Factors Affecting Stream Nutrient Loads: A Synthesis of Regional SPARROW Model Results for the Continental United States1

Preston, Stephen D.; Alexander, Richard B.; Schwarz, Gregory E.; Crawford, Charles G.

doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00577.x

Cited by 109 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The yield R-squared is a better measure of fit than load R-squared given that the basin sizes were variable for the monitoring stations. For comparison, the yield R-squared for six regional SPARROW models with similar monitoring station densities as that of this study ranged from 0.72 to 0.86 for nitrogen, and 0.60 to 0.80 for phosphorus (Preston, Alexander, Schwarz, and Crawford, 2011).…”

Section: Model Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Smith and others (1997) developed the SPARROW modeling technique and applied it to build an understanding of nitrogen and phosphorus sources and transport in streams of the conterminous United States. Subsequent efforts that have developed SPARROW models include but are not limited to nitrogen and phosphorus sources and transport for streams in specific major river basins of the United States (Preston, Alexander, and Wolock, 2011;Preston, Alexander, Schwarz, and Crawford, 2011), dissolved-solids sources and transport in streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin (Kenney and others, 2009), and dissolved-solids sources and transport in streams of the southwestern United States (Anning and others, 2007;Anning, 2011). SPARROW models have been used to (1) extrapolate known water-quality conditions in monitored reaches to estimate conditions in unmonitored reaches; (2) establish links between water quality and constituent sources; (3) track the transport of constituents to streams and downstream receiving waters, such as estuaries; (4) assess the natural processes that attenuate constituents as they are transported from land and downstream; and (5) predict changes in water quality that may result from management actions or changes in land use.…”

Section: Modeling Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several of these factors affect weathering rates as well as surface-water runoff rates. Most of these factors were used in one or more SPARROW models of dissolved solids, nitrogen, or phosphorus transport constructed for selected parts of the Nation (Anning and others, 2007;Kenney and others, 2009;Preston, Alexander, Schwarz, and Crawford, 2011).…”

Section: Inflowmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dissolved-solids sources, loads, yields, and concentrations in streams of the conterminous United States

Anning¹,

Flynn²

2014

Scientific Investigations Report

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For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprodTo order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.Suggested citation: Anning, D.W, and Flynn, M.E., 2014, Dissolved-solids sources, loads, yields, and concentrations in streams of the conterminous United States: U. S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5012, 101 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145012. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii FOREWORDThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is committed to providing the Nation with reliable scientific information that helps to enhance and protect the overall quality of life and that facilitates effective management of water, biological, energy, and mineral resources (http://www.usgs.gov/). Information on the Nation's water resources is critical to ensuring long-term availability of water that is safe for drinking and recreation and is suitable for industry, irrigation, and fish and wildlife. Population growth and increasing demands for water make the availability of that water, measured in terms of quantity and quality, even more essential to the long-term sustainability of our communities and ecosystems.The USGS implemented the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program in 1991 to support national, regional, State, and local information needs and decisions related to water-quality management and policy (http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa). The NAWQA Program is designed to answer: What is the quality of our Nation's streams and groundwater? How are conditions changing over time? How do natural features and human activities affect the quality of streams and groundwater, and where are those effects most pronounced? By combining information on water chemistry, physical characteristics, stream habitat, and aquatic life, the NAWQA Program aims to provide science-based insights for current and emerging water issues and priorities. From 1991 to 2001, the NAWQA Program completed interdisciplinary assessments and established a baseline understanding of water-quality conditions in 51 of the Nation's river basins and aquifers, referred to as Study Units (http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/studies/ study_units.html ).National and regional assessments are ongoing in the second decade (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012) of the NAWQA Program as 42 of the 51 Study Units are selectively reassessed. These assessments extend the findings in the Study U...

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Section: Model Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Modeling Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Inflowmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Dissolved-solids sources, loads, yields, and concentrations in streams of the conterminous United States

Anning¹,

Flynn²

2014

Scientific Investigations Report

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“…Losses from specific sectors/industries are detailed in these reports. For 2002, leaching of Nr to surface waters was based on the USGS SPARROW model (Preston et al 2011); we assumed that 2007 was the same as 2002.…”

Section: N Use Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Intentional versus unintentional nitrogen use in the United States: trends, efficiency and implications

et al. 2012

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Human actions have both intentionally and unintentionally altered the global economy of nitrogen (N), with both positive and negative consequences for human health and welfare, the environment and climate change. Here we examine long-term trends in reactive N (Nr) creation and efficiencies of Nr use within the continental US. We estimate that human actions in the US have increased Nr inputs by at least *5 times compared to pre-industrial conditions. Whereas N 2 fixation as a by-product of fossil fuel combustion accounted for *1/4 of Nr inputs from the 1970s to 2000 (or *7 Tg N year -1 ), this value has dropped substantially since then (to \5 Tg N year -1 ), owing to Clean Air Act amendments. As of 2007, national N use efficiency (NUE) of all combined N inputs was equal to *40 %. This value increases to 55 % when considering intentional N inputs alone, with food, industrial goods, fuel and fiber production accounting for the largest Nr sinks, respectively. We estimate that 66 % of the N lost during the production of goods and services enters the air (as NO x , NH 3 , N 2 O and N 2 ), with the remaining 34 % lost to various waterways. These Nr losses contribute to smog formation, acid rain, eutrophication, biodiversity declines and climate change. Hence we argue that an improved national NUE would: (i) benefit the US economy on the production side; (ii) reduce social damage costs; and (iii) help avoid some major climate change risks in the future.

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“…The SPARROW model has been calibrated by the USGS to estimate nitrogen loads for the base year 2002 from point sources (wastewater discharges) and nonpoint sources (atmospheric deposition, agriculture fertilizer/manure, and urban/suburban land) and accounts for watershed characteristics such as precipitation, temperature, soil permeability, stream density, flow rate, velocity, and lake/reservoir hydraulics [41]. The USGS SPARROW model simulates nitrogen removal based on hydrological processes such as denitrification, particulate settling, and water velocity [42]. SPARROW is a nonlinear least squares regression model where the mean annual N load, as the dependent variable, is weighted by land-to-water movement, instream transport, and assimilation of nitrogen as the explanatory variable (Table 3).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Cost of Clean Water in the Delaware River Basin (USA)

Kauffman

2018

Water

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Abstract:The Delaware River has made a marked recovery in the half-century since the adoption of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Compact in 1961 and passage of the Federal Clean Water Act amendments during the 1970s. During the 1960s, the DRBC set a 3.5 mg/L dissolved oxygen criterion for the river based on an economic analysis that concluded that a waste load abatement program designed to meet fishable water quality goals would generate significant recreational and environmental benefits. Scientists with the Delaware Estuary Program have recently called for raising the 1960s dissolved oxygen criterion along the Delaware River from 3.5 mg/L to 5.0 mg/L to protect anadromous American shad and Atlantic sturgeon, and address the prospect of rising temperatures, sea levels, and salinity in the estuary. This research concludes, through a nitrogen marginal abatement cost (MAC) analysis, that it would be cost-effective to raise dissolved oxygen levels to meet a more stringent standard by prioritizing agricultural conservation and some wastewater treatment investments in the Delaware River watershed to remove 90% of the nitrogen load by 13.6 million kg N/year (30 million lb N/year) for just 35% ($160 million) of the $449 million total cost. The annual least cost to reduce nitrogen loads and raise dissolved oxygen levels to meet more stringent water quality standards in the Delaware River totals $45 million for atmospheric NOX reduction, $130 million for wastewater treatment, $132 million for agriculture conservation, and $141 million for urban stormwater retrofitting. This 21st century least cost analysis estimates that an annual investment of $50 million is needed to reduce pollutant loads in the Delaware River to raise dissolved oxygen levels to 4.0 mg/L, $150 million is needed for dissolved oxygen levels to reach 4.5 mg/L, and $449 million is needed for dissolved oxygen levels to reach 5.0 mg/L.

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Factors Affecting Stream Nutrient Loads: A Synthesis of Regional SPARROW Model Results for the Continental United States1

Cited by 109 publications

References 35 publications

Dissolved-solids sources, loads, yields, and concentrations in streams of the conterminous United States

Dissolved-solids sources, loads, yields, and concentrations in streams of the conterminous United States

Intentional versus unintentional nitrogen use in the United States: trends, efficiency and implications

The Cost of Clean Water in the Delaware River Basin (USA)

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