Source: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS submitted to NRP
ARKANSAS WATER RESOURCES CENTER AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING
Sponsoring Institution
State Agricultural Experiment Station
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
STATE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0220373
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2013
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2018
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703
Performing Department
Biological & Agr Engineering
Non Technical Summary
In 1964, Congress passed the Water Resources Research Act, establishing water research institutions like Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC) at land-grant universities throughout the United States. AWRC, located at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, is part of a network of 54 water institutes. AWRC, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Institute for Water Resources (NIWR), has helped local, state and federal agencies learn to manage Arkansas' water resources for more than 30 years. The AWRC Water Quality Laboratory will exist primarily to efficiently support the on-going research projects associated with the Arkansas Water Resources Center, Animal Sciences Department, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, Biological Sciences Department, Crops, Soils and Environmental Sciences Department, Geosciences Department and other departments across the UA campus engaged in studies of water quality issues, which might require the analysis of water samples. This lab will also be certified through the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality for the analyses of water samples specifically related to projects funded through the 319 Nonpoint Source Program of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, and this will be the only accredited lab on campus for the analyses of water samples on a per-sample fee basis aimed at simply recovering analytical equipment, supply and labor costs. The project specifically associated with the AWRC will center around this main goals: 1) water quality monitoring, 2) constituent load estimation, 3) water quality trend analysis, and 4) effects of land use on water quality.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
80%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020399200015%
1020399205015%
1120210119020%
1120399119020%
1330330200015%
1330330205015%
Knowledge Area
133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation; 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 112 - Watershed Protection and Management;

Subject Of Investigation
0210 - Water resources; 0399 - Watersheds and river basins, general; 0330 - Wetland and riparian systems;

Field Of Science
2050 - Hydrology; 1190 - Limnology; 2000 - Chemistry;
Goals / Objectives
The Center's statewide mission is to: 1) Arrange for competent research that addresses water problems and enhances our understanding; 2) Aid the entry of new research scientists into water resources fields; 3) Help to train future water scientists and engineers; and 4) Transfer results of sponsored research to water managers and the public. The AWRC and its service Water Quality Lab (WQL) provides the technical capabilities to monitor water quality, analyze water samples, and determine constituent loads and trends over time; the overall goal of its WQL is to provide highly accurate, repeatable results in a reasonable amount of time to clients following acceptable EPA methods for the analyses of water samples.
Project Methods
PROCEDURES: Water Quality Monitoring: The largest part of the research program of the AWRC covers water quality monitoring, analysis, and evaluation, where the evaluation covers load estimation and trend analyses. All water samples collected within the AWRC will follow approved QAPPs specific to the project, or one relevant to the project and our general procedures. The water samples will be dropped off at the AWRC WQL, where these will be analyzed following acceptable standard operating procedures (SOPs). The data will then be provided back to the research support staff, where loads will be estimated or trends in chemical concentrations will be determined. Constituent loads are estimated using procedures appropriate to the frequency of data collection, and the two most common methods include period weighting and regression models or rating curves. The period-weighted methods essentially use mass integration to datasets that have continuous discharge but do not have continuous concentration data, where assumptions must be made about unknown concentrations in between collected water samples and measured concentrations. The period-weighted methods use a variety of techniques to estimate concentration in between the measured data points, including linear interpolation between measured concentrations, measured concentrations applied to the mid-point between consecutive measurements, measured concentrations applied forward or backward until the next measured concentration. No matter the integration technique, this method requires high-frequency sampling and analysis of many water samples to precisely estimate loads, especially during storm events. The number of water samples and measured concentrations used to estimate loads with regression models, or rating curves, are less than that when using period-weighted methods, and these regression models can be applied to period of times when samples were not collected. In this method, regression models relating concentration to a continuously measured variable (e.g., discharge) are used to estimate a continuous concentration record at a given time interval. These regression models are used to account for variations in concentration often associated with exogenous variables, such as discharge and seasonality. The methods used in trend analysis are relatively simple, but employ complex statistical procedures where changes in concentration with discharge must be considered. Perhaps, the most common method used to account for variations in chemical concentration with discharge is the use of locally weighted regression analysis (i.e., LOWESS) on log-transformed concentration and discharge. LOWESS combines the simplicity of local regressions to provide a nonlinear fit to the data based on the proportion of data influencing the local regression (i.e., sampling proportion), and its curve generally fits the concentration-discharge relation better than a fixed relation (e.g., log-log regression). After selecting the appropriate flow-adjustment procedure, the residual values or flow-adjusted concentrations are then evaluated to see if significant changes occur over time. The parametric approach would involve using simple linear regression between the flow-adjusted concentrations and time, where the general assumptions of linear regression must be met. It is extremely important to provide our stakeholders an understanding of how water quality is changing over time, especially in response to watershed management initiated on a volunteer basis or through lawsuit settlement agreements. The data collected by the AWRC, plus additional data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey, will be used in priority trans-boundary watersheds, i.e. Illinois River, White River, Poteau River and Spavinaw Creek, to inform the general public and science community on how chemical transport has responded to watershed management. The flow-adjusted concentrations will be analyzed over time, as described above and also using classification and regression tree analysis (CART) to identify point in time where the variability changes. It is anticipated the changes in the variability of the flow-adjusted concentrations will or should coincide with known changes in watershed management. AWRC Water Quality Laboratory: Services provided will include analyses of water samples for various water quality paprameters, including GENERAL WATER QUALTIY PARAMETERS [alkalinity, anions (NO3-N, F, SO4, & Cl), bromide, carbon (total organic & non-purgeable), chloride, chemical oxygen demand, conductivity, hardness, various nitrogen forms (including NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, & total N), pH, various phosphorus forms (PO4-P, SRP & TP), silica, solids (including dissolved, suspended, total, volatile & ash free dry weight), & turbidity], BIOLOGICAL [chlorophyll a, b & c, & macroinvertebrate indentification), MICROBIOLOGICAL [total coliform, fecal coliform and E. coli], and VARIOUS METALS [Al, As, B, Cd, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, Pb, S, Se, Ti & Zn] . The AWRC WQL will be audited through analyses of blind samples to maintain our certification or accreditation through ADEQ, where the Lab Manager will be responsible for these actions reporting anything the Center Director that is out of compliance. This lab is expected to be self-sufficient financially, starting this fiscal year. Arkansas Water Resources Center Conference: The annual meeting theme is selected by the AWRC, and then promoted through personal communication, email list serves, and social media. The annual meeting theme targets an emerging water resource issues in Arkansas, also applicable to the region, and then speakers are invited; there is not an open call for oral presentations. A call for poster presentations, particularly student presentations for the poster competition, is solicited by the AWRC, and then specific faculty contacts are made to encourage student participation. The conference includes a registration packet, which includes a designed program, poster competition voting form, and other applicable material. The AWRC solicits conference sponsors to help provide food, social breaks, and monetary awards. For more information, please see: http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/index.html

Progress 07/01/09 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The decision makers and principal customers for the water quality analysis, research results and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, ADH, National Park Service, USGS, USFS, NIWR, USDA, non-governmental organizations, agricultural industries, and local municipalities. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Arkansas Water Resources Center hosts an annual water research conference each year addressing an important and often emerging concern relative to Arkansas and our stakeholders. The various themes have included: Watersheds, Wicked Problems, and Water Words 2014 Meeting Arkansas's Water Needs Now and Into the Future 2015 Nutrients, Water Quality and Harmful Algal Blooms 2016 Protecting Water Supplies for People and the Environment 2017 The Value of Water 2018 The attendance variedannually ranging from 125 to 180 people, and over the five years our conference has touched over 800 people interested in water quality. This includes students in the NSF funded EcoREU Program, where these undergraduate students are required to present a poster in a competition. Details about each conference are included in the annual progress reports. The water center also assists various other non-governmental organizations and water districts in symposium planning, prepration and delivery, including the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, the Beaver Watershed Alliance, Poteau Valley Improvement Authority, Ozark Waters Watch, Arkansas Chapter of the American Water Resources Association, and South Central Geological Society of America. The water center also sponsors Arkansas State University's annual Soil and Water Education Conference targeted at students, crop advisors, etc. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Center director and faculty with sponsored research publish the results in scientific journals. The Center helps disseminate information on water issues in Arkansas by maintaining a technical library (on-line) providing: technical research publications (http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/pubs_msc.html) annual reports (http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/pubs_ar.html), data reports (http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/water-data-reports.php) fact sheets (http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/factsheets.php) newsletters (https://watercurrents.uark.edu/). The newsletter is distributed through Mail Chimp, and it has an astonishing opening percentage of 80%. The Center also maintains an active social media campaign, primarily using Facebook where we have almost 500 likes and a weekly reach of 100 to 1000 per post; we also are increasing activity on Instgram and Twitter. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Arkansas Water Resources Center funded 32 project from project year 2014 through 2018, addressing a variety of water issues relevant to Arkansas and our Nation. The specific projects are listed by title in the annual progress reports, but these projects have addressed drinking water treatment and service line water quality (relative to lead, Pb), water use, management and economics in the Delta Region, water quality (chemistry, biology,and pathogens) in streams, rivers and lakes across the state, and even harmful algal blooms and algal toxins.The funded research addresses our congressional authorized mission, as well as promotes the national mission and objectives of the U.S. Geological Survey focused on providing water quality and quantity information, understanding water availability, addressing the influence of climate on water resources, and responding to water-related emerging needs. The research within the center has resulted in hundred of publications and presentations bystaff, faculty and students.

Publications


    Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The decision makers and principal customers for the water quality research results and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, USEPA, USDA, agricultural industries and local municipalities. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Center is also required to manage an information transfer program, which includes the dissemination of information to stakeholders and an annual water conference. This year the annual conference was held on July 2017 and had the theme, Protecting Water Supplies for People and the Environment. The opening session was about protecting water supplies, and the importance of PARTNERS in the effort to protect source water quality was emphasized greatly - a successful protection program needs support from various agencies, utilities, and the public. The next session was about the Illinois River Watershed and the recommendation from theJoint Phosphorus Study, featuring Ryan King's students from Baylor University, Nicole Hardiman from Illinois River Watershed Partnership, and even myself. On the afternoon of the first day, researchers with theUS Geological Surveyshared data and information about some of their current projects. Then, to wrap up the first day and start the second day, we heard about irrigation management and water quality in agriculture. We got to hear many different perspectives about these issues from researchers from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The next session on urban water management was fun and interesting. We learned about water conservation efforts, low impact development, and public awareness campaigns going on in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Many people decided to walk off some of their lunch by taking a demonstration tour with Colin Massey and Jane Maginot with theUniversity of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. Finally, the Arkansas chapter of the American Water Resources Association partnered with AWRC to hold their annual symposium on the afternoon of the second day. We heard from speakers about dam safety and water supply issues in Arkansas, particularly about the threat of harmful algal blooms. There were approximately 150 attendees. This year's poster session showcased a lot of research from undergraduate and graduate students on a wide variety of water topics. Students in the Ecosystems Services Research Experience for Undergraduates (EcoREU) program got the opportunity to present findings from their summer research during the poster session. Undergraduate Student Competition:Congratulations to Brent Chaney and advisor Beth Baker of Mississippi State University for getting first place with their poster titled "Water Quality Impacts of Wild Hogs". Second place went to Leah Bayer and advisor Dan Magoulick for their poster titled "Modeling the Effects of Crayfish Invasion and Drought on Hypothetical Crayfish Population Dynamics". The Center also co-sponsors conferences and organizes session, and the activities this past year include: 2017 Beaver Watershed Symposium, organized with Beaver Watershed Alliance 2017 Arkansas State University Soil and Water Education Conference 2017 AR-AWRA Annual State Meeting, organized with annual conference 2018 South Central Geological Society of America Annual Meeting "Drivers and impacts to water quality throughout the mid-continent region of the United States" Graduate student competition:First place went to Kaleb Belcher, advised by Wen Zhang of the University of Arkansas for their poster "Accumulation and Release of Lead by Biofilms in Drinking Water Distribution Systems". Second place went to Brooke Howard-Parker, advised by Michelle Evans-White of the University of Arkansas for their poster titled "The Effects of Phosphorus and Light on Recalcitrant Organic Matter Degradation in Lotic Systems". How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Center director and faculty with sponsored research publish the results in scientific journals. The Center helps disseminate information on water issues in Arkansas by maintaining a technical library (on-line) providing: technical research publications (http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/pubs_msc.html) annual reports (http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/pubs_ar.html), data reports (http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/water-data-reports.php) fact sheets (http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/factsheets.php) newsletters (https://watercurrents.uark.edu/). The newsletter is distributed through Mail Chimp, and it has an astonishing opening percentage of 80%. The Center also maintains an active social media campaign, primarily using Facebook where we have almost 500 likes and a weekly reach of 100 to 1000 per post. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to continue operating as usual, and we strive for continual quality improvement of both our research and information transfer programs.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The Arkansas Water REsources Center funded 5 projects selected through external review by the technical advisory committee in 2017, including 3 faculty proposals and 2 student research support proposals. The faculty proposals included: Regionalizing Agricultural Field Evapotranspiration Observations; Benjamin R.K. Runkle, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Herbicide Mitigation Potential of Tailwater Recovery Systems in the Cache River Critical Groundwater Area; Cammy Willet, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Combined Application of Nutrient Manipulation and Hydrogen Peroxide Exposure to Selectively Control Cyanabacteria Growth and Promote Eukaryote Phytoplankton Production in Aquaculture Ponds; Amit Kumar Sinha, University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff The Center funded these student projects, including: Investigating Impact of Lead Service Lines in Drinking Water Distribution Systems at the City of Tulsa; Kaleb Belcher and Wen Zhang, University of Arkansas - FayettevilleAssessment of Strategies to Address Future Irrigation Water Shortage in the Arkansas Delta; Tyler Knapp and Qiuqiong Huang, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Austin, B.J., E. Scott, others, and B.E. Haggard. 2017. Unconventional natural gas development did not result in detectable changes in water chemistry (within the South Fork Little Red River). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 189:209-222
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Brennon, R., A. Sharpley, others, and B.E. Haggard. 2017. Linking soil erosion to instream dissolved P cycling and periphyton growth. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 53(4):809-821.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Grantz, E., B.E. Haggard, and J.T. Scott. 2017. Censored data can inflate or obscure trends in analyses used for water quality target development. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment [Submitted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmel, R., K. King, others, and B.E. Haggard. 2017. Measuring edge-of-field water quality: Where we have been and the path forward. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation [Accepted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Heeren, D.M., G.A. Fox, others, and B.E. Haggard. 2017. Impact of macropores and gravel outcrops on phosphorus leaching at the plot scale in silt loam soils. Transactions ASABE 60(3):823-835.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Lasater, A.L., and B.E. Haggard. 2017. Sediment phosphorus flux at Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma: How important are internal sources? Agricultural and Environmental Letters 2:170017.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Longing, S.D., L.A. Mack, and B.E. Haggard. 2017. Bioassessment of four karst springs at Hobbs State Park  conservation area with a focus on diving beetle (Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae) species of concern. Journal of Arkansas Academy of Science 71:1-8.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: McCarty, J.A., M.D. Matlock, J.T. Scott, and B.E. Haggard. 2017. Four risk indicators for prioritizing smaller watersheds to improve water quality. Transactions ASABE [Submitted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Scott, E., M. Leh and B.E. Haggard. 2017. Spatiotemporal variation in exceedances of bacterial water quality standards and the relationship with paste land cover. Journal of Water and Health 15.6: 839-848.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sharpley, A.N., B.E. Haggard, L. Berry, J. Burke, K. Brye, M.D. Daniels, T. Glover, T. Kresse, P. Hays, and K.W. VanDevender. 2017. Nutrient concentrations in Big Creek correlate to regional watershed land use. Agricultural and Environmental Letters 2:170027
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2017 Citation: Simpson, Z.P., and B.E. Haggard. 2017. Optimizing the flow-adjustment of constituent concentrations via LOESS for trend analysis. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment [Accepted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Reavis, M.A. and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Are floodplain soils a potential phosphorus source when inundated that can be effectively managed? Agricultural and Environmental Letters 1:160036
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Joint Study Committee, 2017. Final report to the Governors from the Joint Study Committee and Scientific Professionals: Summary, technical summary and recommendations. AWRC Technical Report MSC 384, 72 pp.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: AWRC Monthly Water Newsletter  Arkansas Water Currents https://watercurrents.uark.edu/
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: AWRC Annual Summary AS-2016 http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/annualsummary.php
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: AWRC Annual Technical Report MSC.102.2016 http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/annualreports104b.php
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: AWRC Data Reports http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/water-data-reports.php
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: AWRC Fact Sheets http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/factsheets.php Austin, B.J., J.B. Payne, S.E. Watkins, and B.E. Haggard. 2017. How to collect your water sample and interpret the results for the poultry analytical package. AWRC Fact Sheet FS-2017-01 Austin, B.J., M. Daniels, and B.E. Haggard. 2017. How to collect your water sample and interpret the results for the domestic analytical package. AWRC Fact Sheet FS-2017-02 Austin, B.J., L. Espinoza, C. Henry, M. Daniels, and B.E. Haggard. 2017. How to collect your water sample and interpret the results for the irrigation analytical package. AWRC Fact Sheet FS-2017-03


    Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The decision makers and principal customers for the water quality research results and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, USEPA, USDA, agricultural industries and local municipalities. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This year's conference was one for the record books with the highest attendance to date! The conference theme was "Nutrients, Water Quality and Harmful Algal Blooms". Over 160 people from research, state agencies, engineering firms and many others came to learn, network and share their insights from around the country. Session Topics The opening session covered the complexities of water quality management, and really set the stage for the rest of the conference. John Lewis, with the National Weather Service, gave us perspective on weather patterns and precipitation, which can have large impacts on hydrology and water quality. Next, Rick Cruse of Iowa State University (pictured below) discussed some of the major challenges that exist in addressing water quality problems. Then Heath Ward, a member of the Arkansas Nutrient Trading Advisory Panel, talked about how nutrient trading could play a role in solving some of our water quality issues. During the rest of the first day, we heard talks about how nutrients get transported through different systems, how landscape characteristics across a watershed can influence water quality, and topics important to nutrient criteria development. The second day of the conference was devoted to Harmful Algal Blooms and cyanotoxins. Cyanotoxins are toxic compounds that can be produced by cyanobacteria, which are bacteria that have characteristics of algae. Top experts in the field Hans Paerl of the University of North Carolina and Alan Wilson of Auburn University delivered the keynote presentations. For the rest of the second day, we learned about techniques to monitor HABs and cyanotoxins, how lake managers can effectively respond to algal blooms, and some of the current regulations of cyanotoxins and the risks to public health. HABs and cyanotoxins are a growing concern in this part of the country. We're grateful to all the speakers including those from other parts of the country who gave insight into what's worked and what hasn't worked in their regions. A big thanks to all the speakers and session moderators. The success of this year's conference lies with them! Poster Competitions This year we had several excellent poster presentations by undergraduate students in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program as well as graduate research students. There was close competition in both groups, and the top two undergraduate and graduate students were awarded with monetary prizes! REU competition:Congratulations to Abbie Lasater and advisor Dr. Brian Haggard of the University of Arkansas for their poster titled "Sediment Phosphorus Flux at Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma: How Important are Internal Sources". Second place went to Micalea Klaus of Ottawa University and advisor Dr. John Willson with their poster titled "Effects of Non-Native Vegetation on Aquatic Communities and Prairie Associated Amphibians". Graduate student competition:Congratulations to Elise Coffelt and Nate Weston and their advisor Dr. Sally Entrekin of the University of Central Arkansas who took first place in the graduate student competition for their poster titled "Restoration Proposal for University Stream and Surrounding Landscape". Second place went to Bernardo Zacouteguy and his advisor Dr. Wen Zhang for their poster titled "Assessing Biodegradable Organic Matter in Source Drinking Water". How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Center is also required to manage an information transfer program, which includes the dissemination of information to stakeholders and an annual water research conference. This year's conference was held in July 2016 and had the theme, 'Nutrients, Water Quality and Harmful Algal Blooms'. The Center helps dessiminate information on water issues in Arkansas by maintaining a technical (on-line) library, which provides links to and archives: 1) technical research publications http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/msc.php 2) annual reports http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/annualreports104b.php 3) annual summaries http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/annualsummary.php 4) newsletters watercurrents.uark.edu The Center makes water-quality data from projects managed by or through the Center available online, facilitating the open sharing of data - these reports are available at: http://arkansas.watercenter.uark.edu/publications/waterdatareports.php Most recently, the Center has started the production of fact sheets to help clients, students, and stakeholders understand water analysis and interpret data reports from the certified laboratory, and these fact sheets will be available at:http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/factsheets.php The Center also sponsors or co-sponsors conferences or organizes sessions, and the activities this past year included: 1) Arkansas State University Soil and Water Education Conference 2) Beaver Watershed Symposium, organized with Beaver Watershed Alliance The Center also maintains an active social media campaign, primarily using Facebook where we have 463 likes, 456 followers and reach hundreds to thousands of Arkansans weekly. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to continue operating as usual, and we strive for continual quality improvement of both our research and information transfer programs.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The Arkansas Water Resources Center funded seven projects selected through external peer review by the Technical Advisory Committee in 2016, including 3 faculty proposals and 4 student proposals with a faculty advisor. Faculty Research Projects: Partitioning Rice Field Evaporation into Evaporation and Transpiration Components; Benjamin R.K. Runkle, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Comparative Microbial Community Dynamics in a Karst Aquifer System and Proximal Surface STream in Northwest Arkansas; Matthew Covington and Kristen Gibson, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Biological and Ecological Consequences of Sub-Lethal Ion Concentrations on Microbial and Macroinvertebrate Detritivores; Sally Entrekin and Michelle Evans-White, University of Central Arkansas and University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Student Projects with Faculty Adviser: Investigating Fate of Engineered Nanoparticles in Wastewater Biofilms; Connie Walden and Wen Zhang, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Tracking the Growth of on-Site Irrigation Infrastructure in the Arkansas Delta with Remote Sensing Analysis; Grant West and Kent Kovacs, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Characterization of Nutrient Sources, Transport Pathways, and Transformation Using Stable Isotope and Geochemical Tools in the Big Creek Watershed of Northwest Arkansas; Kelly Sokolosky and Phillip Hays, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Does Macrograzer Activity Drive Seasonal Variations in Algal Biomass in Ozark Streams?; Kayla Sayre and Michelle Evans-White, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville The funded research addresses our congressional authorized mission, as well as promotes the national mission and objectives of the U.S. Geological Survey focused on providing water quality and quantity information, understanding water availability, addressing the influence of climate on water resources, and responding to water-related emerging needs.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Johnson, T., L. Edgar, B. Haggard, and K. Rucker. 2015. Student Perceptions of the [State] Water Resources Center, Water Resources and Water Issues. Natural Sciences Education 44:136-142
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCarty, J.A., B.E. Haggard, M.D. Matlock, N. Pai, and D. Saraswat. 2015. Post-model validation of a deterministic water model using measured data. Transactions ASABE 59:497-508
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Reavis, M.A., and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Are floodplain soils a potential phosphorus source when inundated that can be effectively managed? Agricultural and Environmental Letters [Submitted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Austin, B.J., E. Scott, others, and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Unconventional natural gas development did not result in detectable changes in water chemistry (within the South Fork Little Red River). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment [Submitted].
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Brennon, R., A. Sharpley, others, and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Linking soil erosion to instream dissolved P cycling and periphyton growth. Journal of the American Water Resources Association [Resubmitted, Under 2nd Review]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Scott, E., M. Leh and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Spatial and temporal exceedances of bacterial water quality standards in the Illinois River Watershed, Arkansas. Journal of the American Water Resources Association [Submitted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmel, R., K. King, others, and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Measuring edge-of-field water quality: Where we have been and the path forward. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation [Submitted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Heeren, D.M., G.A. Fox, others, and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Impact of macropores and gravel outcrops on phosphorus leaching at the plot scale in silt loam soils. Transactions ASABE [Submitted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCarty, J.A., and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Can we manage nonpoint source pollution using nutrient concentrations during seasonal baseflow? Agricultural and Environmental Letters 1:160015. [doi:10.2134/ael2016.03.0015]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Simpson, Z.P., and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Optimizing the flow-adjustment of constituent concentrations via LOESS for trend analysis. Journal of Hydrology[Submitted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Welch, W.M. and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Are concentration-discharge relations influenced by water sample collection methods? Journal American Water Works Association [Under Revision]
    • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: AWRC Monthly Water Newsletters watercurrents.uark.edu
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: AWRC Data Reports http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/water-data-reports.php
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: AWRC Annual Technical Report MSC.102.2015 http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/annual-reports-104b.php
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Scott, J.T., B.E. Haggard and others. 2016. Database Analysis to Support Nutrient Criteria Development (Phase I-III), Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication MSC 381-383
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: J.T. Scott, B.E. Haggard, Z. Simpson, and M. Rich. 2016. Beaver Lake Numeric Chlorophyll?a and Secchi Transparency Standards, Phases II and III: Uncertainty Analysis and Trend Analysis, Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication MSC 380
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: J.T. Scott. 2016. Bella�Vista�Lakes�Project:�Fertility�Management. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication MSC 379
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Cummings, E., E.E. Scott, M. Matlock, and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Dissolved�Oxygen�Monitoring�in�Kings�River�and�Leatherwood�Creek, Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication MSC 378
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Scott, E.E., Z.P. Simpson, and B.E. Haggard. 2016. Constituent�Loads�and�Trends�in�the�Upper�Illinois�River�Watershed�and�� Upper�White�River�Basin, Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication MSC 377
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Scott, E.E., B.A. Smith, M. Leh, B. Arnold, and B.E. Haggard. 2015. Bacteria�Monitoring�in�the�Upper�Illinois�River�Watershed, Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication MSC 376


    Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The decision makers and principal customers for the water quality research results and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, USEPA, USDA, agricultural industries and local municipalities. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided a workshop on stormwater and construction site best management practices at the annual AWRC water research conference, where attendees received continuing education units as well as inspector's certification which is recognized by ADEQ. There were over 150 attendees at the conference, and approximately 120 people attended the training following the conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Center is also required to manage an information transfer program, which includes the dissemination of information to stakeholders and an annual water research conference. This year's conference was held on July 21-22 and had the theme, 'Meeting Arkansas's Water Needs Now and Into the Future'. The keynote address was on the update to the newly revised Arkansas State Water Plan, and there were sessions about animal agriculture and the land-water interface, agricultural water management in the Delta, urban stormwater management, and graduate students presented research funded by the AWRC and USGS 104B Program. The conference concluded with a training that provided certification for insectors of construction site and stormwater best management practices. The Center helps dessiminate information on water issues in Arkansas by maintaining a technical (on-line) library, which provides links to and archives: 1) technical research publications http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/msc.php 2) annual reports http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/annualreports104b.php 3) annual summaries http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/annualsummary.php 4) newsletters http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/newsletters.php Most recently, the Center has started making water-quality data from projects managed by or through the Center available on-line, facilitating the open sharing of data - these reports will be available in the future at: http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/waterdatareports.php The Center also sponsors or co-sponsors conferences or organizes sessions, and the activities this past year included: 1) Arkansas State University Soil and Water Education Conference 2) Beaver Watershed Symposium, organized with Beaver Watershed Alliance 3) Ozark Water Watch Conference, organized with Ozark Water Watch The Center also maintains an active social media campaign, primarily using Facebook where we have 290 likes and reach hundreds to tousands of Arkansans weekly. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to continue operating as usual, and we strive for continual quality improvement of both our research and information transfer programs.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The Arkansas Water Resources Center funded eight projects selected through external peer review by the Technical Advisory Committee in 2015, including faculty and student research projects. Faculty Research Projects: Rice Evapotranspiration and Water use in the Arkansas Delta; Benjamin R.K. Runkle, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Characterization of Phosphorus Stores in Soils and Sediments and the Potential for Phosphorus Release to Water, Related to Land Use and Landscape Position within a Watershed; Andrew Sharpley, Rosalind Dodd and Casey Dunigan, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Runoff Water Quality from Managed Grassland Amended with a Mixed Coal Combustion Byproduct; David M. Miller, Kristofer R. Brye and Erik D. Pollock, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Student Projects with Faculty Adviser: Does Environmental Context Mediate Stream Biological Response to Anthropogenic Impacts?; Lucy Baker and Sally Entrekin, University of Central Arkansas Creating an Annual Hydroecological Dataset in Forested Ozark Streams; Allyn Fuell, Douglas Leasure, Dan Magoulick and Michelle A. Evans-White, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Relationship Between Nutrients, Macrograzers Abundance (Central Stonerollers and Crayfish), and Algae on Ozark Streams; Kayla R. Sayre and Michelle A. Evans-White, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Elucidation of a Novel Reaction Pathway for N-Nitrosamine Formation; David A. Meints II and Julian Fairey, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Continuation of Analysis for Host-Specific Viruses in Water Samples Collected from Select 303(d) Listed Streams in the Illinois River Watershed; Kristen E. Gibson, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Optical Water Quality Dynamics During Receding Flow in Five Northwest Arkansas Recreational Rivers; Amie O. West and J. Thad Scott, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville The funded research addresses our congressional authorized mission, as well as promotes the national mission and objectives of the U.S. Geological Survey focused on providing water quality and quantity information, understanding water availability, addressing the influence of climate on water resources, and responding to water-related emerging needs.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Johnson, T., L. Edgar, B. Haggard, and K. Rucker. 2015. Student Perceptions of the [State] Water Resources Center, Water Resources and Water Issues. Natural Sciences Education [Accepted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Johnston, R., H.N. Sandefur, P. Bandekar, M. Matlock, B. Haggard and G. Thoma. 2015. Predicting changes in yield and water use in the production of corn under climate change scenarios. Ecological Engineering 82: 555-565
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: McCarty, J.A., B.E. Haggard, M.D. Matlock, N. Pai, and D. Saraswat. 2015. Post-model validation of a deterministic water model using measured data. Transactions ASABE [Accepted]
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Scott, J.T. and B.E. Haggard. 2015. Implementing effects-based water quality criteria for eutrophication in reservoirs: linking standard development and assessment methodology. Journal of Environmental Quality 44:1503-1512
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Scott, T. and B. Haggard. 2015. Evaluating the assessment methodology for the chlorophyll-a and Secchi transparency at Beaver Lake, Arkansas. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication MSC 372.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Scott, E., Z. Simpson, and B. Haggard. 2015. Constituent load estimation in the Lower Ouchita-Smackover Watershed. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication MSC 373.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Scott, T. and B. Haggard. 2015. Simulated use of first-order ponds to reduce peakflow in an eroding river system. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication 374.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Austin, B., E. Scott, S. Entrekin, M. Evans-White, and B. Haggard. 2015. Monitoring water resources of the Gulf Mountain Wildlife Management Area to evaluate possible effects of natural gas development. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Technical Publication MSC 375.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: AWRC Monthly Water News MSC-299NL53  MSC-299NL62 (12 Issues Total) http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/newsletters.php
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: AWRC Annual Summary AS-2014 http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/annualsummary.php
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: AWRC Annual Technical Report MSC.102.2014 http://arkansas-water-center.uark.edu/publications/annualreports104b.php


    Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

    Outputs
    Target Audience: The decision makes and principal customers for the results of the water quality montioring and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, USEPA, and the local municipalities. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project provided a workshop at the AWRC annual conference with focused on effective communication - there were 150 attendees at the annual conference and approximately 100 attended the after conference workshop. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The Center is also required to manage an information transfer program, which includes the dissemination of information to stakeholders and an annual water conference. This year the annual conference was held on July 15-16, 2014 and had the theme, Watersheds, Wicked Problems, and Water Words. The conferences had a key note presentation on how water resource issues are wicked problems, which was followed by several sessions addressing wicked problems in water resources - including, disinfection by-products in drinking water treatment, environmental flows: what, why and how?, unconventional natural gas extraction: policy and research, and Big Creek and the Buffalo River Watershed. The conference concluded with a keynote presentation and workshops on water words and effective communication by Eric Eckl with Water Words That Work, Inc. There were over 150 attendees, which is one of the largest ever. The Center helps disseminate information on water issues in Arkansas by maintaining a technical library (on-line) providing: 1) technical research publications (http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/pubs_msc.html) 2) annual reports (http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/pubs_ar.html), 3) newsletters (http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/pubs_nltrs.html). The newsletter is distributed through Mail Chimp, and it has an astonishing opening percentage of 80%. The Center also co-sponsors conferences and organizes session, and the activities this past year include: 1) Illinois River Watershed Symposium, organized with the Oklahoma Water Resources Center and the Cherokee Nation 2) Beaver Watershed Symposium, organized with Beaver Watershed Alliance 3) Arkansas State University Soil and Water Education Conference 4) Arkansas Watersheds Conference, organized by ADEQ The Center also maintains an active social media campaign, primarily using Facebook where we have almost 200 likes and a weekly reach of 100 on average. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We plan to continue operating as usual, and the next period concludes some of the biggest research projects we have managed.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The Arkansas Water Resources Center funded eight projects selected through external peer review by the Technical Advisory Committee in 2014, including: Assessing total nitrosamine formation and speciation in drinking water systems; Julian Fairey and Wen Zhang, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Improved ensemble forecast model for drought conditions in Arkansas using residual re-sampling method; Yeonsang Hwang, Arkansas State University Economics of Multiple Water-Saving Technologies across the Arkansas Delta Region; Kent Kovacs, Chris Henry, Qiuqiong Huang, and Eric Wailes, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Lower Cutoff Creek Monitoring; Kelly Bryant and Hal Liechty, University of Arkansas - Monticello Is persistence of plasmids in antibiotic resistant E. coli isolated from stream water impacted by integrons and conjugation or mobilization genes?; Mary Savin and Suhartono (Student), University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Microbial Community under the Changing Pre-Oxidation Regime at Beaver Water District; Wen Zhang and Connie Moloney (Student), University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Visible water quality dynamics over the receding limbs of the hydrograph in five Northwest Arkansas recreational rivers; Thad Scott and Amie West (Student), University of Arkansas - Fayetteville Hydrogeology and Biogeochemical Evolution of groundwater in Big Creek and Buffalo River Basins and Implications for Concentrated Animal-Feeding Operations; Phil Hays, John Brahana, Ralph Davis, Erik Polluck, and Victor Roland (Student), University of Arkansas - Fayetteville The funded research addresses our congressional authorized mission, as well as promotes the national mission and objectives of the U.S. Geological Survey focused on providing water quality and quantity information, understanding water availability, addressing the influence of climate on water resources, and responding to water-related emerging needs.

    Publications

    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Scott, E. and B. Haggard. 2014. Annual Technical Report Submitted to USGS. Arkansas Water Resources Center MSC 102.2014
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Scott, E. and B. Haggard. 2014. AWRC Three-Year Review Report Submitted to USGS, 2008-1010. Arkansas Water Resources Center MSC 102.20143YR
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Grantz, E.M., B.E. Haggard, and J.T. Scott. 2014. Stoichiometric imbalance in rates of nitrogen and phosphorus retention, storage, and recycling can perpetuate nitrogen deficiency in highly productive reservoirs. Limnology and Oceanography 59(6): 2203-2216
    • Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: AWRC Scott, E., J. Gile, and B. Haggard. 2014. Final Report to Beaver Water District  Relation of chlorine demand to the water quality of Beaver Lake, Arkansas, Water Resources Center Technical Publication MSC 371
    • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Entrekin, S., others, and B. Haggard. 2014. Final Report to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission  Gulf Mountain: Freshwater Effects from Natural Gas Development, State Wildlife Grant T37-02


    Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

    Outputs
    Target Audience: The decision makers and principal customers for the results of the water quality monitoring and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, the local municipalities that influence water quality in northwest Arkansas. Changes/Problems: We had a personnel change, where our previous project manager Mrs. Leslie Massey moved onto to new opportunities and then we hired Mrs. Erin Scott to fulfill these responsibilities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Arkansas Water Resources Center attended several meeting of professional organizations, including the American Water Resources Association, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Iowa Water Resources Center, National Institutes for Water Resources, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Specific training and professional development includes: 1) Water Words Workshop, Iowa Water Center, Ames. Iowa 2) EPA Water Quality Modeling Conference and Workshop, Dallas, Texas How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The Arkansas Water Resources Center organizes and assists other organizations in research conferences, symposiums, and session topics, where sponsored research and other research activities are desiminated to communities of interest; this past year, we conducted: 1) AWRC Annual Research Conference, Fayetteville, Arkansas (complete planning) 2) Poteau River Watershed Symposium, Poteau, Oklahoma (assisted in organization) 3) Beaver Lake and Watershed Symposium, Huntsville, Arkansas (assisted in organization) 4) Arkansas Soil and Water Education Conference, Jonesboro, Arkansas (sponsor and session organizer) Specifically, the AWRC annual research conference had a session dedicated to 104B sponsored research, as well as U.S. Geological activities in water resources. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will continue with our plans to host an annual conference, manage the 104B program, and monitor water quality at the 20 plus streams in northwest Arkansas.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Change in Knowledge: The AWRC monitoring projects successfully estimated constituent loads at streams across northwest Arkansas. To estimate loads at select sites some constituents required different models for low and high flow, and some constituents required a seasonal component be included in the model. Most often, the model with the best statistics was chosen to represent daily loads in the selected stream, but it was critical that the data be closely investigated to determine the most appropriate regression model. The loads observed at these streams and rivers generally follow the same pattern as annual discharge (i.e., loads increase as discharge increases) and generally increase as catchment drainage area increases. Change in Action: The information gathered from our water quality trends analysis are being used to show the public what can be accomplished when we make responsible decisions on the landscape and with municipal effluent management. Funding in northwest Arkansas has increased to implement best management practices in both agricultural and urban landscapes, as well as continue environmental education and outreach efforts in northwest Arkansas.

    Publications

    • Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2013 Citation: Massey, L.B., J.A. McCarty, M.D. Matlock, A.N. Sharpley, and B.E. Haggard. 2013. Water-quality monitoring for selected priority watershed in Arkansas, Upper Saline, Poteau and Strawberry Rivers. Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Publication MSC 369, 72 pp.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Massey,L.B. and B.E.Haggard. 2013. AWRC Annual Summary, Arkansas Water Resources Center MSC299NL40, 2 pp.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Stone, N., J.L. Shelton, B.E. Haggard, and H.K. Thomforde. 2013. Interpretation of Water Analysis Reports, Southern Region Aquaculture Center SRAC Publication Number 4606
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2013 Citation: Smartt, A., S. Ganguly, M.A. Evans-White, and B.E. Haggard. 2013. Relationship between land use, water quality, and macroinvertebrate densities in spring-fed streams of the Ozark National Forest. Arkansas Academy of Science Journal [In Press]
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Patterson, S.D., B.E. Haggard, and M.E. Boyer. 2013. Ecological Design in the Ozarks  Workshop and Lake Frances Charrette. Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Publication MSC 368, 23 pp.


    Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: The Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC) facilitates several projects related to the Center's mission including monitoring regional waters, overseeing USGS 104 B funding, and transferring the results of these projects and others to water managers and the public. In July 2011, the AWRC started monitoring chemical concentrations at 20 sites across northwest Arkansas. The selected sites were all at established discharge monitoring stations maintained by the US Geological Survey, except where the AWRC maintains discharge monitoring stations at two sites. Constituent loads were determined using regression models between constituent concentrations, discharge, and seasonal factors to estimate daily loads, which were then summed to produce monthly, seasonal and annual load estimates. The AWRC also completed a comprehensive evaluation of the available water-quality data from the ANRC 319 Program using acceptable statistical approaches including Lowess regression, Seasonal Kendall Test and Sen Slope Estimator to determine; these results showed that nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment concentrations have been declining since monitoring began. The results from these studies will be shared with ANRC, EPA, and local municipalities; the results of these projects will also be made available on the AWRC website at http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/pubs_msc.html. Each year, the AWRC funds projects through the USGS 104B program as instituted by the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. This year the AWRC funded: 1) Preparing drinking water utilities on Beaver Lake reservoir to meet disinfection byproduct regulations: the impact of continued nutrient enrichment; 2) The effect of global climate change on algal biomass and total organic carbon concentrations in Beaver Lake; and 3) Development and implementation of nutrient runoff reduction measures for poultry houses. The results of these studies will be shared with NIWR and the USGS and will be made available on the AWRC website, as well as presented at the AWRC watershed and research conference. The AWRC sponsors a water conference drawing 100 plus researchers, students, agency personnel and interested citizens to hear about the results of current research and hot topics in water resources throughout the state (http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/conference.html). The 2012 AWRC conference focused on the state water planning process and reservoir management, featuring invited speakers from California, Washington, Nebraska, etc. The AWRC also co-sponsored the 2012 Fayetteville Shale Symposium in Fort Smith, Arkansas, bringing together scientists, policy makers, and concerned citizens to get updates on current project evaluating the potential effect of natural gas development and production on water resources in our state. The AWRC also work with Arkansas State University organizing a session at the annual Soil and Water Education Conference in Jonesboro, Arkansas, which focused on the state water planning process including speakers from ANRC, TNC and the UA System Division of Agriculture. PARTICIPANTS: The Principal Investigator (PI) for the water quality monitoring projects in northwest Arkansas and the trend analysis project was Brian Haggard and the project manager was Leslie Massey. Graduate students, Jason Corral and Morgan Welch, collected water samples and delivered them to the AWRC Water Quality laboratory where they were analyzed by Keith Trost, Brina Smith and Jennifer Purtle. The water quality monitoring projects were funded by local municipalities, Beaver Water District, and ANRC 319 Nonpoint Source Program. The 104 B projects were funded by the USGS through the AWRC. The PI for these projects included: Julian Fairey and Wen Zhang, Civil Engineering Department, University of Arkansas; Thad Scott, Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Department, University of Arkansas; and Andrew Sharpley, Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Department, University of Arkansas. TARGET AUDIENCES: The decision makers and principal customers for the results of the water quality monitoring and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, the local municipalities that influence water quality in northwest Arkansas. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The number of sites was expanded to 20 across northwest Arkansas in the Upper Illinois River Watershed and the Upper White River Basin.

    Impacts
    Change in Knowledge: The AWRC monitoring projects successfully estimated constituent loads at streams across northwest Arkansas. To estimate loads at select sites some constituents required different models for low and high flow, and some constituents required a seasonal component be included in the model. Most often, the model with the best statistics was chosen to represent daily loads in the selected stream, but it was critical that the data be closely investigated to determine the most appropriate regression model. The loads observed at these streams and rivers generally follow the same pattern as annual discharge (i.e., loads increase as discharge increases) and generally increase as catchment drainage area increases. Change in Action: The information gathered from our water quality trends analysis are being used to show the public what can be accomplished when we make responsible decisions on the landscape and with municipal effluent management. Funding in northwest Arkansas has increased to implement best management practices in both agricultural and urban landscapes, as well as continue environmental education and outreach efforts in northwest Arkansas. Change in Conditions: Since loads generally increase with increasing annual discharge, the AWRC developed a method to remove the influence of stream discharge on loads to identify true trends in water quality. This trend analysis showed that flow-adjusted phosphorus loads at the Illinois River at the Arkansas-Oklahoma border were significantly increasing from 1997 through 2002, and the trend switched to significantly decreasing over time from 2002 to 2010. The recent decreasing trends have been observed at other sites within the Illinois River Watershed, as well as within the Upper White River Basin. The concentrations and transport of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment in the monitored streams in northwest Arkansas are significantly decreasing from all the watershed management changes that have occurred.

    Publications

    • Bailey, B. 2011. Water quality trends for section 319 priority watershed in northwest Arkansas, 1997-2010. MS Thesis, Biological Engineering, University of Arkansas.
    • Bailey, B., Haggard, B., and Massey, L. 2012. Water quality trends across select 319 Program monitoring sites in northwest Arkansas. Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Publication MSC 365.
    • Huffhines, B., Brye, K.R., Haggard, B.E., and Morgan, R.A. 2011. Net nutrient uptake in the White River, Northwest Arkansas, downstream of a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Journal of Environmental Protection 2:255-270.


    Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: The Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC) facilitates several projects related to the Center's mission including water quality monitoring, overseeing USGS 104 B funding, and transferring the results of these projects and others to water managers and the public. During 2011, the AWRC collected and analyzed water samples from 20 sites across the Illinois River Watershed and the Upper White River Basin. The AWRC also completed a comprehensive evaluation of the available water-quality data from the ANRC 319 Program, showing that flow-adjusted concentrations of nutrients and sediment have decreased over recent time. The results from these studies will be shared with ANRC, and the IRWP, BWD or KRWP; the results of these and other projects will be made (or are) available on the AWRC website at http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/publications.htm. The AWRC also facilitates a regional project on the Red River Basin for the USEPA Region VI and its States. This project provided frequency distribution of median concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll-a, and evaluated biological response along nutrient gradients. The results of this project have been shared with Region VI States at the USEPA Regional Technical Assistance Group annual meeting and are available at the AWRC website. The intent of this project was to provide the States guidance on frequency distributions and nutrient thresholds, when developing nutrient criteria. The AWRC also facilitates a project providing database organization and statistical analysis to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). This project involved organizing water quality data and calculating median values associated with various time intervals. The chemical data (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) was provided in frequency distributions, and the available biological data (e.g., chlorophyll-a, bugs and fish) was paired with median concentrations. The nutrient thresholds were provided based on change point analysis, and this information will be used to support nutrient criteria development by TCEQ. The AWRC funds projects through the USGS 104B program as instituted by the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. This year the AWRC funded: 1) continued investigation of land use and best management practices on the Strawberry River Watershed, NE Arkansas, 2) evaluation of septic system absorption field products with differing architectures in a profile-limited soil, 3) increasing awareness for water quality protection: stream restoration through animal access restrictions, and 4) assessment of microbial population in Beaver Lake swim beach regions to determine origin of fecal pollution. The results of these studies will be shared with the NIWR and the USGS. The AWRC sponsors a conference drawing 100 researchers, students, agency personnel and interested citizens to hear about the results of current research and hot topics in water resources throughout the state. The 2011 conference focused on "The Illinois River and the Statement of Joint Principles and Actions - What's Next", bringing in the EPA Region VI contractors working on the watershed and reservoir models which will be used to develop a TMDL. PARTICIPANTS: The Prinicipal Investigator (PI) for the water quality monitoring projects at the Illinois River Watershed and Upper White River Basin, and the trend analysis project was Brian Haggard and the project manager was Leslie Massey. Wade Cash, AWRC field services technician, collected all water samples and delivered them to the AWRC Water Quality laboratory were they were analyzed by Keith Trost and Jennifer Purtle. The water quality monitoring projects were funded by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission through the EPA Section 319 Program. The 104B projects were funded by the USGS through the AWRC, which included these lead investigators: Jennifer Bouldin, Arkansas State University; Kris Brye, University of Arkansas; Dirk Phillipp, UA Cooperative Extension Service; and Kristen Gibson, Center for Food Safety. The AWRC facilitates statistical evaluation of water-quality data, resulting from its collaboration with faculty from the University of Arkansas Biology Department and Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences. TARGET AUDIENCES: The decision makers and principal customers for the results of the water quality monitoring and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, the local municiaplites that influence water quality in northwest Arkansas, and the IRWP, BWD and KRWP. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None

    Impacts
    Change in Knowledge: We showed our stakeholders how nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment loads are a function of discharge, and then demonstrated how to flow-adjust concentrations to look at water quality trends. Based on this analysis, the ANRC Section 319 Program has shown significant decreases in nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment. Our stakeholders now know that concentrations have been decreasing as a result of watershed management changes. Change in Knowledge: The AWRC has provided the States within EPA Region VI guidance on the frequency distributions of median nutrient concentrations, as well as nutrient thresholds with biological response; this knowledge will be critical to these States as they move forward with the development of nutrient criteria in this multi-jurisdictional basin. Change in Knowledge: The AWRC provided TCEQ with key statistical analysis of the nutrient thresholds with biological variables, which will help support nutrient criteria development for streams, rivers, and reservoirs. Change in Knowledge: The AWRC annual conference continues to transfer information to key stakeholders and state agencies in Arkansas, increasing knowledge of the knowledge of water quality and watershed processes that influence water quality.

    Publications

    • Bailey, B., L. Massey, and B. Haggard. 2011. Water Quality Trends across Select 319 Monitoring Sites in Northwest Arkansas. Final Report Project #09-400, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Little Rock, Arkansas.
    • Cotton, C. and B. Haggard. 2011. Factors that contribute to turbidity on the West Fork of the White River in Arkansas. Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences 12:3-13
    • Haggard, B., and T. Scott. 2011. Phosphorus Release from Bottom Sediments at Lake Wister, Oklahoma, Summer 2010. Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Publication MSC 364.
    • Haggard, B., T. Scott and M. Evans-White. 2011. Database Analysis to Support Nutrient Criteria Development, Final Report, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, Texas, 181 pages.
    • Longing, S.D., T.W. Spencer, B.E. Haggard, and P.A. Bacon. 2011. Watershed factors influencing diving beetle species of concern: Implications for conservation and urbanization in a karst headwater region. Freshwater Science [Submitted]
    • Massey, L., and B. Haggard. 2011. Arkansas Water Resources Center Annual Technical Report FY 2010. Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Publication MSC 102.2010.
    • Massey, L., and B. Haggard. 2011. Arkansas Water Resources Center Annual Summary, January 2011. Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Publication MSC 299NL39.
    • Rogers, C.W., A.N. Sharpley, B.E. Haggard, J.T. Scott, and B.M. Drake. 2011. Physicochemical characterization of sediment in northwest Arkansas streams. Journal of Environmental Protection 2:629-638.
    • Scott, J.T., Haggard, B.E., Sharpley, A.N., and Romeis, J.J. 2011. Long-term phosphorus trends are correlated with changes in water quality monitoring and watershed management. Journal of Environmental Quality 40(4): 1249-1256.


    Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: OUTPUTS: The Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC) facilitates several projects related to the Center's mission including monitoring regional waters, overseeing USGS 104 B funding, and transferring the results of these projects and others to water managers and the public. During 2010, the AWRC continuously monitored water quality at seven sites in the Upper White River Basin and eight sites in the Upper Illinois River Watershed. The selected sites were all at established discharge monitoring stations maintained by the US Geological Survey, and constituent loads were determined using regression models between constituent concentrations, discharge, and seasonal factors to estimate daily loads, which were then summed to produce monthly, seasonal and annual load estimates. The AWRC is also completing a comprehensive evaluation of the available water-quality data from the ANRC 319 Program using acceptable statistical approaches including Lowess regression, Seasonal Kendall Test and Sen Slope Estimator to determine if water quality is improving, declining or staying the same over time as a result of watershed management changes. The results from these studies will be shared with ANRC, EPA, and local municipalities; the results of these projects will also be made available on the AWRC website at http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/publications.htm. Each year, the AWRC funds projects through the USGS 104B program as instituted by the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. This year the AWRC funded: 1) determination of the magnitude of mercury methylation in the water column of a high organic carbon river, lower Ouachita River, Union and Ashley Counties, Arkansas; 2) assessment of water quality and stream bank stability following BMP implementation on the upper Strawberry River watershed; and 3) denitrification, internal nitrogen cycling and nitrogen retention in river impoundment reservoirs. The results of these studies will be shared with the NIWR and the USGS and will be made available on the AWRC website. The AWRC sponsors a water conference drawing 100 researchers, students, agency personnel and interested citizens to hear about the results of current research and hot topics in water resources throughout the state. The 2010 conference focused on regional groundwater issues, reservoir management and water supply, and improving aquatic habitat, water quality and riparian areas through stream restoration. The AWRC also co-sponsored the 2010 Arkansas Watershed Advisory Group Watershed Conference, The Soil and Water Conservation Society's conference which focused on sedimentation, conservation measures and the future of reservoirs, and the North American Lake Management Society's 30th International Symposium on managing the challenges in water resources. PARTICIPANTS: PARTICIPANTS: The Principal Investigator (PI) for the water quality monitoring projects in the Upper Illinois River Watershed and Upper White River Basin and the trend analysis project was Brian Haggard and the project manager was Leslie Massey. Wade Cash, AWRC field services technician, collected all water samples and delivered them to the AWRC Water Quality laboratory where they were analyzed by Keith Trost and Jennifer Purtle. The Water quality monitoring projects were funded by local municipalities, Beaver Water District, and ANRC. The 104 B projects were funded by the USGS through the AWRC. The PI for the stream metabolism project was Michelle Evans-White, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas. The PI for the reservoir study was Thad Scott, Associate Professor, UA Division of Agriculture; the PI for mercury methylation study was Phil Hays, Associate Research Professor, University of Arkansas; and the PI for the water quality and stream bank stability study was Jennifer Bouldin, Assistant Research Professor, Arkansas State University. TARGET AUDIENCES: TARGET AUDIENCES: The decision makers and principal customers for the results of the water quality monitoring and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, the local municiaplites that influence water quality in northwest Arkansas. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: TARGET AUDIENCES: The decision makers and principal customers for the results of the water quality monitoring and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, the local municiaplites that influence water quality in northwest Arkansas.

    Impacts
    IMPACT: Change in Knowledge: The AWRC monitoring projects successfully estimated constituent loads in the Upper Illinois River Watershed and Upper White River Basin. To estimate loads at select sites some constituents required different models for low and high flow, and some constituents required a seasonal component be included in the model. Most often, the model with the best statistics was chosen to represent daily loads in the selected stream, but it was critical that the data be closely investigated to determine the most appropriate regression model. The loads observed at these streams and rivers generally follow the same pattern as annual discharge (i.e., loads increase as discharge increases) and generally increase as catchment drainage area increases. Change in Action: As part of a watershed management strategy for the Upper Illinois River Watershed, the AWRC developed the Handbook of Best Management Practices that can be carried out by stakeholders to implement water quality protection and restoration activities. The handbook presents a range of beneficial management actions that can be taken by individuals or groups at households, businesses, institutions, municipalities, industrial facilities, farms, and construction sites to maintain or improve water quality in northwest Arkansas. Change in Conditions: Since loads generally increase with increasing annual discharge, the AWRC developed a method to remove the influence of stream discharge on loads to identify true trends in water quality. This trend analysis showed that flow-adjusted phosphorus loads at the Illinois River at the Arkansas-Oklahoma border were significantly increasing from 1997 through 2002, and the trend switched to significantly decreasing over time from 2002 to 2008. The concentrations and transport of phosphorus in the Illinois River Watershed are significantly decreasing from all the watershed management changes that have occurred.

    Publications

    • Haggard, B.E., A.N. Sharply, L.B. Massey and K.M. Teague. 2010. Final Report to the Illinois River Watershed Partnership: Recommended Watershed Based Strategy for the Upper Illinois River Watershed, Northwest Arkansas. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Miscellaneous Publication 355: 126 pp. In Press.
    • Thornton, K. 2010. A Vision for the Upper Illinois River Watershed. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Miscellaneous Publication 356: 5 pp.
    • Haggard, B.E., A. Sharpley, and L. Massey eds. 2010. Hadbook of Best Management Practices for the Upper Illinois River Watershed and Other Regional Watersheds. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Miscellaneous Publication 357: 120 pp.
    • Weida, R., 2010. Regulatory Drivers for the Upper Illinois River Watershed and Other Regional Watersheds. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Miscellaneous Publication 358: 18 pp. Haggard, B.E., A.N. Sharpley, and L.B. Massey. 2010. Water Quality and Watershed Conditions in the Upper Illinois River Watershed. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Miscellaneous Publication 359: 23 pp.
    • Teague, K., and J. Pennington. 2010. Water Quality Outreach and Education Strategies for Northwest Arkansas and Regional Watersheds. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Miscellaneous Publication 360: 15 pp.
    • Massey, L.B. and B.E. Haggard. 2010. Water Quality Monitoring and Constituent Load Estimation in the Kings River near Berryville, Arkansas, 2009. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Miscellaneous Publication 361: 16 pp.
    • Massey, L.B., B.E. Haggard, R.S. Avery, and R.A. Morgan. 2010. Water Quality Monitoring and Constituent Load Estimation in the Upper White River Basin, 2009. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Miscellaneous Publication 362: 40 pp.
    • Massey, L.B. and B.E. Haggard. 2010. Water Quality Monitoring and Constituent Load Estimation in the Upper Illinois River Watershed, 2009. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Miscellaneous Publication 363: 52 pp.
    • Haggard, B.E. 2010. Phosphorus concentrations, loads, and sources within the Illinois River drainage area, northwest Arkansas, 1997-2008. Journal of Environmental Quality. 39(6): 2113-2120.


    Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: The Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC) facilitates several projects related to the Center's mission including monitoring regional waters, overseeing USGS 104 B funding, and transferring the results of these projects and others to water managers and the public. During 2009, the AWRC continuously monitored water quality at the Illinois River at the Arkansas Highway 59 and at Ballard Creek. The AWRC will also complete a comprehensive evaluation of the available water-quality data from the ANRC 319 Program using acceptable statistical approaches. In addition, the AWRC oversaw a volunteer monitoring program in the Upper Illinois River Watershed where the AWRC trained volunteers to collect samples following EPA protocols at 37 sites throughout the watershed; these concentrations were compared to the those observed at the same sites from 1993 to 1994. The results from these studies will be shared with ANRC, and the IRWP, BWD or KRWP; the results of these projects will also be made available on the AWRC website at http://www.uark.edu/depts/awrc/publications.htm. The AWRC also facilitates projects related to the AGFC State Wildlife Grant Program, and evaluated the distribution of an endemic water beetle in northwestern Arkansas. This project has resulted in new projects related to spring biodiversity in the Buffalo National River. The results of these projects are shared with natural resource managers with the state agencies and the National Park Service. The AWRC also facilitates a regional project on the Red River Basin for the USEPA Region VI and its States, where we have aggregated data from various federal and state agencies. This project provided frequency distribution of median concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll-a, and evaluated biological response along nutrient gradients. The results of this project have been shared with Region VI States at the USEPA Regional Technical Assistance Group annual meeting and are available at the AWRC website. Each year, the AWRC funds projects through the USGS 104B program as instituted by the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. This year the AWRC funded: 1) land-use effects on resistance and resilience of stream metabolism to flood events in Ozark Highland headwater streams; 2) denitrification, internal nitrogen cycling and nitrogen retention in river impoundment reservoirs; and 3) longitudinal evolution of nutrients in mixed-use watershed under storm and non-flow regimes. The results of these studies will be shared with the NIWR and the USGS and will be made available on the AWRC website. The AWRC sponsors a water conference drawing 100 researchers, students, agency personnel and interested citizens to hear about the results of current research and hot topics in water resources throughout the state. The 2009 conference focused on water resources management, water quality studies in transboundary watersheds, nutrient hotspots, and riparian forest buffers. The AWRC also co-sponsored a workshop on riparian forest buffers, which trained about 30 people on the function of riparian corridors and implementation of riparian forest buffers. PARTICIPANTS: The Prinicipal Investigator (PI) for the water quality monitoring projects at Illinois River, Ballard Creek, Upper Illinois River Watershed, Upper White River Basin, and Kings River and the trend analysis project was Brian Haggard and the project manager was Leslie Massey. Wade Cash, AWRC field services technician, collected all water samples and delivered them to the AWRC Water Quality laboratory were they were analyzed by Keith Trost and Jennifer Purtle. Brian Haggard and Leslie Massey were also the PI and project manager, respectively, for the Volunteer Monitoring Program. The AWRC worked with the IRWP Executive Director, Delia Haak, and the IRWP Board to solicit and train 27 volunteer monitors that included individuals, familes, schools, businesses and local organizations in the watershed. The volunteers transported the collected water samples to the AWRC Water Quality laboratory were they were analyzed by Keith Trost and Jennifer Purtle. The Water quality monitoring projects were funded by ANRC and contracted through IRWP, BWD, KRWP. The IRWP is a not-for-profit membership based organization working to protect and restore the Illinois River and its tributaries throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma; the project lead for IRWP was Delia Haak. Beaver Water District serves customers in Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas by providing high quality drinking water that meets or exceeds all federal and state regulatory requirements; the project lead for BWD was Bob Morgan. The KRWP is also a non profit organization that is a cooperative effort organized exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes to protect the health, purity and economic viability of the Kings River Watershed; the project lead for KRWP was Claire Allison. The 104 B projects were funded by the USGS through the AWRC. The PI for the stream metabolism project was Michelle Evans-White, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas. The PI for the reservoir study was Thad Scott, Assistant Professor, UA Division of Agriculture. And, the PI for the mixed use watershed study was Andrew Sharpely, Professor, UA Division of Agriculture. The AWRC also managed projects for the AGFC, where we evaluated the distribution of a endemic water beetle, and the USEPA Region VI, where we organized data from the trans-boundary Red River Basin to evaluate frequency distributions of nutrient and chlorophyll-a conentrations to assist Region VI States in the development of nutrient criteria. These projects were managed by a [now former] post-doctoral research associate, Scott Longing. TARGET AUDIENCES: The decision makers and principal customers for the results of the water quality monitoring and 104B projects include ANRC, ADEQ, AGFC, National Park Service, USGS, NIWR, the local municiaplites that influence water quality in northwest Arkansas, and the IRWP, BWD and KRWP. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The AWRC modified monitoring protocols during the 2009 sampling year. Historically, the AWRC continuously monitored storm and base flow events in the Illinois River at the Arkansas Highway 59 Bridge and at Ballard Creek using ISCO or Sigma type auto-samplers. In July 2009, the AWRC switched to manual sample collection, and by doing so the AWRC was able to collect samples at six additional sites in the Upper Illinois River Watershed. The additional sites will provide a comprehensive assessment of water quality in the Illinois River and its tributaries. In July 2009, the AWRC also began collecting samples at seven sites in the Upper White River Basin and one site in the Kings River Watershed. The addition of theses sites provides vitally needed data on water quality for the planning and implementation of nonpoint source projects in these basins and the evaulation of the projects success or failures. The selected sampling sites will provide a comprehensive assessment of water quality in the Beaver Lake Watershed and its tributaries in the Upper White River Basin and in the Kings River.

    Impacts
    Change in Knowledge: The AWRC monitoring projects successfully estimated constituent loads at the Illinois River near the stateline and at Ballard Creek. Historical loads at the Illinois River generally follow the same pattern as annual discharge (i.e., loads increase as discharge increases), and the loads in calendar year 2008 were greater than the previous year because annual discharge was more than double that observed in 2007. In 2008, nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment loads were the greatest observed throughout the period of record even though best management practices have been implemented throughout the watershed and wastewater treatment plants have significantly lowered their phosphorus output over the past decade. Therefore, total phosphorus loads are more dependent upon the annual discharge volume that is directly related to the amount of precipitation. Change in Knowledge: The AWRC discovered that an endemic water beetle was widely distributed across northwestern Arkansas in perennial spring habitats. This increased the knowledge of this beetles distribution, possibly allowing its conservation status to be downgraded. Change in Action: The Volunteer Monitoring Program successfully used trained volunteers to collect water samples at 37 sites to establish current water quality conditions throughout the watershed. A volunteer monitoring program provides a means to engage stakeholders in environmental education, [hopefully] promoting a sense of responsibility for stakeholders to protect and improve water quality.

    Publications

    • Daniels, M., J.T. Scott, B.E. Haggard, A.N. Sharpley, and T.D. Daniel. 2009. What is Water Quality? UA Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service Factsheet FSA9528
    • Haggard, B.E., and L.B. Massey. 2009. Net changes in antibiotic concentrations downstream from an effluent discharge. Journal of Environmental Quality 38:343-352
    • Haggard, B.E., and R.J. Stoner. 2009. Long-term changes in stream sediment and water phosphorus below a rural effluent discharge. Hydrology and Earth Systems Science Discussion 6:767-789
    • Longing, S.D., and B.E. Haggard. 2009. Updated distribution of an endemic diving beetle, Heterosternuta sulphurius (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae) in Arkansas with comments on habitat and conservation. The Southwestern Naturalist 54(3):359-363
    • Maguire, R.O., G.H. Rubaek, B.E. Haggard, and B.H. Foy. 2009. Critical evaluation of the implementation of mitigation options for phosphorus from field to catchment scales. Journal of Environmental Quality 38: 1989-1997
    • Massey, L.B., L.W. Cash and B.E. Haggard. 2009. Water quality sampling, analysis and annual load determinations for the Illinois River at Arkansas Highway 59 Bridge, 2008. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, AR. Technical Publication MSC 352
    • Massey, L.B., L.W. Cash and B.E. Haggard. 2009. Water quality sampling, analysis and annual load determinations for nutrients and solids at the Washington County Road 76 Bridge on Ballard Creek, 2008. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, AR. Technical Publication MSC 353
    • Massey, L.B. and B.E. Haggard. 2009. Illinois River Volunteer Monitoring. Arkansas Water Resources Center, Fayetteville, AR. Technical Publication MSC 354
    • Menjoulet, B.C., K.R. Brye, A.L. Pirani, B.E. Haggard, and E.E. Gbur. 2009. Runoff water quality from broiler-litter-amended tall fescue in response to natural precipitation in the Ozarks Highlands. Journal of Environmental Quality 38:1005-1017
    • Toor, G.S. and B.E. Haggard. 2009. Phosphorus and trace metal dynamics in soils amended with poultry litters and granulates. Soil Use and Management 25:409-418