New discoveries about how even small amounts of sediment can severely impact fragile ocean coral and suggestions about solutions are illustrated and described in a new book written by a team of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists and their colleagues. Coral reefs are in decline worldwide, and a leading cause is the runoff of sediment and pollutants from nearby land surfaces.

After a multiyear study of the long fringing coral reef off south Moloka’i, the scientists’ findings have  been published as “The Coral Reef of South Moloka’i, Hawai’i -Portrait of a Sediment-Threatened Fringing Reef.” 

Using vivid photographs and color illustrations, the book was written, edited, and designed to appeal to a broad audience while maintaining its strong scientific basis.  The book begins by explaining the geologic evolution and natural processes that shape the reef and impacts to the reef resulting from human activity on the land.  The book concludes by exploring alternatives for the future.

The reef off south Moloka’i is the longest fringing coral reef in the Hawaiian chain and one of the best preserved.  However, it is also severely threatened by large loads of sediment that wash off land heavily altered by farming, ranching, grazing by wild goats, and other activities. The book sheds new understanding of the causes and results of the distinct band of muddy water.  This was first reported by the marine explorer Jacques Cousteau decades earlier - a process that now obscures the reef nearly every day. 

USGS scientists and their colleagues placed instruments on the sea bottom for months at a time.  The instruments collected numerous samples, and mapped coral locations. This gave scientists an opportunity to monitor in detail how the reef functions.  The team studied the process of recycling mud on the reef: daily winds and high tides combine to stir the mud particles repeatedly. The impact of this process is that even very small amounts of sediment washed onto the reef from land become suspended nearly every afternoon, blocking light, interfering with photosynthesis of beneficial algae living in the coral, and disrupting many other critical processes that sustain the reef. In this way, even very small amounts of mud can have very large and harmful effects. 

Thomas J. Goreau, President of the Global Coral Reef Alliance, in his written foreword to the book, notes its “remarkably integrated approach to the reefs of Moloka’i, combining geology, oceanography, and biology to provide an in-depth understanding of the processes that have made these reefs grow and that now limit them.”

Although the book’s emphasis is on the Moloka’i reef, the author scientists believe that their findings have important implications for others entrusted with protecting and managing coral reefs elsewhere in the tropical Pacific and Caribbean.  Land-based pollution continues to be a major threat to reefs, along with unsustainable fishing practices and climate change. USGS scientist and lead editor Michael Field observed that “it is now recognized that impacts to coral reefs from climate change may be severe, and so it is all the more important to eliminate, wherever possible, other major stressors to reefs.  One of these is very clearly run-off of sediment and pollutants.”

The volume is published as The Coral Reef of South Moloka’i, Hawai’i -Portrait of a Sediment-Threatened Fringing Reef, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5101, edited by Michael Field, Susan Cochran, Josh Logan, and Curt Storlazzi.

Soft-cover copies of the book are available to purchase for $39.00 at the USGS Store  call 1-888-ASK-USGS. 

A limited number of individual soft-cover copies are available at no charge by contacting Susan Cochran at scochran@usgs.gov.

More information about USGS coral reef studies, please see the USGS Pacific Coral Reefs Website. 

Front cover of The Coral Reef of South Moloka`i, Hawai`i: Portrait of a Sediment-Threatened Fringing Reef.		Map of Kaunakakai, Moloka`i, showing three-dimensional seafloor bathymetry overlain on an aerial photograph. 1) Kaunakakai Wharf; 2) muddy reef flat off Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove; 3) reef flat covered with algae and limited coral; 4) old stream channel; 5) coral reef with pronounced spur-and-groove morphology; 6) coral reef with stunted growth.
Aerial photograph of the reef flat off Kamalo, Moloka`i, showing numerous blue holes and channels.		Front cover of The Coral Reef of South Moloka`i, Hawai`i: Portrait of a Sediment-Threatened Fringing Reef.
Wide expanse of finger coral off the south coast of Moloka`i.		Adult `alo`ilo`i (Hawaiian Domino Damselfish) cluster around a head of finger coral on the south coast of Moloka`i.

[Via USGS]

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Dust collected from coal-tar sealcoated parking lots in Central and Eastern U.S. cities contains concentrations of  polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are about 1,000 times greater than levels found in Western cities where coal-tar sealcoat is less commonly used, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study published this week in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. 

The new study also shows that coal-tar sealcoat - the shiny black material applied to many parking lots and driveways - is contributing to PAH contamination in many of the nation’s urban lakes.  PAHs are an environmental concern because they are toxic to aquatic life and several are suspected carcinogens.

“In 2005, the USGS and the City of Austin, Texas, reported that particles in runoff from parking lots treated with coal-tar sealcoat in Austin contained extremely high concentrations of PAHs.  This study extends those findings to the national scale,” said Peter Van Metre, lead scientist on the study.  “It’s important because PAH levels are rising in urban watersheds in America, and understanding the sources of contamination is critical to reducing it.”   

Concentrations of  PAHs in dust from coal-tar treated parking lots sampled in six Central and Eastern cities - Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, New Haven, Washington, D.C., and Austin - were about 1,000 times higher than levels from sealed and unsealed parking lots in three Western cities - Seattle, Portland, and Salt Lake City. 

The regional differences can be explained by examining where coal-tar sealcoats are commonly used. Commercial availability suggests that coal-tar based sealcoat is commonly used in the Midwest, the South, and on the East Coast, while it is reported that asphalt-based sealcoat is commonly used in Western states. Coal-tar sealcoat products contain up to 30% coal tar.  Coal tar has very high concentrations of PAHs.  Asphalt-based sealcoat products have PAH levels that are about 1,000 times lower.  Coal tar comes from the coking of coal and asphalt comes from oil. 

USGS findings show that dust eroded from coal-tar treated parking lots in the six Central and Eastern cities had concentrations of PAHs that were about 80 times higher than concentrations in dust from unsealed asphalt and cement lots in the same cities.  Minimal differences in PAH concentrations in dust were noted between sealcoated and unsealed lots sampled in the Western cities.

Two factors studied by USGS scientists - higher concentrations of PAHs in Central and Eastern lakes and chemical fingerprinting, which links the PAHs in pavement dust and lake sediment - indicate that use of coal-tar based sealcoat is an important contributor to PAH contamination of urban lakes.  Three of the seven Central and Eastern lakes had PAH concentrations at levels expected to adversely affect aquatic life.

The USGS study did not evaluate human-health risk from exposure to sealcoat. PAHs in dust from two sealcoated residential driveways, however, provide a perspective on the possible relevance to human health. Concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene, one of the more toxic PAH compounds, were 5,300 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “generic soil screening level” for evaluation and cleanup of contaminated soils for residential land use.  

PAHs can be toxic to mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants. Possible effects of PAHs on aquatic insects and other invertebrates include inhibited reproduction, delayed emergence, sediment avoidance, and mortality. Possible adverse effects on fish include fin erosion, liver abnormalities, cataracts, and immune system impairments. City of Austin scientists have reported toxicity and impaired aquatic communities related to sealcoat-contaminated sediment in local streams.

Sealcoat is used by homeowners and commercial applicators across the nation. It is applied to residential driveways and to parking lots of shopping centers, apartment and condominium complexes, churches, schools, and office parks. The sealcoat wears off of the pavement relatively rapidly, especially in areas of high traffic, and many surfaces are resealed every two to three years.  Sealcoat typically is not applied to streets, roads or highways.  The City of Austin and Dane County, Wis., where Madison is located, have banned use of coal-tar based sealcoat.    

USGS findings will be published in the January 1, 2009, issue of Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) and were posted on the ES&T website on Nov. 19, 2008. ES&T is a publication of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.

The abstract of the ES&T article is available on the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag.

More information about PAHs, coal tar, and sealants is available on the Internet at http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa, under Featured Headlines, Activities, and Publications.  More detailed information is also available by contacting lead scientists Peter Van Metre (pcvanmet@usgs.gov) (512)-927-3506, or Barbara Mahler (bjmahler@usgs.gov) (512)-927-3566.

Note to Editors:  Below is a table of the locations studied.     

TABLE 1. Number of dust samples collected by city and lake watershed. An asterisk (*) identifies samples that are a composite of dust from three parking lots of the same type in the lake watershed indicated. 

 

City and State	Suburb, if applicable	Lake watershed	NAWQA Lake ID	# of samples from sealcoated pavement	# of samples from unseal-coated pavement
Seattle, Wash.	Mountlake Terrace	Lake Ballinger	BAL	9	1
Portland, Ore.	Beaverton	Tanasbrook Ponds	TNB	2	1
Salt Lake City, Utah		Decker Lake	DEK	1*	1*
Minneapolis, Minn.	Brooklyn Center	Palmer Lake	PLM	1*	1*
Minneapolis, Minn.		Lake Harriet	HAR	1*	1*
Chicago, Ill.	Lake in the Hills	Lake in the Hills	LKH	7	2
Detroit, Mich.	Commerce	S. Commerce Lake	SCM	1*	1*
New Haven, Conn.		Lake Whitney	WTY	1*	1*
Washington, D.C.	Reston, Vir.	Lake Anne	ANN	1*
Austin, Tex.		Town Lake	TWN	6

 

[Via USGS]

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Secretary of the Interiro Dirk Kempthorne and USGS Director Mark Myers reflect on the successes of The Great Southern California ShakeOut—the largest earthquake preparedness drill in U.S. history.

[Via USGS Corecast]

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Invasive species, long-term drought, and climate change are a few of the new management challenges facing policy makers for conservation and restoration efforts in the Colorado River Basin. Scientists and resource managers will gather to explore these complex and compelling issues Nov. 18–20 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Approximately 300 scientists, managers, and stakeholders will gather to exchange information about research and management activities at the symposium, Coming Together: Coordination of Science and Restoration Activities for the Colorado River Ecosystem. 

Following is a list of plenary presentations and their titles that may be of interest to reporters. Listed events are free to members of the news media who present their credentials at the registration desk.

For a complete agenda and list of speakers, see http://www.watereducation.org/doc.asp?id=1072.

All presentations will take place at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, 5401 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, Arizona.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

8:15 – 8:45 AM – U.S. Department of the Interior Management Efforts:

Comments on Colorado River Management efforts from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Kameran Onley, Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, DOI Assistant Secretary Onley will discuss the significant challenges presented by diverse social, cultural, and ecological demands within the Colorado River Basin. She will talk about the complex endangered species recovery efforts, invasive species management, natural and cultural resource stewardship, and the continued need for water and power development. After more than 100 years of DOI management of the River Basin, today’s Adaptive Management process helps find a balance for the restoration and conservation of the Colorado River Basin.

11:00 - 11:30 AM – Climate Change:

Effects of Interannual Variability and Climate Change on the Colorado River, Brad Udall, Director, Western Water Assessment, NOAA, Boulder, CO A major question hangs over the States that depend on the Colorado River: is the present drought one of those that are known to occur once or twice in a century in the American Southwest, or is this a new kind of drought, of a more chronic or permanent nature, that we have not seen before?

12:15 - 12:45 AM - Stream Flow Management for Restoration:

Streamflow Management for River Restoration: Lessons from Outside the Colorado River Basin for Moving from Sites to Systems, Christopher Conrad, The Nature Conservancy, Seattle, WA Using examples from a number of efforts from around the United States grappling with restoration issues that extend beyond a single site, Conrad will explore the value of coordinating activities at larger scales.

1:45 - 2:15 PM - Sustainability and River Restoration:

Sustainability and River Restoration in the Colorado River Basin, Kathy Jacobs, Arizona Water Institute, Tucson, AZ A consensus exists among managers that more extreme events, both floods and droughts, are likely to result from climate change. An ability to respond to these anticipated changes will be the hallmark of successful river restoration programs. Jacobs will address the opportunities for identifying and responding to changes more quickly.

3:00 - 3:30 PM - Status of Colorado River Native Fishes:

Current Status of Colorado River Native Fishes, Matthew Andersen, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ The recovery of native fishes is one of the issues driving restoration efforts in the Colorado River Basin. Multiple agencies are tracking native fishes, particularly the four species federally listed as endangered: humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback sucker. This presentation will provide the most current information available on the status of these species, including humpback chub improvements, in the Colorado River Basin.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19

8:15 – 9:00 AM - Quagga Mussel Spread and Ecological Impacts:

An Overview of the Spread and Ecological Impacts of the Quagga Mussel with Possible Implications of its Recent Discovery in the Colorado River Basin, Thomas F. Nalepa, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ann Arbor, MI The ecological impacts coincident with the expansion of the quagga mussel—an invasive species that favors deep lakes and reservoirs—in the Great Lakes have been profound, resulting in millions of dollars of damages. Lessons learned in the Great Lakes can help inform understanding of the possible impacts of the mussel on the Colorado River Basin; the mussel was detected in Lake Mead in 2007.

9:00 – 9:45 AM - Flows, Fish, and Conservation in the Green River:

Natural Flows, Invasive Fishes, and Native Fish Conservation in the Green River Downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam, 1962 to Present, Bestgen explores the effects of newly implemented flow changes and drought-induced warming on the fish community of the upper Green River. The effects of warming on fish populations, particularly the expansion of invasive species, in the Green River may provide insights for other Colorado River managers confronting drought-induced warming.Kevin R. Bestgen, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

4:20 – 4:40 PM Quagga Mussel Monitoring in Lake Mead:

A Standardized Design for Long-Term Quagga Mussel Monitoring in Lake Mead, David Wong, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV On January 6, 2007, the quagga mussel was detected in Lake Mead. This invasive species not only clogs water pipelines, but also will have profound impacts on the Lake Mead natural system. Efforts to track the abundance and distribution of the quagga mussel in Lake Mead will be discussed.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20

8:00 – 8:30 AM - Economic Values for Park Service Resources:

Economic Values for National Park Service Resources within the Colorado River Watershed, John W. Duffield, University of Montana, Missoula, MT Explore efforts to place a value on recreation and other ecosystem services provided by National Park Service units in the Colorado River watershed.

8:30 – 8:50 AM - Economic Analysis of Environmental Restrictions on the Power System at Glen Canyon Dam:

Ex Post Economic Analysis of the Electrical Power System Impacts of the Environmental Restrictions at Glen Canyon Dam Following the 1996 Record of Decision, Thomas Veselka, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL Operations at Glen Canyon Dam were modified in February 1997 following the 1996 Record of Decision. This presentation looks at the economic impacts of the changes in operations since the restrictions have been in place.

9:10 – 9:40 AM - Role of Science and Native Americans in Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Plan:

Confluence of Values: The Role of Science and Native Americans in the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, Kurt E. Dongoske, Pueblo of Zuni, Zuni, NM Examining 10 years of Native American involvement in Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, suggests that the program has failed to effectively integrate Native American perspectives. Solutions to identified barriers are offered.

11:30 AM – NOON - Collaboration in the Colorado River Basin:

The Promise and Peril of Collaboration in the Colorado River Basin, Kirk Emerson, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Multiple collaborative resource initiatives are active in the Colorado River Basin. The value of such collaborations will be discussed, including questions about effectiveness and suggestions for improving the power and performance of adaptive management in the future.

The Colorado River Basin Science and Resource Management Symposium, is presented in partnership by: Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado River Fish and Wildlife Council, Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, National Park Service, San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program, Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Education Foundation

[Via USGS]

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Invasive species, long-term drought, and climate change are a few of the new management challenges facing policy makers for conservation and restoration efforts in the Colorado River Basin. Scientists and resource managers will gather to explore these complex and compelling issues Nov. 18–20 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Approximately 300 scientists, managers, and stakeholders will gather to exchange information about research and management activities at the symposium, Coming Together: Coordination of Science and Restoration Activities for the Colorado River Ecosystem. 

Following is a list of plenary presentations and their titles that may be of interest to reporters. Listed events are free to members of the news media who present their credentials at the registration desk.

For a complete agenda and list of speakers, see http://www.watereducation.org/doc.asp?id=1072.

All presentations will take place at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, 5401 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, Arizona.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

8:15 – 8:45 AM – U.S. Department of the Interior Management Efforts:

Comments on Colorado River Management efforts from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Kameran Onley, Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, DOI Assistant Secretary Onley will discuss the significant challenges presented by diverse social, cultural, and ecological demands within the Colorado River Basin. She will talk about the complex endangered species recovery efforts, invasive species management, natural and cultural resource stewardship, and the continued need for water and power development. After more than 100 years of DOI management of the River Basin, today’s Adaptive Management process helps find a balance for the restoration and conservation of the Colorado River Basin.

11:00 - 11:30 AM – Climate Change:

Effects of Interannual Variability and Climate Change on the Colorado River, Brad Udall, Director, Western Water Assessment, NOAA, Boulder, CO A major question hangs over the States that depend on the Colorado River: is the present drought one of those that are known to occur once or twice in a century in the American Southwest, or is this a new kind of drought, of a more chronic or permanent nature, that we have not seen before?

12:15 - 12:45 AM - Stream Flow Management for Restoration:

Streamflow Management for River Restoration: Lessons from Outside the Colorado River Basin for Moving from Sites to Systems, Christopher Conrad, The Nature Conservancy, Seattle, WA Using examples from a number of efforts from around the United States grappling with restoration issues that extend beyond a single site, Conrad will explore the value of coordinating activities at larger scales.

1:45 - 2:15 PM - Sustainability and River Restoration:

Sustainability and River Restoration in the Colorado River Basin, Kathy Jacobs, Arizona Water Institute, Tucson, AZ A consensus exists among managers that more extreme events, both floods and droughts, are likely to result from climate change. An ability to respond to these anticipated changes will be the hallmark of successful river restoration programs. Jacobs will address the opportunities for identifying and responding to changes more quickly.

3:00 - 3:30 PM - Status of Colorado River Native Fishes:

Current Status of Colorado River Native Fishes, Matthew Andersen, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ The recovery of native fishes is one of the issues driving restoration efforts in the Colorado River Basin. Multiple agencies are tracking native fishes, particularly the four species federally listed as endangered: humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback sucker. This presentation will provide the most current information available on the status of these species, including humpback chub improvements, in the Colorado River Basin.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19

8:15 – 9:00 AM - Quagga Mussel Spread and Ecological Impacts:

An Overview of the Spread and Ecological Impacts of the Quagga Mussel with Possible Implications of its Recent Discovery in the Colorado River Basin, Thomas F. Nalepa, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ann Arbor, MI The ecological impacts coincident with the expansion of the quagga mussel—an invasive species that favors deep lakes and reservoirs—in the Great Lakes have been profound, resulting in millions of dollars of damages. Lessons learned in the Great Lakes can help inform understanding of the possible impacts of the mussel on the Colorado River Basin; the mussel was detected in Lake Mead in 2007.

9:00 – 9:45 AM - Flows, Fish, and Conservation in the Green River:

Natural Flows, Invasive Fishes, and Native Fish Conservation in the Green River Downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam, 1962 to Present, Bestgen explores the effects of newly implemented flow changes and drought-induced warming on the fish community of the upper Green River. The effects of warming on fish populations, particularly the expansion of invasive species, in the Green River may provide insights for other Colorado River managers confronting drought-induced warming.Kevin R. Bestgen, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

4:20 – 4:40 PM Quagga Mussel Monitoring in Lake Mead:

A Standardized Design for Long-Term Quagga Mussel Monitoring in Lake Mead, David Wong, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV On January 6, 2007, the quagga mussel was detected in Lake Mead. This invasive species not only clogs water pipelines, but also will have profound impacts on the Lake Mead natural system. Efforts to track the abundance and distribution of the quagga mussel in Lake Mead will be discussed.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20

8:00 – 8:30 AM - Economic Values for Park Service Resources:

Economic Values for National Park Service Resources within the Colorado River Watershed, John W. Duffield, University of Montana, Missoula, MT Explore efforts to place a value on recreation and other ecosystem services provided by National Park Service units in the Colorado River watershed.

8:30 – 8:50 AM - Economic Analysis of Environmental Restrictions on the Power System at Glen Canyon Dam:

Ex Post Economic Analysis of the Electrical Power System Impacts of the Environmental Restrictions at Glen Canyon Dam Following the 1996 Record of Decision, Thomas Veselka, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL Operations at Glen Canyon Dam were modified in February 1997 following the 1996 Record of Decision. This presentation looks at the economic impacts of the changes in operations since the restrictions have been in place.

9:10 – 9:40 AM - Role of Science and Native Americans in Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Plan:

Confluence of Values: The Role of Science and Native Americans in the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, Kurt E. Dongoske, Pueblo of Zuni, Zuni, NM Examining 10 years of Native American involvement in Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, suggests that the program has failed to effectively integrate Native American perspectives. Solutions to identified barriers are offered.

11:30 AM – NOON - Collaboration in the Colorado River Basin:

The Promise and Peril of Collaboration in the Colorado River Basin, Kirk Emerson, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Multiple collaborative resource initiatives are active in the Colorado River Basin. The value of such collaborations will be discussed, including questions about effectiveness and suggestions for improving the power and performance of adaptive management in the future.

The Colorado River Basin Science and Resource Management Symposium, is presented in partnership by: Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado River Fish and Wildlife Council, Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, National Park Service, San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program, Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Education Foundation

[Via USGS]

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• Lake Tahoe Clarity

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Increasing levels of nitrogen deposition associated with industry and agriculture can drive soils toward a toxic level of acidification, reducing plant growth and polluting surface waters, according to a new study published online in Nature Geoscience.

The study, conducted in the Tatra Mountains of Slovakia by the University of Colorado, University of Montana, Slovak Academy of Sciences, and the U.S. Geological Survey, shows what can happen when nitrogen deposition in any part of the world increases to certain levels—levels similar to those projected to occur in parts of Europe by 2050, according to some global change models.

On the basis of these results, the authors warn that the high levels of nitrogen deposited in Europe and North America over the past half century already may have left many soils susceptible to this new stage of acidification. The results of this further acidification, wrote the authors, are highly reduced soil fertility and leaching of acids and toxic metals into surface waters.

A long history of human-influenced nitrogen deposition has left soils in the Western Tatra Mountains of Slovakia highly acidic. The study reveals that the increased nitrogen load in the region triggers the release of soluble iron into alpine grassland soils. This iron release is indicative of extreme soil acidification, comparable to conditions seen in soils exposed to acid mine drainage.

Western Tatra Mountains Slovakia. Photo by Zdeno Kostka; courtesy of William D. Bowman, University of Colorado

“Recovery from such extreme chemical change could only occur in geologic time, which is why soil is considered a non-renewable resource,” said USGS scientist Jill Baron, who helped analyze and interpret the study results.

In addition to this research, Dr. Baron has investigated the impacts of nitrogen deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park for 26 years. “The Rocky Mountains and the Tatra Mountains represent the two ends of the atmospheric deposition effects trajectory,” Dr. Baron said. “The effects of nitrogen deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park are just beginning to be observed, allowing resource managers the opportunity to help the region recover if deposition is reduced. In the Tatra Mountains National Park, however, soils are far beyond natural recovery in human time frames.”

Much of the eastern U.S. and Northern Europe fall in the middle of the effects spectrum, she added.

Rocky Mountain and Tatra National Parks are sister parks, with scientists and managers beginning to cooperate in studies to understand both. Dr. Baron’s work in Rocky Mountain National Park led to the establishment of a nitrogen threshold for the park in 2006, the first time the nation has established a critical load of a pollutant for any park environment. An agreement in 2007 between the Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, and Colorado Department of Health and Environment enabled the agencies to set target loads for reducing nitrogen emissions by 2012 to improve ecological conditions.

Read the paper, “Negative impact of nitrogen deposition on soil buffering capacity.”

Soil sampling on Thatchtop Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo courtesy of Melannie D. Hartman

[Via USGS]

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Earthquakes are far more than just geological phenomena-they can greatly alter the way people live by damaging whole communities.

A new USGS video production, “The Great Southern California ShakeOut: An Earthquake Scenario Based On Science,” shows how science is used by government agencies, emergency responders, policymakers and the public to help build safer communities. It is based on the USGS ShakeOut Scenario, the scientific foundation for the Great Southern California ShakeOut, a region-wide earthquake drill conducted on November 13, 2008.

“When I gaze out my window, I realize that every building, every high-rise I can see from the 15^th floor here in city hall in Los Angeles, will be impacted by this catastrophic earthquake,” said Jim Featherstone, General Manager, City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department, in an interview in the video, referring to the theoretical magnitude 7.8 earthquake that is part of the ShakeOut Scenario. “The science of the Great ShakeOut has allowed me to bring that perspective home.”

Other interview subjects include the USGS, the Office of Homeland Security, the County of Riverside, the California Governor’s Office, the East Valley Water District, the Art Center College of Design, the County of San Bernardino, and a professor emeritus from Colorado State University.

In addition to interviews, this video also discusses how such an earthquake would affect downtown Los Angeles and the San Andreas Fault-crossing Cajon Pass, a narrow corridor through the San Gabriel Mountains known as an important “lifeline corridor” where roads, railroads, water and energy pipelines, and electrical and communications infrastructure provide service to millions of residences, businesses, commuters and communities in Southern California.

You can view this video in episode 75 of CoreCast at www.usgs.gov/corecast. Learn more about the USGS’s role in the Great ShakeOut at www.usgs.gov/shakeout. More information about the Great Southern California ShakeOut can be found at www.shakeout.org.

[Via USGS]

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Invasive species, long-term drought, climate change. These are hard challenges to resource managers as they attempt to conserve native species and natural systems while also meeting human needs for water and hydropower in the Colorado River Basin.  Leading natural resource scientists and experts in economics, tribal perspectives, conflict resolution and sustainability will examine these subjects in a three-day symposium in Scottsdale, Arizona, November 18-20, 2008. The conference will address a number of critical issues, including the spread and the ecological impacts of the quagga mussel in Lake Mead, endangered native fishes, extreme weather events, and the adaptive management approach to balancing multiple needs in a complex ecosystem.

Who: Research scientists, leading experts, resource managers, decision makers and other stakeholders will give oral and poster presentations. Kameran Onley, Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior, will give a keynote address on DOI management efforts in the Colorado River Basin.

What: A symposium held in Scottsdale, Arizona, November 18–20, to exchange information about research and management activities related to the conservation and restoration of the Colorado River Basin. This symposium represents the first formal opportunity for resource managers, stakeholders, and scientists working throughout the Colorado River Basin to come together to share what they have learned and exchange ideas for achieving success.

In partnership with: Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado River Fish and Wildlife Council, Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, National Park Service, San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program, Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Education Foundation

Where: Doubletree Resort, 5401 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Ariz.

When: 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 18, to noon on Thursday, November 20

For the complete program and list of speakers, see http://www.watereducation.org/userfiles/USGS_CoRiver_Program.pdf.

[Via USGS]

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So long!

Source: JPL

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The U. S. Geological Survey is joining with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Environment Canada (EC) in jointly operating and calibrating high-tech climate monitoring stations. NOAA recently installed a U.S. Climate Reference Network sensor in Egbert, Ontario, while EC set up a Canadian Reference Climate Station at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, S.D.

“USGS is pleased to work with NOAA and Environment Canada in the effort to monitor key climate variables,” said Eric Clemons, director of USGS-EROS. “When compiled on a national and international scale, these data records are essential in understanding global environmental impacts. They have to be as accurate and as comprehensive as possible.”

Both stations collect detailed weather and climate data, including real-time measurements of surface temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and solar radiation. Scientists will compare each nation’s measurements and blend the two networks together to understand climate change and precipitation trends better. The ongoing collaboration will result in improved accuracy and common quality control procedures for the data - even a similar, common way to measure snowfall and snow depth.

NOAA’s National Climate Data Center first installed a climate reference station at USGS-EROS in 2002. Due to its centralized location in the U.S., the technical expertise of its staff, and the existence of a suitable infrastructure, USGS-EROS became a prime candidate for the installation of similar climate-monitoring instruments operated by EC as part of a U.S.-Canadian climate research effort.

Through agreements with multiple agencies, USGS-EROS provides support for eight in situ (stationary) networks for monitoring climate, weather, and natural and human-influenced hazards. USGS uses these data to support land science and climate change research.

[Via USGS]

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