TOWARD SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL WATERSHED MANAGEMENT: HYDROLOGIC PROCESSES CONTROLLING NUTRIENTS AND HERBICIDES IN STREAM WATER OF A CLAYPAN SOIL WATERSHED

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: TERMINATED
• Funding Source: EVANS-ALLEN
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0225140
• Project No.: MOX-LIU
• Project Start Date: May 1, 2011
• Project End Date: Apr 30, 2015

Project Director
Liu, FE.

Recipient Organization
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
JEFFERSON CITY,MO 65101

Performing Department
Agriculture

Non Technical Summary
Throughout the northern Missouri/southern Iowa region, stream water contamination by soil applied herbicides and nutrients continues to be a major water quality problem. In particular, the presence of a near-surface claypan soil was identified as a key characteristic associated with the high degree of herbicide contamination in streams of the Central Claypan Area. The lack of knowledge regarding specific hydrologic pathways and contaminant sources in such watersheds undermines the effectiveness of proposed management strategies and hinders the development of models that can serve as decision support aids. The proposed research will improve our understanding of the hydrologic pathways and their controls on nutrient and herbicide transport and lead to the continued development of tools and measures to mitigating the export of nutrients and herbicides. The proposed research will be completed by combining extensive field sampling and modeling using geochemical tracers. The project will help Lincoln University develop water quality programs at watershed scales and strengthen its collaborations with other research institutions in the continued development of tools and strategies for effective implementation of best management practices that lead to sustainable agricultural production. This project also helps achieve one of strategic goals of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to ensure clean, abundant water (Objective 6.1 (CSREES, Strategic Plan for FY2007-2012)). Specifically, the performance of this project will improve soil and water management at whole watershed level (Objective 6.1.2) and prevent and mitigate pollution from agricultural practices and its effects on plants, animals, soil, air, water and human (Objective 6.1.5).

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

75%

Applied

25%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
112	0399	2050	75%
102	0210	2070	25%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 112 - Watershed Protection and Management;

Subject Of Investigation
0210 - Water resources; 0399 - Watersheds and river basins, general;

Field Of Science
2070 - Meteorology and climatology; 2050 - Hydrology;

Keywords

hydrologic processes

nutrients

herbicides

claypan soil

Goals / Objectives
The objectives of this study are (1) to determine hydrologic pathways of streamflow during storm events and baseflow periods from hourly, daily to seasonal scales, (2) to quantify contributions of nutrients and herbicides in soils and groundwater to stream water, (3) to understand mechanisms that control nutrients and herbicides in stream water at various temporal and spatial scales, particularly over different landscapes (e.g., riparian zone and upland), and (4) to develop a conceptual model/understanding of watershed management to mitigate the export of nutrients and herbicides.

Project Methods
The proposed research will be conducted at the Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed in Missouri (drainage area = 7,250 ha), which is dominated by naturally formed claypan soils. To achieve the research objectives, a research plan is designed to integrate catchment-wide sampling with tracer-based modeling. Field sampling is needed to characterize specific hydrologic pathways and their impact on contaminant transport to support Objectives 1 and 2. This task is conducted through a combination of hydrologic and meteorological measurements and collection of source water samples to characterize the chemical contents of stream water, soil water, groundwater and precipitation. All samples will be analyzed for electric conductivity, stable isotopes (H-2 and O-18), major ions (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfate), nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, and DOC) and herbicides (primarily atrazine). A mixing model based on conservative isotopic and geochemical tracers will be developed to quantify the contributions of source waters through different hydrologic pathways (e.g., surface runoff, interflow, and groundwater recharge). The results of the mixing model are then used to calculate the mass balance of nutrients and herbicides and understand their fate and transport for Objective 2. The mixing model will be conducted at multiple temporal (hourly, daily to seasonal scales) and spatial scales (hillslope to the whole watershed) to understand the factors that control the transport of nutrients and herbicides. Eventually, system analysis will be conducted to combine all of the results above to develop a conceptual understanding of watershed management to mitigate the export of nutrients and herbicides for Objective 4.

Progress 05/01/11 to 04/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Scientific communities of hydrology, agriculture, and environmental science; Professionals of natural resources and conservation; Farmers interested in conservation; College students in the classroom, including under-represented, minority students; High school students through summer camp. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two minority undergraduate students were trained for field instrumentation, laboratory analyses, and data analysis throughout the life of project. One graduate student from minority and underrepresented group was jointly supported by the project and graduated with a Mater Degree in Environmental Science in May 2015. Professional development activities include participation of conferences by scientists and students such as Assembly of the American Geophysical Union (San Francisco, CA, December 2013), AWRA 2014 Summer Specialty Conference on Integrated Water Resources Management (June 30 - July 2, 2014, Reno, Nevada), 50th Annual Meeting of Missouri Academy of Science (April 25-26, 2014, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO), and Lincoln University Symposium (April 26, 2014, Jefferson City, MO). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results were either published or being prepared for publishing at peer-reviewed journals (Eight published; Five submitted or in preparation); The results were also presented at professional conferences by scientists, postdoctoral researcher and students (Fifteen oral and poster presentations); Results used in classroom teaching, including in Hydrology (ENV450/550) and Environmental Science (ENV103); Results presented to high school students in a 2012 Summer Boot Camp at Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO; Attended a stakeholder meeting, USDA-Agricultural Research Service Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit Stakeholder Workshop, March 8, 2011, Stoney Creek Inn, Columbia, MO, and shared information with attendees, including farmers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1) Major activities completed including Stream and groundwater monitoring networks were developed at the Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed in north central Missouri, including three stream locations from headwaters to watershed outlet and twenty five wells ranging in depth from 2 m to 15 m. They were used for monitoring stream and groundwater quality. An experimental site was established at plot scale and equipped for monitoring spring flow and its chemistry, including three piezometers (0.8 m), three shallow wells (3-4 m), a weir, and an autosampler. More than 1000 samples were collected from stream water, groundwater wells, spring flow and precipitation from May 2011 to April 2015 throughout the watershed and the experimental site. Samples were analyzed for major ions and trace elements, including nitrate, total nitrogen, and atrazine. Data were analyzed, including chemical, hydrologic and meteorological data from this study and also collected in the past twenty years, for peer-reviewed journal papers and conference presentations. 2) Four Specific Research Objectives Met Understanding hydrologic pathways controlling stream flow (Objective 1) has been completed. Understanding the mechanism and factors that control nutrient transport (Objective 2 and 3) has been met. A conceptual model of streamflow generation and contaminant transport was developed (Objective 4). 3) Significant Results Achieved, including major findings, developments, or conclusions (both positive and negative) Using endmember mixing analysis with natural tracers, it was found that stream water in Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed, a claypan watershed in northern central Missouri, was dominated by surface runoff, interflow above the claypan and shallow groundwater below the claypan (depth < 8.5 m). The results indicate that stream flow was composed of, on average, ~ 50% of surface runoff, ~ 30% of shallow groundwater and ~20% of interflow. Spring flow at the experimental site was composed of, an average, ~ 35% surface runoff, ~46% shallow groundwater, and ~19% interflow. This new information is much needed for the watershed management at this claypan watershed as stressed by a USDA-ARS researcher based in Columbia, MO. Herbicide contaminants were primarily contributed by interflow just above the claypan. The percent contribution of atrazine to streamflow from interflow was approximately 60% for the studied period at the watershed scale. Groundwater and precipitation together contributed only 40% of atrazine concentrations in stream water at the entire watershed scale. For sources of nitrate in stream water at the watershed scale, shallow groundwater contributed ~67% and surface runoff (rainwater) and interflow contributed approximately 24% and 9%, respectively. Previous studies using Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) did not simulate well stream flow during storm events. A dimensionless theoretical model based on Darcy's law developed by University of Washington in St Louis was applied and significantly improved the hydrograph simulation. For more than 30 major storm events picked from 1971 to 2006 at Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed, the hydrographs were highly accurately simulated. This accurate simulation of stream flow helps us understand the mechanism of stream flow generation and contaminant transport at finer temporal scales. 4) Key Outcomes or Other Accomplishments Realized A master graduate student thesis was completed, which was partially supported by the project. The stream and groundwater monitoring networks and the experiment site developed by this project could be used for long-term studies in the future.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Peters, G. R., F. Liu, R. N. Lerch, and J. Yang, Processes controlling streamflow generation from a small to a large scale at the Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed, Hydrological Processes, in preparation.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Deng D., N. Zhang, D. Xu, M. Reed, F. Liu, and G. Zheng, Polymorphism of glucosyltransferase gene (ycjM) in Escherichia coli and its use for tracking human fecal pollution in water, Science of the Total Environment, accepted.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Deng, D., L. Zhang, A. Mustapha, D. Xu, T. Wuliji, M. Farley, J. Yang, B. Hua, F. Liu, and G. Zheng (2014), Differentiating enteric Escherichia coli from environmental bacteria through the putative glucosyltransferase gene (ycjM), Water Research, 61, 224-231.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Peters, G. R., Processes of stream and spring flow generation and their significance to contaminant transport in the Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed, Lincoln University, 2015, pp. 115.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Liu, F., R. N. Lerch, J. Yang, and C. Baffaut, Mechanism of Nitrate-N Transport from Surface Water to Groundwater in a Missourian Claypan Watershed, Assembly of American Geophysical Union, Paper H31B-0608, December 15-19, 2014, San Francisco, CA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Peters, G., F. Liu, R. N. Lerch, O. Al-Qudah, B. Hua, J. Yang, and H. Lee, Sources of Water and Contaminants in Stream Water in a Missouri Claypan Watershed, Assembly of American Geophysical Union, Paper H11A-0851, December 15-19, 2014, San Francisco, CA.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Deng, D., D. Xu, M. Reed, F. Liu, and G. Zheng, Using the host-specific genetic marker of glucosyltransferase gene (ycjM) in Escherichia coli to track human fecal pollution in water, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, submitted.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Wang, Q., B. Hua, J. Yang, F. Liu, G. Zhu, and B. Deng, Using dialysis as pretreatment for dissolved organic nitrogen analysis in water, Environmental Analytical Chemistry, submitted.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hua, B., J. Yang, F. Liu, Q. Wang, G. Zhu, and B. Deng, Using dialysis as pretreatment for dissolved organic nitrogen testing, 2014 AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference, November 3-6, 2014, Tysons Corner, VA (Oral).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Liu, F., J. Yang, R. Lerch, and C. Baffaut, Processes Controlling Hydrochemistry in a Claypan Watershed in Missouri, Annual Assembly of the American Geophysical Union, December 3-7, 2012, San Francisco, CA, H23B-1365, 2012.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Liu, F., R. Lerch, C. Baffaut, J. Yang, and J. Sadler, Hydrologic processes controlling herbicide transport in a Missouri claypan watershed, USDA Sea Grant and Land Grant Water Quality Conference, April 20-24, 2012, Portland, OR.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Liu, F., R. Lerch, C. Baffaut, J. Yang, J. Sadler, Hydrologic processes controlling herbicide transport in a Missouri claypan watershed, Annual Assembly of the American Geophysical Union, December 4-9, 2011, San Francisco, CA, H41B-1023, 2011.

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

Outputs
Target Audience: Scientific communities of hydrology, agriculture, and environmental science via conferences; College students in the classroom, including under-represented, minority students; High school student through summer training. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two minority undergraduate students were trained for field instrumentation, laboratory analyses, and data analysis. Professional development activities include participation of conferences such as Assembly of the American Geophysical Union (San Francisco, CA, December 2013), AWRA 2014 Summer Specialty Conference on Integrated Water Resources Management (June 30 - July 2, 2014, Reno, Nevada), 50th Annual Meeting of Missouri Academy of Science (April 25-26, 2014, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO), and Lincoln University Symposium (April 26, 2014, Jefferson City, MO). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? For this reporting period, the results were primarily disseminated by peer-reviewed journal articles and presentations at conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1) Major activities completed including Sample collection continued weekly from stream water, quarterly from groundwater wells, and from seep flow (shallow subsurface flow) and precipitation whenever available. Samples were analyzed for major and trace elements, including nitrate and total nitrogen. Data were analyzed, including chemical, hydrologic and meteorological data from this study and also collected in the past twenty years, for peer-reviewed journal papers and conference presentations. 2) Specific Objectives Met Understanding hydrologic pathways controlling streamflow (Objective 1) has been completed. Understanding factors that control nutrient transport (part of Objective 2 and 3) has been met. A conceptual model of streamflow generation and contaminant transport is being developed (Objective 4). 3) Significant Results Achieved, including major findings, developments, or conclusions (both positive and negative) Using endmember mixing analysis with natural tracers, it was found that stream water in Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed (GCEW), a claypan watershed in central-northern Missouri, was dominated by surface runoff, shallow and deep groundwater and herbicide contaminants were primarily contributed by shallow subsurface water. A dimensionless theoretical model based on Darcy’s law developed by University of Washington in St Louis was significantly improved for hydrograph simulation. For more than 400 major storm events picked from 1971 to 2006 at Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed, the hydrographs were highly accurately simulated with an R2 greater than 0.8 between simulated and measured streamflow discharge. This improvement would have a significant impact on hydrologic community for hydrologic studies in claypan watersheds. 4) Key Outcomes or Other Accomplishments Realized Previous studies using SWAT model did not simulate well stream flow during storm events. A hydrograph model, modified from an existing Washington University model, has significantly improved the simulation.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2014 Citation: Al-Qudah, O., F. Liu, R. N. Lerch, N. Kitchen, and J. Yang, Controls on nitrate-N concentrations in groundwater in a claypan watershed in Missouri, Hydrological Processes, 2014, in review.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Shaw, G., M. H. Conklin, G. Nimz, and F. Liu (2014), Groundwater and surface water flow to the Merced River, Yosemite Valley, California: 36Cl and Cl- evidence, Water Resources Research, 10.1002/2013WR014222.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Liu, F., O. Al-Qudah, and J. Yang, Controls on Nitrate Concentrations in Groundwater in a Claypan Watershed in Missouri, AWRA 2014 Summer Specialty Conference on Integrated Water Resources Management, June 30 - July 2, 2014, Reno, Nevada (Oral).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Al-Qudah, O. and F. Liu, The Impacts of Agrochemicals on Groundwater in a Claypan Watershed, 50th Annual Meeting of Missouri Academy of Science (MAS), April 25-26, 2014, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO (Oral).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Peters, G., F. Liu and R. Lerch, Determining the Sources of Stream Water at Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed, Lincoln University Symposium, April 26, 2014, Jefferson City, MO (Poster; Winner of second place of students best posters).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Al-Qudah, O. and F. Liu, A rainfall-driven hydrograph simulation for a claypan watershed in Missouri, Annual Assembly of the American Geophysical Union, December 2-6, 2013, San Francisco, CA, H21G-1146, 2013 (Poster).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Liu, F., D. Huang, J. Yang, G. Zheng, and B. Hua, Land use change and stream water quality in Hinkson Creek Watershed, Annual Assembly of the American Geophysical Union, December 2-6, 2013, San Francisco, CA, H41A-1213, 2013 (Poster).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wang Y., Y. Ding, B. Ye, F. Liu, J. Wang, and J. Wang (2013), Contributions of climate and human activities to changes in runoff of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers from 1950 to 2008, Science China, doi: 10.1007/s11430-0124505-1.

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Scientific communities of hydrology, agriculture, and environmental science via conferences; College students in the classroom, including under-represented, minority students; High school students through a Summer Water Boot Camp held in summer 2012 at Lincoln University. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? A minority undergraduate student is being trained for field instrumentation, laboratory analyses, and data analysis. Professional development activities include participation of conferences such as Gordon Research Conference (Andover, NH, June 2013), Assembly of the American Geophysical Union (San Francisco, CA, December 2012), the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meeting (Tampa, Florida, November 3-6, 2013). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? For this reporting period, the results were primarily disseminated by peer-reviewed journal articles and presentations at conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will continue to collect water samples, while our focus will be on data analyses and writing of peer-reviewed journal papers to achieve all the goals set forth.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1) Major activities completed including Sample collection continued weekly from stream water, quarterly from groundwater wells, and from seep flow (shallow subsurface flow) and precipitation whenever available. Samples were analyzed for major and trace elements, including nitrogen and phosphorus. Data were analyzed, including chemical, hydrologic and meteorological data from this study and also collected in the past twenty years, for peer-reviewed journal papers and conference presentations. 2) Specific Objectives Met Understanding hydrologic pathways controlling streamflow (Objective 1) has been completed. Understanding factors that control nutrient transport (part of Objective 2 and 3) has been met. A conceptual model of streamflow generation and contaminant transport is being developed (Objective 4). 3) Significant Results Achieved, including major findings, developments, or conclusions (both positive and negative) Through comparing nitrate concentrations collected in the past two decades in 96 wells at Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed with nation-wide agricultural watersheds dominated by different soils, it is found that groundwater in claypan watersheds is more susceptible to agricultural contaminants than other agricultural watersheds as a whole. Using the same data above, it is also found that nitrate concentrations peaked around 10-m below the land surface at our claypan watershed, as a result of a significant reduction in hydraulic conductivity and a greater rate of accumulation of nitrate from fertilizers applied in the past century. The new knowledge above improves our understanding of agricultural contaminant transport in groundwater system and helps watershed management on water quality in claypan regions. 4) Key Outcomes or Other Accomplishments Realized Previous studies using SWAT model did not simulate well stream flow during storm events. A hydrograph model, modified from an existing Washington University model, has significantly improved the simulation. The outcomes were presented at the 2013 American Geophysical Union Assembly to be held in December 9-13, 2013 in San Francisco, CA.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2013 Citation: Al-Qudah, O., F. Liu, R. N. Lerch, N. Kitchen, and J. Yang, Controls on nitrate-N concentrations in groundwater in a claypan watershed in Missouri, Hydrological Processes, 2013, in review.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Frisbee, M., F. M. Phillips, A. F. White, A. R. Campbell, and F. Liu (2013), Effect of source integration on the geochemical fluxes from springs, Applied Geochemistry, 28, 32-54.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Frisbee, M. D., F. M. Phillips, G. S. Weissmann, P. D. Brook, J. L. Wilson, A. R. Campbell and F. Liu (2012), Unraveling the mysteries of the large watershed black box: Implications for the streamflow response to climate and landscape perturbations, Geophysical Research Letters, VOL. 39, L01404, doi:10.1029/2011GL050416.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Liu, F., R. N. Lerch, J. Yang, and C. Baffaut, Hydrologic processes controlling stream water chemistry in a claypan watershed in Missouri, the American Water Resources Association's 2013 Spring Specialty Conference, Saint Louis, MO, March 25-27, 2013.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Al-Qudah, O., and F. Liu, Hydrologic conditions and assessment of water resources in the Goodwater Creek Basin, northeastern Missouri, the American Water Resources Association's 2013 Spring Specialty Conference, Saint Louis, MO, March 25-27, 2013.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Huang D. and F. Liu, Impact of land use and cover changes on hydrology in Hinkson Creek Watershed, the American Water Resources Association's 2013 Spring Specialty Conference, Saint Louis, MO, March 25-27, 2013.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Liu, F. and O. Al-Qudah, Spatial and temporal variation of nitrate concentrations in groundwater in a claypan watershed in Missouri, Gordon Research Conference - Catchment Science: Interactions of Hydrology, Biology & Geochemistry, Andover, New Hampshire, June 16-21, 2013.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hua, B., J. Yang, F. Liu, and B. Deng, Characterization of dissolved organic nitrogen with fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy and X-ray photon spectroscopy, the 2013 ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Tampa, Florida, November 3-6, 2013.

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Since funded in May 2011, the project has been well conducted. Major outputs accomplished since October 2011 are summarized below. (1) Intensive field sampling has been continued in Goodwater Creek Watershed, a small claypan soil watershed located in mid-Missouri, with more than 50 samples collected since October 2011. Samples have been collected biweekly or monthly from streams at three locations in Goodwater Creek. Samples were also collected from 10 rain gauges and 25 groundwater wells located within the watershed. (2) Samples have been analyzed for pH, electric conductivity, total dissolved solid and major and trace chemical elements. (3) Soil water sampler and soil moisture sensors were installed at Goodwater Creek Watershed in fall 2012. (4) An abstract has been accepted and will be presented at the Annual Assembly of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) to be held in December 3-7, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (5) A postdoctoral researcher was jointly hired in July 2012 to work on modeling, data analysis and field experiment. PARTICIPANTS: (1) Dr. John Yang, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science and Cooperative Research Programs, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri; Email: [e-mail]. Dr. Yang, Co-PI of the project, assisted field sampling and data analysis. (2) Dr. Omar Al-Qudah, Cooperative Research Programs, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri; Email: [e-mail]. Dr. Al-Qudah, major participant, assisted field sampling, data analysis and modeling. (3) Ms. Dandan Huang, a postgraduate research assistant at Lincoln University, helped sample processing and sample analysis. (4) Mr. Romel Lewis, a minority undergraduate student at Lincoln University, helped with sampling and field work. TARGET AUDIENCES: (1) The gained information helps farm workers to understand where water in stream comes from and how to protect water quality in streams. (2) The information also helps stakeholders such as natural resources and water quality managers to better understand the sources of contaminants in streams. (3) The information helps scientists particularly hydrologists to understand hydrologic processes in agricultural systems. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Processes controlling stream water chemistry in Goodwater Creek Watershed were elucidated using chemical elements in rain water, stream water and groundwater. Diagnostic tools of mixing models, a mathematical tool that distinguishes chemical equilibrium from mixing, were used to determine conservative and reactive chemical elements. Ca, Mg, Na, K, Al and Sr in streams were determined to be conservative and resulted primarily from mixing of rainwater, seep flow from top soils above claypan layer and groundwater. Fe concentrations in stream water were mainly gained from soils as a result of chemical reactions. Chemical concentrations in the headwater stream were higher than downstream locations, which was primarily caused by higher seep flow contributions from urban areas. These results help develop a conceptual understanding of contaminant sources in claypan watershed and remediate stream water quality in Mid-Missouri.

Publications

• Liu, F., C. Hunsaker, and R. C. Bales (2012), Controls of streamflow generation in small catchments across snow/rain transition in the Southern Sierra, California, Hydrological Processes, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.9304.
• Frisbee, M. D., F. M. Phillips, G. S. Weissmann, P. D. Brook, J. L. Wilson, A. R. Campbell and F. Liu (2012), Unraveling the mysteries of the large watershed black box: Implications for the streamflow response to climate and landscape perturbations, Geophysical Research Letters, VOL. 39, L01404, doi:10.1029/2011GL050416.
• Wang J., B. Ye, F. Liu, J. Li, G. Yang (2011), Variations of NDVI over elevational zones during the past two decades and climatic controls in the Qilian Mountains, northwestern China, Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 43(1):127-136, DOI: 10.1657/1938-4246-43.1.127.

Progress 05/01/11 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project was funded in May 2011 and initiated right after its funding. Major outputs accomplished since May 2011 are summarized below. (1) Intensive field sampling has been started in a small claypan soil watershed located in mid-Missouri, with 19 samples collected so far. Samples have been collected biweekly or monthly from streams at three locations in Goodwater Creek Watershed since June 2011. Samples were also collected from 4 rain gauges located within the watershed. (2) Samples have been analyzed for pH, electric conductivity and total dissolved solid. Other analyses including stable isotopes and major ions are being conducted. A poster has been accepted for presenting the results at the Annual Assembly of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) to be held in December 5-9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (3) Automated samplers and soil water collectors were purchased and are being prepared for installation in the field to collect stream water samples at hourly basis during storms and soil water samples. (4) Stream water quality data of Missouri River obtained from the United States Geological Survey's National Stream Water Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) have been analyzed. An article is being written for Journal of Hydrology. PARTICIPANTS: (1) Dr. John Yang, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science and Cooperative Research Programs, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri; Email: [e-mail]. Dr. Yang, Co-PI of the project, assisted field sampling and data analysis. (2) Mr. Romel Lewis, a minority undergraduate student at Lincoln University, helped sample processing and sample analysis. TARGET AUDIENCES: (1) The gained information helps farm workers to understand where water in stream comes from and how to protect water quality in streams. (2) The information also helps stakeholders such as natural resources and water quality managers to better understand the sources of contaminants in streams. (3) The information helps scientists particularly hydrologists to understand hydrologic processes in agricultural systems. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Initial results indicate that electric conductivity values in stream water during low flows in this past dry season significantly increased along a short distance in Goodwater Creek. It is suggested that stream flow is controlled by different sources of water at different catchment scales. This study has helped us to extend our understanding on spatiotemporal variation of water quality to much large scales. Using data obtained from the United States Geological Survey's National Stream Water Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN), we found that concentrations of nitrate and nitrite, phosphorus, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) have significantly increased since 1996 in the Lower Missouri River. These increasing trends highlight the urgency for mitigating agricultural runoff from small agricultural watersheds located in the MINK region (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas). This study has also helped us to extend our understanding on streamflow generation mechanism with varying scales in New Mexico. Partially supported by this project, a paper was published at Water Resources Research and its major finding is that long groundwater flow paths provide a streamflow generation process at large scales that is not operative at smaller scales.

Publications

• Frisbee, M. D., F. M. Phillips, A. R. Campbell, F. Liu, and S. A. Sanchez (2011), Streamflow generation in a large, alpine watershed in the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado: Is streamflow generation simply the aggregation of hillslope runoff responses, Water Resources Research, 47, W06512, doi:10.1029/2010WR009391.