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S.A. Frenzel

Publications and source records attributed to S.A. Frenzel.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of municipal wastewater discharges on aquatic communities, Boise River, Idaho

Aquatic communities in the Boise River were examined from October 1987 to March 1988 to determine whether they were adversely affected by trace elements in effluents from two Boise wastewater treatment facilities. Trace-element concentrations in the Boise River were less than or near analytical-detection levels and were less than chronic toxicity criteria when detectable. Insect communities colonizing artificial substrates upstream and downstream from the wastewater treatment facilities were strongly associated, and coefficients of community loss indicated that effluents had benign enriching effects. The distributions of trace-element-intolerant mayflies indicated that trace-element concentrations in effluents did not adversely affect intolerant organisms in the Boise River. Condition factor of whitefish was significantly increased downstream from the Lander Street wastewater treatment facility and was significantly decreased downstream from the West Boise wastewater treatment facility.

Water Resources Bulletin

Identification of linear and threshold responses in streams along a gradient of urbanization in Anchorage, Alaska

We examined biotic and physiochemical responses in urbanized Anchorage, Alaska, to the percent of impervious area within stream basins, as determined by high-resolution IKONOS satellite imagery and aerial photography. Eighteen of the 86 variables examined, including riparian and instream habitat, macroinvertebrate communities, and water/sediment chemistry, were significantly correlated with percent impervious area. Variables related to channel condition, instream substrate, water chemistry, and residential and transportation right-of-way land uses were identified by principal components analysis as significant factors separating site groups. Detrended canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the macroinvertebrate communities responded to an urbanization gradient closely paralleling the percent of impervious area within the subbasin. A sliding regression analysis of variables significantly correlated with percent impervious area revealed 8 variables exhibiting threshold responses that correspond to a mean of 4.4-5.8% impervious area, much lower than mean values reported in other, similar investigations. As contributing factors to a subbasin's impervious area, storm drains and roads appeared to be important elements influencing the degradation of water quality with respect to the biota.

Alaska

Water quality in the central Nebraska basins, Nebraska, 1992-95

This report is intended to summarize major findings that emerged between 1992 and 1995 from the water-quality assessment of the Central Nebraska Basins Study Unit and to relate these findings to water-quality issues of regional and national concern. The information is primarily intended for those who are involved in waterresource management. Indeed, this report addresses many of the concerns raised by regulators, water-utility managers, industry representatives, and other scientists, engineers, public officials, and members of stakeholder groups who provided advice and input to the USGS during this NAWQA Study-Unit investigation. Yet, the information contained here may also interest those who simply wish to know more about the quality of water in the rivers and aquifers in the area where they live.

Nebraska

Relations of fish community composition to environmental variables in streams of central Nebraska, USA

Nine sites on streams in the Platte River Basin in central Nebraska were sampled as part of the US Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment Program during 1993-1994. A combination of canonical correspondence analysis and an index of biotic integrity determined from fish community data produced complementary evaluations of water quality conditions. Results of the canonical correspondence analysis were useful in showing which environmental variables were significant in differentiating fish communities at the nine sites. Five environmental variables were statistically significant in the analysis. Median specific conductance of water samples collected at a site accounted for the largest amount of variability in the species data. Although the percentage of the basin as cropland was not the first variable chosen in a forward selection process, it was the most strongly correlated with the first ordination axis. A rangeland- dominated site was distinguished from all others along that axis. Median orthophosphate concentration of samples collected in the year up to the time of fish sampling was most strongly correlated with the second ordination axis. The index of biotic integrity produced results that could be interpreted in terms of the relative water quality between sites. Sites draining nearly 100% cropland had the lowest scores for two individual metrics of the index of biotic integrity that were related to species tolerance. Effective monitoring of water quality could be achieved by coupling methods that address both the ecological components of fish communities and their statistical relationships to environmental factors.

Environmental Management

An application of bioassessment metrics and multivariate techniques to evaluate central Nebraska streams

Ninety-one stream sites in central Nebraska were classified into four clusters on the basis of a cluster analysis (TWINSPAN) of macroinvertebrate data. Rapid bioassessment protocol scores for macroinvertebrate species were significantly different among sites grouped by teh first division into two clusters. This division may have distinguished sites on the basis of water-quality imparement. Individual metrics that differed between clusters of sites were the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index, the number of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa, and the ratio of individuals in EPT to Chironomidae taxa. Canonical correspondence analysis of 57 of 91 sites showed that stream width, site altitude, latitude, soil permeability, water temperature, and mean annual precipitation were the most important environmental variables describing variance in the species-environment relation. Stream width and soil permeability reflected streamflow characteristics of a site, whereas site altitude and latitude were factors related to general climatic conditions. Mean annual precipitation related to both streamflow and climatic conditions.

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Water resources of the upper Big Wood River basin, Idaho

Mean annual water yields, estimated using a water-budget method, for the upper Big Wood River basin above Glendale Road and for Trail Creek, Warm Springs Creek, and East Fork Big Wood River, Idaho were 410,000, 50,000, 60,000 and 50,000 acre-ft, respectively. Yields also were estimated for 1986 and 1987 water years when data were collected for comparison with long-term average values. During 1986, yields estimated for upper Big Wood River basin, Trail Creek, Warm Springs Creek, and East Fork Big Wood were 580,000, 61,000, 83,000 and 60,000 acre-ft, respectively. During 1987, yields estimated for the respective basins were 230,000, 26,000, 32,000 and 28,000 acre-ft. Availability of surface and groundwater varies seasonally; the greatest quantity is available during spring snowmelt, and the least is available during mid-winter to late winter. Nutrient concentrations in sampled ground and surface water were near or below detection levels throughout the basin, which indicates that water quality has not been impaired by increased development. Fluoride concentrations were elevated in Warm Springs Creek, probably due to inflow of thermal water.

Idaho

Water-quality data for the Boise River, Boise to Star, Idaho, January to March 1988

Physical and chemical data were collected at six sites and biological data were collected at five sites on the Boise River between Veterans Memorial Parkway in Boise and Star, Idaho, from January to March 1988. Data were collected to determine the effect of sewage effluent from two Boise wastewater treatment facilities on the water and biological quality of the Boise River. Similar data were collected from October to December 1987. Results of all data analyses will be discussed in an interpretive report.

Idaho

Effects of volcanic ash on the benthic environment of a mountain stream, northern Idaho

The May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens deposited about 15 millimeters of volcanic ash on the Big Creek basin in northern Idaho. Much of the uncompacted ash remained on hillsides a year after the eruption. Physical and chemical analyses of water samples from Big Creek collected from December 1980 to December 1981 showed no anomalies attributable to ash. Qualitative collections showed benthic invertebrates to be abundant and diverse in Big Creek. Experiments conducted in an unimpacted mountain stream revealed a small quantity of volcanic ash may be beneficial not detrimental to invertebrate communities. Benthic invertebrates were most abundant on ash-covered artificial substrates, with detritovores dominating the communities on all substrates. (USGS)

Idaho