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Happy New Year! In this issue we highlight regional and reach-scale assessments of fluvial erosion hazards (FEH), Studies of Runoff Volume Reduction, The Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory, the “Next Generation” Monitoring Location Pages, and the Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) program in the Illinois River Basin (IRB).

The full OKI Winter 2022 Newsletter is available for download (click the text link).

 

USGS Fluvial Erosion Hazards (FEH) Primer

This USGS FEH Primer highlights methods used in regional and reach-scale assessments of fluvial erosion hazards (FEH). Fluvial erosion includes bed erosion, meaning lowering of the bed of a stream, as well as bank erosion, which refers to the retreat of stream banks that occurs as a stream widens or migrates laterally.

The purpose of this primer is to serve as a starting point for planning an assessment of risks related to fluvial erosion, specifically risks to infrastructure in and near streams. The primer provides citations and links (when possible) to a variety of more-detailed references. In addition to FEH applications, the methods described here can be applied to issues related to the impacts of fluvial erosion on stream ecology and habitat, water quality, and sedimentation in downstream reservoir. (Read more in Full Newsletter)

 

USGS Studies Runoff Volume Reduction Associated with Soil Amendments Added to Highway Median-Strip Catchments

USGS Studies Runoff Volume Reduction Associated with Soil Amendments Added to Highway Median-Strip Catchments The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) cooperated with ms consultants, STONE Environmental, BUDS INC., and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to research stormwater-runoff volume reduction associated with adding soil amendments to portions of highway median-strip catchments. The soil amendments consisted of a mixture of compost plus sand or compost plus expanded shale that were rototilled into the existing soil to depths of 4 or 6 inches. The amended soils were then topped with a compost blanket, seeded, and covered with erosion-control matting (see photo below).

USGS with DOT
The soil amendments consisted of a mixture of compost plus sand or compost plus expanded shale that were rototilled into the existing soil to depths of 4 or 6 inches. The amended soils were then topped with a compost blanket, seeded, and covered with erosion-control matting

The USGS’ role was to measure rainfall and runoff during time periods before and after the amendments were installed to evaluate whether and how much the various amendment type and depth combinations resulted in runoff reduction. To accomplish that objective, the USGS installed instrumentation to measure rainfall on and runoff from State Route highway median strips at 8 locations in north-central and northeast Ohio. Ten soil-amended sites were instrumented as were two control sites whose drainages did not receive soil amendments. Control sites were collocated with soil amended sites at 2 of the 10 highway locations. (Read More in Full Newsletter)

Data and photographic images were telemetered to USGS computers via the internet using cellular modems
Data and photographic images were telemetered to USGS computers via the internet using cellular modems.

 

The Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (OWML) is in the Columbus, Ohio office of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center. The OWML is uniquely positioned to address many of the current science issues facing the Nation and the Region. Consequently, the mission of the OWML is focused on meeting the challenge to improve understanding, advance science, and where applicable, allow for more effective management and mitigation strategies related to emerging and (or) persistent science issues. The OWML provides microbiological data of public-health significance from surface waters, groundwaters, and sediments using traditional and cutting-edge analytical approaches. Specific research topics include cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs), microbial source tracking, environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring, and taste and odor issues. Each of these topics will be discussed in more detail below. (Read More in Full Newsletter)

 

Employee Spotlights

Employee spotlights in this edition include Jacob Morris, Nicholas Wander, Dr. Myles Thomas Moore, Danielle Follette, and Ivan Yifan Zhao

 

 

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