment erosion to occur. The stream power estimate was 26.85 kg/m/s. At this stage larger sediment particles and load could be transported. A gully formed by overland flow entering the stream was also measured to estimate amounts of sediment being contributed from gully side conveyances within the watershed. The estimated sediment loss from the gully was 1,693,899 kg. Results of this study could help improve water quality and help quantify the amount of sediment being carried from the watershed and streambanks, so BMPs and other design features may be implemented.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Nathan Nelson / Phosphorus and sediment runoff are the primary cause of eutrophication in Cheney Lake, the primary water source for Wichita, Kansas. Best Management Practices (BMPs) such as no-till farming practices and nutrient management can be implemented to reduce phosphorus runoff on high-risk agricultural fields. Past efforts have established BMP use in this watershed, although the effectiveness of these efforts has not been evaluated. The goals of this project were to identify any existing water quality trends in the Cheney Lake watershed, estimate the current distribution of erosion in the watershed, and evaluate the placement of BMPs with regards to field-scale erosion risk. Parametric, multi-linear regression and non-parametric, seasonal Mann-Kendall analyses were used to identify trends in the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Total Phosphorus (TP) of grab samples from the North Fork Ninnescah River. A Geographic Information System (GIS) model based on the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used to estimate watershed-scale erosion, prioritize agricultural land for BMP placement, and evaluate existing placement of BMPs within the Cheney Lake watershed. No detectible trends were identified in the water quality data due to stream variability, frequency of sampling, or absence of actual improvement in water quality. Additional sampling must be done to detect any trends in the future. BMPs were implemented on 13% of prioritized field area, and 11% of non-prioritized field area. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields were placed on 14% of prioritized field area, and 5% of non-prioritized field area. No-till practices were implemented on 13% of prioritized field area, and 18% of non-prioritized field area. The top 20% eroding fields were identified given current conditions, and account for approximately 56% of the watershed-wide erosion. The GIS method has demonstrated utility in evaluating past erosion control measures for the watershed and in informing future decisions concerning BMP placement.

The South African National Water Act (NWA) (No. 36 of 1998) recognises that in order to sustain the goods and services that are provided by rivers and their associated biological communities, it is necessary to conserve the entire aquatic ecosystem. Conservation and maintenance of ecosystem functioning entails the protection of the biotic components (i.e. fish, macroinvertebrates, riparian vegetation, etc.) and ensuring that the abiotic driver aspects (i.e. required amount and variability of flow, water quality and fluvial geomorphology) are addressed and met (Malan and Day, 2003). According to the Reserve Determination methodology (DWAF, 2003), sustainable utilisation of the river resources requires proper, responsible management and that exploitation without understanding or limits, impacts negatively on the ecological processes, functions and communities, both in the present and the future. Manipulation of the flow regimes of rivers, to provide water when and where people need it, has resulted in a growing deterioration in the condition (health) of riverine ecosystems (King et al., 2000). Stressors on aquatic ecosystems originating from these anthropogenic activities, include point and non-point loadings, land use influences and changes, and stream modification. These are usually defined by the drivers of aquatic ecosystems namely the geomorphology, hydrology and water quality. In turn, the effects on the physical habitat and water quality have both direct and indirect effects on the biotic communities present and are usually defined by biological responses to these changes (Kleynhans et al., 2005). There is currently limited data available to formally propose a methodology to quantify the significance of altered flows in riverine ecosystems brought about by the abstraction or excessive release of water by industrial activities on a reach scale. The aim of this study was to determine the degree and magnitude of habitat-flow alterations caused by pulp and paper mill activities in the Elands and Mvoti Rivers and to link the related biological responses to them. / Prof. V. Wepener