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Georgia Water Resources Conference
Georgia Water Resources Conference
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ItemAmmonium Uptake in Urban and Forested Headwater Streams(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003-04) Gibson, Cathy A. ; Meyer, Judy L.Land-use can affect nutrient loading to streams; however, there is little information about how land-use affects nutrient uptake processes in streams. Because headwater streams serve as regulators of water chemistry, it is important to consider how land-use alters nutrient removal capacity. We measured ammonium uptake and mass transfer coefficients in four forested and four urban headwater streams within the Upper Etowah River Basin, GA, during summer baseflow. Although discharge did not differ between stream types, urban streams had longer water residence times, were wider, and had more algal biomass than forested streams. Despite these physical and biotic differences that normally result in greater nutrient uptake, no significant difference was observed in ammonium uptake length or mass transfer coefficient in urban and forested streams.
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ItemPlacing Stream Restoration in Georgia in a National Perspective(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003-04) Sudduth, Elizabeth B. ; Meyer, Judy L. ; Palmer, Margaret A. ; Allan, J. David ; Bernhardt, Emily S.We are assessing the nature of the science underlying ecological restoration activities using stream ecosystems as model restoration systems and considering river restoration in Georgia, the Southeast, and the United States. We are assembling a data set that spans multiple ecoregions and many different types of restoration activities performed by diverse groups with various stakeholder interests. Data gathering is focused on several nodes, one of which is in Georgia. Specifically, the data set addresses: what kinds of restoration activities, at what scale, and by what means have taken place; how goals were set and success measured in these restoration efforts; the extent to which scientific criteria were used; the extent to which adaptive management was an explicit component of the restoration activity; and the extent to which scientists formed partnerships with restoration practitioners in order to use restoration projects as opportunities for scientific experimentation. The goal of the project is to facilitate the linkage between the practice of ecological restoration and the science of restoration ecology; we will attempt to establish standards for data gathering to scientifically assess restoration methods and success. We seek information on restoration projects in Georgia.
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ItemFish Consumption Patterns along the Upper Chattahoochee River(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003-04) Loeffler, G. ; Meyer, Judy L. ; Trammell, H. ; Holmbeck-Pelham, Skelly A.Anglers utilize the Chattahoochee River for both recreational fishing and fishing to supplement their family’s diet. Along the mainstem of the Chattahoochee River, individuals are fishing in areas that are under fish consumption guidelines for PCBs and mercury. The anglers are either choosing to ignore the fish consumption guidelines or are unaware that these guidelines exist. The reach of the river between Peachtree Creek and Hwy 27 in Franklin is of particular interest since it is receiving inputs from the metropolitan Atlanta area. Ninety-two surveys were taken from 1999 through 2002 from anglers found fishing along the mainstem of the Chattahoochee River. Information regarding the age and ethnicity of anglers, frequency of fishing, types of fish caught, and consumption of catches was collected from participants. Fifty percent of the anglers interviewed were African American, 36% Caucasian, 11% Hispanic, and 3% Asian. Minority anglers were twice as likely to consume fish than non-minority anglers. Based on these findings, the authors recommend that warnings be posted in English and Spanish and local community education be implemented.
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ItemPatterns of land use change in upland and riparian areas in the Etowah river basin(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003-04) Roy, Allison H. ; Freeman, Mary C. ; Meyer, Judy L. ; Leigh, David S.Streams are influenced by the upstream landscape, but may be differentially affected by conversion of forests in the entire catchment vs riparian areas adjacent to streams. We used geographic information system (GIS) analyses of the stream network and land cover in the Piedmont of the Etowah River basin to assess development patterns in upland catchment and riparian areas of streams. Landsat images (1973, 1987, 1997) were used to determine land cover and land cover change in a 100 m buffer on each side of the stream and the catchment as a whole. Agricultural and urban uses covered a larger percentage of the catchment area compared to the riparian area. Streams exhibited an average 13% decrease in forest cover and 11% increase in urban land cover in the catchments over the 24 year period, with riparian areas changing at a slower rate. Small (~15 km2) and large (~100 km2) catchments had similar proportions of buffer vs catchment forest land cover. Although rates of development were less in riparian areas, the continued trends of increased urban and decreased forest cover suggest that current policies may not be adequate at protecting stream ecosystems.
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ItemSpecifying Water Flow Requirements to Support River Health(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003-04) Richter, Brian ; Meyer, Judy L. ; Lutz, Kim ; Warner, AndrewWater managers, scientists and conservationists around the world are now exploring ways to meet human needs for water while keeping river ecosystems healthy. This requires identifying the amount and timing of water flows that must remain in rivers to sustain their ecological health. This is a challenging scientific endeavor, because river flow influences a large variety of plants and animals living in the river and in floodplain or estuarine areas. River flows shape their habitats both directly and indirectly, because water flows influence water quality and temperature, the physical character of a river and its floodplain, and interactions among species. Thus, the process of developing flow recommendations requires input from scientists of many disciplines. This paper provides an overview of a consensus-building process designed to produce an inter-disciplinary recommendation for river flow management that is being applied on the Savannah River below Thurmond Dam as a test case.