Download or read book Impacts on Water Quality by Sediments and Nutrients Released During Extreme Bushfires written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 18 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report describes the final stage of a collaborative research project between CSIRO and the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) on the potential impacts on water quality of extreme bushfires in the Sydney water supply catchments. The project has investigated the transfer of sediments and nutrients between different components of the Nattai River catchment slopes to Lake Burragorang reservoir continuum, following extensive wildfire in the Nattai River catchment in December 2001, to develop an understanding of the impacts of fire induced erosion on water quality. The fire burnt 225,000 ha mainly in the Nattai River catchment, and over a large proportion of this area the fire was previously found to be of high to extreme severity as measured by remote sensing and ground inspections. Phase one of the research reviewed available data and process understanding of the impact of forest fires on erosion rates. Phase two of the research demonstrated extensive redistribution of surface soil and nutrients on a burnt hillslope in the Nattai River catchment, with some storage in foot-slope locations. Phase three of the research found that sediment delivery to the river network from burnt areas in 2002 was approximately six times the mean-annual pre-fire rate, and was dominated by surface sources high in phosphorus, in contrast to predominantly sub-surface sources pre-fire. In 2002-2003, the yields of suspended sediment and phosphorus for individual runoff events were up to two orders of magnitude greater than those pre-fire due to their greatly increased availability for transport. The fourth and final phase of the research focussed on the downstream impacts of post-fire sediment and nutrient yield to Lake Burragorang. Radionuclide and geochemistry tracers were used to investigate the long term contribution of fire to reservoir sedimentation relative to non-fire causes of catchment erosion. The results show that sediment yield to Lake Burragorang in the 13 months following the 2001 fires was below the long-term annual average rate since the reservoir was completed in 1960. This low sediment yield was unexpected given the visibility of post-fire erosion. However, 2002 was drier than average, with the annual discharge from the Nattai River being 34% of mean-annual discharge, and subsequent years were similarly dry. The dry conditions limited the post-fire erosion from the much higher rates that could have occurred in wetter conditions. Sediment delivery to the river network, and delivery through the river network to the reservoir were also limited by the below-average post-fire rainfall and low river discharge. The actual annual post-fire sediment yields to Lake Burragorang from the Nattai River were several times higher than what would have occurred without fire in the dry post-fire conditions. If post-fire rainfall had been higher, the post-fire delivery of sediment to the reservoir may have had a larger impact on reservoir water quality, including the possibility of algal blooms.
Download or read book Impacts on Water Quality by Sediments and Nutrients Released During Extreme Bushfires written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 9 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report summarises the findings of a four year project to investigate the impacts on water quality of sediments and nutrients released following the 2001 bushfires in the Lake Burragorang catchment. Much of the SCA water supply catchments are forested, prone to wildfire, and thus potentially susceptible to the negative impacts of forest fires on reservoir water quality. The magnitude of fire impacts are determined by the size and intensity of the fire, and the co-incidence of subsequent rainfall events. Preliminary findings and observations after the Sydney 2001 fires showed that bushfires can have a significant impact on downstream water quality in Lake Burragorang. The 2001 fires were the largest in over 30 years and were followed by several significant rainfall events. This special set of circumstances provided an excellent opportunity to investigate the highly episodic, but potentially very significant, role of fires on the transfer of sediments and nutrients from hillslopes and their impact on the water quality of SCA water supply reservoirs. The research indicates that forest fire has the potential to cause large increases in the sediment and nutrient yield to Lake Burragorang, and other SCA water storages. The study found that significant amounts of mineral and organic sediment and attached nutrients were eroded from burnt hillslopes in the months following the fires. Some storage on flatter footslope areas indicates the capacity for these areas to act as hillslope sediment buffers. Given this capacity it may be important to avoid occurrence of fires of very high and extreme severity in these areas. The fire had a large impact on the characteristics of sediment delivered to the river network and the reservoir. Large amounts of material from surface erosion of hillslopes were to the river network draining the burnt area. Consequently, a high proportion of the post-fire river sediment was derived from surface erosion, in contrast to the pre-fire sediment sources which were dominated by erosion of sub-surface material from rivers and gullies. The post-fire Phosphorus concentration of river sediment was many times that pre-fire as a result. The sediment and nutrient yields to Lake Burragorang in post-fire runoff events were one to two orders of magnitude larger than in pre-fire conditions due to the vastly increased availability of sediment and nutrients. Given the importance of events in the delivery of post-fire sediment and nutrient delivery to the reservoir, monitoring the potential for an algae bloom following post-fire runoff events may be an important post-fire water quality management strategy. The characteristics of post-fire river sediment returned towards pre-fire conditions over four years as the pulse of sediment was stored and evacuated from the river network. The below-average rainfall and runoff in the post-fire period of vegetation recovery limited the total post-fire sediment yield to Lake Burragorang well below the potential yield that could have occurred in wetter conditions. The actual sediment yield was in fact below the mean-annual average yield, but still one to two orders of magnitude above the yield that would have occurred without the fire.
Download or read book Managing and Designing Landscapes for Conservation written by David B. Lindenmayer and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2008-04-15 with total page 608 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The distinctive relationships between landscape change, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity conservation are highlighted in this original and useful guide to the theory and practice of ecological landscape design. Using original, ecologically based landscape design principles, the text underscores current thinking in landscape management and conservation. It offers a blend of theoretical and practical information that is illustrated with case studies drawn from across the globe. Key insights by some of the world’s leading experts in landscape ecology and conservation biology make Managing and Designing Landscapes for Conservation an essential volume for anyone involved in landscape management, natural resource planning, or biodiversity conservation.
Download or read book Marine Freshwater Research written by and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 766 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book A Literature Review on the Economic Social and Environmental Impacts of Severe Bushfires in South eastern Australia written by Catherine Stephenson and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual written by and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Fire Effects on Soil Properties written by Paulo Pereira and published by CSIRO PUBLISHING. This book was released on 2019-02-01 with total page 721 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Wildland fires are occurring more frequently and affecting more of Earth's surface than ever before. These fires affect the properties of soils and the processes by which they form, but the nature of these impacts has not been well understood. Given that healthy soil is necessary to sustain biodiversity, ecosystems and agriculture, the impact of fire on soil is a vital field of research. Fire Effects on Soil Properties brings together current research on the effects of fire on the physical, biological and chemical properties of soil. Written by over 60 international experts in the field, it includes examples from fire-prone areas across the world, dealing with ash, meso and macrofauna, smouldering fires, recurrent fires and management of fire-affected soils. It also describes current best practice methodologies for research and monitoring of fire effects and new methodologies for future research. This is the first time information on this topic has been presented in a single volume and the book will be an important reference for students, practitioners, managers and academics interested in the effects of fire on ecosystems, including soil scientists, geologists, forestry researchers and environmentalists.
Download or read book Ocean Acidification written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-09-14 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ocean has absorbed a significant portion of all human-made carbon dioxide emissions. This benefits human society by moderating the rate of climate change, but also causes unprecedented changes to ocean chemistry. Carbon dioxide taken up by the ocean decreases the pH of the water and leads to a suite of chemical changes collectively known as ocean acidification. The long term consequences of ocean acidification are not known, but are expected to result in changes to many ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean reviews the current state of knowledge, explores gaps in understanding, and identifies several key findings. Like climate change, ocean acidification is a growing global problem that will intensify with continued CO2 emissions and has the potential to change marine ecosystems and affect benefits to society. The federal government has taken positive initial steps by developing a national ocean acidification program, but more information is needed to fully understand and address the threat that ocean acidification may pose to marine ecosystems and the services they provide. In addition, a global observation network of chemical and biological sensors is needed to monitor changes in ocean conditions attributable to acidification.
Download or read book An Introduction to Aquatic Toxicology written by Mikko Nikinmaa and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2014-07-01 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An Introduction to Aquatic Toxicology is an introductory reference for all aspects of toxicology pertaining to aquatic environments. As water sources diminish, the need to understand the effects that contaminants may have on aquatic organisms and ecosystems increases in importance. This book will provide you with a solid understanding of aquatic toxicology, its past, its cutting-edge present and its likely future. An Introduction to Aquatic Toxicology will introduce you to the global issue of aquatic contamination, detailing the major sources of contamination, from where they originate, and their effects on aquatic organisms and their environment. State-of-the-art toxicological topics covered include nanotoxicology, toxicogenomics, bioinformatics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, as well as water management and the toxicological effects of major environmental issues such as algal blooms, climate change and ocean acidification. This book is intended for anyone who wants to know more about the impact of toxicants on aquatic organisms and ecosystems, or to keep up to date with recent and future developments in the field. - Provides with the latest perspectives on the impacts of toxicants on aquatic environments, such as nanotoxicology, toxicogenomics, ocean acidification and eutrophication - Offers a complete overview, beginning with the origins of aquatic toxicology and concluding with potential future challenges - Includes guidance on testing methods and a glossary of aquatic toxicology terms
Download or read book Murray Darling Basin Australia written by Barry Hart and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2020-10-23 with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: Its Future Management is a much-needed text for water resources managers, water, catchment, estuarine and coastal scientists, and aquatic ecologists. The book first provides a summary of the Murray-Darling River system: its hydrology, water-related ecological assets, land uses (particularly irrigation), and its rural and regional communities; and management within the Basin, including catchments and natural resources, water resources, irrigation, environment, and monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, the recent major water reforms in the Basin are discussed, with a focus particularly on the development and implementation of the Basin Plan. Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: Its Future Management then provides an analysis of the next set of policy and institutional reforms (environmental, social, cultural and economic) needed to ensure the Basin is managed as an integrated system (including its water resources, catchment and estuary) capable of adapting to future changes. Six major challenges facing the Basin are identified and discussed, particularly within the context of predicted changes to the climate leading to an increased frequency of drought and a hotter and dryer future. Finally, a 'road map' or 'blueprint' to achieve more integrated management of the Basin is provided, together with some 'key lessons' of relevance to others involved in the management of multijurisdictional river Basins. - Provides a consolidated account of the Murray-Darling Basin system; an area of global relevance to those interested in rebalancing river systems where the water resources have been over allocated - Offers a detailed analysis of the current system and its management, with a focus on water and ecosystem management - Discusses a number of key challenges, particularly those related to climate change, facing future reforms to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan - Provides a blueprint for changes needed to ensure the Basin is managed as an integrated whole (from catchment to coast)
Download or read book Evaluating the Effectiveness of Postfire Rehabilitation Treatments written by Peter R. Robichaud and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spending on postfire emergency watershed rehabilitation has increased during the past decade. A west-wide evaluation of USDA Forest Service burned area emergency rehabilitation (BAER) treatment effectiveness was undertaken as a joint project by USDA Forest Service Research and National Forest System staffs. This evaluation covers 470 fires and 321 BAER projects, from 1973 through 1998 in USDA Forest Service Regions 1 through 6. A literature review, interviews with key Regional and Forest BAER specialists, analysis of burned area reports, and review of Forest and District monitoring reports were used in the evaluation. The study found that spending on rehabilitation has increased to over $48 million during the past decade because the perceived threat of debris flows and floods has increased where fires are closer to the wildland-urban interface. Existing literature on treatment effectiveness is limited, thus making treatment comparisons difficult. The amount of protection provided by any treatment is small. Of the available treatments, contour-felled logs show promise as an effective hillslope treatment because they provide some immediate watershed protection, especially during the first postfire year. Seeding has a low probability of reducing the first season erosion because most of the benefits of the seeded grass occurs after the initial damaging runoff events. To reduce road failures, treatments such as properly spaced rolling dips, water bars, and culvert reliefs can move water past the road prism. Channel treatments such as straw bale check dams should be used sparingly because onsite erosion control is more effective than offsite sediment storage in channels in reducing sedimentation from burned watersheds. From this review, we recommend increased treatment effectiveness monitoring at the hillslope and sub-catchment scale, streamlined postfire data collection needs, increased training on evaluation postfire watershed conditions, and development of an easily accessible knowledge base of BAER techniques.
Download or read book Nutrient Release from Sediments of the Torbay Drainage System South western Australia written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Sediment Quality Assessment written by Graeme Batley and published by CSIRO PUBLISHING. This book was released on 2016-02-01 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contaminated sediments represent an ongoing threat to the health of aquatic ecosystems. The assessment of sediment quality is, therefore, an important concern for environmental regulators. Sediment quality guidelines are now well established in regulatory frameworks worldwide; however, practical guidance that covers all of the key aspects of sediment quality assessment is not readily available. In 2005, CSIRO published its highly cited Handbook for Sediment Quality Assessment. In the ensuing period, the science has advanced considerably. This practical guide is a revised and much expanded second edition, which will be a valuable tool for environmental practitioners. Written by experts in the field, it provides coverage of: sediment sampling; sample preparation; chemical analysis; ecotoxicology; bioaccumulation; biomarkers; and ecological assessment. In addition, detailed appendices describe protocols for many of the tests to be used.
Download or read book A guide to forest water management written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2021-08-24 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many people worldwide lack adequate access to clean water to meet basic needs, and many important economic activities, such as energy production and agriculture, also require water. Climate change is likely to aggravate water stress. As temperatures rise, ecosystems and the human, plant, and animal communities that depend on them will need more water to maintain their health and to thrive. Forests and trees are integral to the global water cycle and therefore vital for water security – they regulate water quantity, quality, and timing and provide protective functions against (for example) soil and coastal erosion, flooding, and avalanches. Forested watersheds provide 75 percent of our freshwater, delivering water to over half the world’s population. The purpose of A Guide to Forest–Water Management is to improve the global information base on the protective functions of forests for soil and water. It reviews emerging techniques and methodologies, provides guidance and recommendations on how to manage forests for their water ecosystem services, and offers insights into the business and economic cases for managing forests for water ecosystem services. Intact native forests and well-managed planted forests can be a relatively cheap approach to water management while generating multiple co-benefits. Water security is a significant global challenge, but this paper argues that water-centered forests can provide nature-based solutions to ensuring global water resilience.
Download or read book The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate written by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2022-04-30 with total page 755 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of human-induced climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. This IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the observed and projected changes to the ocean and cryosphere and their associated impacts and risks, with a focus on resilience, risk management response options, and adaptation measures, considering both their potential and limitations. It brings together knowledge on physical and biogeochemical changes, the interplay with ecosystem changes, and the implications for human communities. It serves policymakers, decision makers, stakeholders, and all interested parties with unbiased, up-to-date, policy-relevant information. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Download or read book Wetlands and Human Health written by C Max Finlayson and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-08-03 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book addresses the interactions between wetlands and human health and well-being. A key feature is the linking of ecology-health and the targeting of practitioners and researchers. The environmental health problems of the 21st Century cannot be addressed by the traditional tools of ecologists or epidemiologists working in their respective disciplinary silos; this is clear from the emergence and re-emergence of public health and human well-being problems such as cholera pandemics, mosquito borne disease, and episodic events and disasters (e.g. hurricanes). To tackle these problems requires genuine cross-disciplinary collaboration; a key finding of the recently concluded Millennium Ecosystem Assessment when looking at human well-being and ecosystem health. This book brings the disciplines of ecology and health sciences closer to such a synthesis for researchers, teachers and policy makers interested in or needing information to manage wetlands and human health and well-being issues.
Download or read book Potential Impacts of Wildfires on Soil and Water Chemistry in the San Gabriel Mountains California written by Supasiri Rittiron and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Increase in contaminants in soil caused by wildfires is poorly understood, despite it being a significant source of pollutants to receiving waters and reservoirs (Abraham et al., 2017). This study assesses the potential longer-term impacts of a small-scale wildfire that occurred in September 2018 on soil and leachate chemistry in the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, California. Soils were collected from five sites within the burned and unburned areas in March 2019, following the post-fire runoff, for sediment and total element analyses. Batch leaching tests were conducted at different temperatures to determine the extent of size partitioning and mobilization of the major (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, and Fe) and minor/trace (Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, and As) elements in order to understand solute transport as a result of changes in chemical bonding and physical characteristics of the soils. The results showed that burned soils were relatively finer than the unburned soils. For soil chemistry, the burned and unburned soils had similar composition of major and minor elements with the average range of the four interested minor elements being between 105 and 1,250 ppm, except As (4 ppm). Nevertheless, the batch leaching tests showed burned soils had significantly higher concentrations for some elements (e.g. Mg and Ca by more than six-fold and sevenfold, respectively, compared to that of the unburned soils within four-week period). These results potentially imply that size partitioning and the rate of the elements released into the water, could be impacted. Chromium amended experiments showed the opposite trend with Cr(VI) concentrations decreasing over time for both burned and non-burned soils. The was likely due to sorption of Cr(VI). These results would be valuable for predicting the fate of the contaminants and broader impacts could also include more effective pre- and post-fire mitigation plans.
