OU - Theses

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An Applied Evaluation of Ecosystem Services Decision-Support Tools
(2024-05-10) Meek, Alissa; Nairn, Robert W.; Knox, Robert C.; Paudel, Jayash
Nature's value as an asset is unmistakable, evident through the tangible benefits it provides, such as agricultural yields and tourist attractions. These services, known as ecosystem services (ES), are easy to appreciate due to their direct market connections. However, implicit ES, like climate regulation and flood control, are often overlooked until their absence becomes painfully evident, demonstrated by disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2012 Midwest flash drought event, as well as with large development projects, such as the channelization and subsequent re-meandering of the Kissimmee River. While wetlands are recognized to contribute to ecological integrity, human well-being, and national resilience, population growth and economic development have historically led to the transformation of these critical habitats. The rapid conversion of wetland habitat has largely degraded wetland ES, especially affecting inland wetlands. An apparent gap exists between wetland conservation policies and site-level decision-making, often stemming from inadequate documentation of wetland ES costs and benefits at the local and regional levels. This research accepted the hypothesis that ES Decision Support Tools (ES-DSTs) can quantify site-specific freshwater wetland ES. Pilot studies were employed to highlight the potential of ES-DSTs to bridge the gap between high-level wetland conservation policies and on-the-ground implementation by improving ES accounting. These quantitative metrics lay the groundwork for ES valuation, a crucial preparatory phase to conducting a BCA.
Open Access
Assessing risk and potential reuse of hard rock mine drainage passive treatment residual solids
(2021-08) McCann, Justine; Nairn, Robert; Knox, Robert; Sabatini, David
Ecologically engineered mine drainage passive treatment systems rely on a series of biogeochemical reactions to decrease concentrations of ecotoxic trace metals and have proven to be an effective way to improve water quality in watersheds impacted by mining, especially in areas where access or funding is limited. Passive treatment systems require minimal regular maintenance, but occasional rehabilitative maintenance is necessary to ensure continued efficacy of the systems. These efforts include addressing residual solids by removal of iron oxyhydroxides from oxidation ponds and replacing of spent organic material from vertical flow bioreactors. In this study, iron oxyhydroxides and organic materials from two passive treatment systems located in the Tar Creek Superfund Site in the Tri-State Lead-Zinc Mining District were examined for total and leachable trace metals concentrations. The USEPA’s toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) and synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP), as well as the USGS’s field leach test (FLT), were performed to evaluate the leachability of arsenic, cadmium, lead, manganese, nickel, zinc, and other trace metals from the residual solids. Biochar, municipal biosolids, and coal combustion residuals (CCR) were added to the solids to attempt to increase metals sorption and decrease leaching. The leachate produced from TCLP tests did not exceed Resource Conservation and Recovery Act limits for any of the contaminants of concern, but SPLP and FLT leachates did exceed some guidelines from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The addition of biochar, biosolids, and CCR did not decrease leaching of metals and in some cases increased leaching of contaminants of concern. Although it is not necessary to dispose of the mine drainage residual solids examined in this study in a hazardous waste repository, further research is necessary to determine the feasibility of reuse of the solids in subaqueous or subaerial environments.
Open Access
Biological sulfate removal using waste organic substrates in continuous flow-through columns simulating mine water vertical flow bioreactors
(2020) Ingendorf, J.D.; Nairn, Robert W.; Knox, Robert C.; Chamberlain, Jim F.
In mine water passive treatment systems, biological sulfate (SO42-) reduction in vertical flow bioreactors (VFBRs) is often utilized to precipitate trace metals as metal sulfides and to generate alkalinity. Sulfate removal is not typically targeted and is trivial in bioreactors compared to the removal of targeted metals. However, utilizing biological sulfate reduction in VFBRs to specifically remove sulfate can be an effective strategy to decrease elevated SO42- concentration from mine drainage. In this study, a laboratory bench-scale continuous flow-through column study simulating mine water vertical flow bioreactors was conducted over 370 days evaluating the effectiveness of three locally available waste organic substrates (Norman Aged Compost (NAC), Murphy Compost (MC), and Spent Mushroom Compost (SMC)), on biological SO42- removal by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). The substrates were tested in triplicate columns, constructed in opaque PVC pipes (0.019 m3), filled with a 2:1 mixture by volume of the organic substrate to washed river rock, and were fed with a solution containing 1000 mg SO42- L-1 + 10%. Conditions at the start and termination of the study were optimal for SO42- reduction: circumneutral pH, reducing oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and appropriate temperatures. During the first 305 days, SO42 removal rates and percent removal of SO42 decreased significantly (p < 0.01). On Day 306, the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was decreased from eight days to four days for 30 days and then again to two days on Day 336 for an additional 30 days in order to observe changes in SO42- removal rates. At HRT = 8 days, the SMC treatment consistently produced the lowest effluent sulfate concentrations (median = 221 mg L-1), greatest sulfate removal rates (mean = 548 mmol m-3 day-1), percent removal of sulfate (median =77.3%), and effluent sulfide concentrations (median = 123.6 mg L-1) (p < 0.01). The SMC and MC treatments did not show significant differences in sulfate removal across all HRTs, however the NAC treatment had significantly lower sulfate removal with shorter HRTs (p < 0.05). Sulfide production decreased significantly with shorter HRTs in all treatments (p < 0.05). The results of this study confirm that mine water passive treatment system VFBRs are appropriate for the removal of elevated sulfate given that optimal conditions for bacterial sulfate reduction are created and maintained. The selected waste organic substrates showed similar sulfate removal capabilities within a range of different organic carbon contents in the substrates and in the effluents. SMC has been demonstrated for its ability to serve as the media in VFBRs targeting metals removal and retention as metal sulfides and can also be utilized in those systems aiming to specifically remove sulfate.
Open Access
Developing a Water Balance Model to Estimate Consumptive Use in the Southeast Watershed Planning Region of Oklahoma
(2020-05-08) Chandler, Walter; Vogel, Jason; Basara, Jeffery; Gourley, Jonathan
With the passage of the Water for 2060 Act, Oklahoma established a statewide goal of consuming no more freshwater in 2060 than was consumed in 2012. However, there currently does not exist a quantifiable method to estimate consumptive water use in the long-term. A quantitative analysis of freshwater consumptive use in Oklahoma using a water balance approach would not only make it possible to gauge whether quantifiable water use goals are being met, but would also be useful for water resource managers across the state to track consumptive use and determine where and when conservation strategies may be implemented to have the most impact. A water balance model (WBM) was developed to quantify consumptive water use at a Watershed Planning Region scale in Oklahoma. Under perfect natural conditions, the inflow and outflow water volumes in a region over a given period of time will be equal. However, humans disturb the natural conditions by removing water from the hydrologic cycle through consumptive use. Considering consumptive use as a component of the water balance, the volumes of each inflow and outflow component of the water balance were estimated, and consumptive use was estimated using a water balance equation as the residual imbalance caused by humans removing the water from the natural system. The WBM was developed for the Southeast Watershed Planning Region of Oklahoma (SEWPR) at a quarterly (3-month) temporal scale, with the goal of applying the model to other Watershed Planning Regions in the future. The WBM results for quarterly consumptive use were unrealistically high and even negative in some cases. The likely cause of these extreme values is the large and mostly unknown uncertainty associated with the WBM component estimation methodologies. While the WBM is currently not suitable for consumptive use estimation, the gathered data, developed methodologies, and valuable information obtained from this research provide a useful framework for future research.
Open Access
Evaluating Low Impact Development Best Management Practices as an Alternative to Traditional Urban Stormwater Management
(2016-08-12) Holzbauer-Schweitzer, Brandon; Nairn, Robert; Kolar, Randall; Ziolkowska, Jadwiga
The Trailwoods residential neighborhood (Norman, OK) included two instrumented watersheds (each approximately 2.3 acres), with the purpose of quantifying the impact on stormwater quantity and quality through implementation of low impact development (LID) best management practices (BMPs). The control watershed, Trailwoods East (TE), utilized traditional urban stormwater management while the treatment watershed, Trailwoods West (TW), included rain barrels, rain gardens, diversion downspouts, and permeable pavement. The toe of each watershed was outfitted with a trapezoidal flume which allowed for measurement of continuous discharge and calculation of storm event total runoff volume and peak volumetric discharge rates. A storm event-activated autosampler was used for collection of flow weighted composite stormwater samples. Once water levels within the flume reached a predetermined depth, a 20-mL sample was collected immediately and for every 50 cubic feet per second (CFS) of stormwater that passed the measurement point. A suite of stormwater runoff constituents were analyzed, including nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds), total suspended solids and trace metals. Ecosystem services provided by the LID BMPs at the study site were also determined. Specifically, provisioning of water from rain barrels and regulation through flood attenuation and nutrient retention by the suite of LID BMPs were the focus of the valuation study. A total of 10 storm events were captured, with precipitation intensities ranging from 0.48 to 2.64 in hr-1. LID BMPs decreased the total volume of stormwater by 29,277 cubic feet (CF) or 26.5 percent. Peak volumetric discharge rates were significantly different (p = 0.40) by 1.24 CFS or 47 percent. Mean TSS concentrations were different by 33.7 mg/L or 49 percent when comparing TE control to TW treatment. Mean nitrate-nitrogen concentrations were significantly different (p = 0.01) by 0.68 mg/L or 63 percent. However, mean total phosphorus (TP) and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) concentrations were higher for TW compared to TE watersheds by 0.17 mg/L or 47 percent and 0.02 mg/L or 29 percent, respectively. The valued ecosystem services provided by LID BMPs showed that, given time, LID BMPs can potentially outweigh the capital costs of construction and provide long-term economic benefits.
Open Access
Evaluation of Catchment-Scale Stormwater Runoff Management on First-Flush Water Quality and Storm Discharge Quantity
(2018-12) Berg-Mattson, Noah; Nairn, Robert; Butler, Elizabeth; Knox, Robert
Urbanization and resulting imperviousness has caused increased pollutant loadings into receiving water bodies. One of the main sources of pollutant loads is stormwater runoff. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capabilities of low impact development (LID) best management practices (BMPs) and traditional retention ponds to address pollutant loads in first-flush stormwater runoff. Two studies were completed. First, a paired watershed study, in which one basin included a suite of LID BMPs and the other included traditional curb and gutter stormwater controls, was monitored for hydrologic and water quality data. The second study examined the water quality improvement capabilities of four nearby retention ponds. LID BMPs decreased total runoff volume and peak discharge rates for most sampled events. Water quality data showed differences in all pollutants except for dissolved reactive phosphorous. The retention ponds showed decreased nutrient concentrations compared to data from the national stormwater database. The combination of LID BMPs and retention ponds used in series would likely decrease urban stormwater pollutant loads.
Open Access
Making Satellite Sensors Better for Hydroclimatic Applications: Evaluation of NASA SMAP Soil Moisture Using Oklahoma’s Environmental Monitoring Network—MESONET
(2017-12-15) Xu, Chen; Hong, Yang; Sabatini, David; Zhang, Ke
Soil moisture, quantified as the ratio of liquid water to soil in volume or weight, is the measurement of the water that is held in the space between soil particles. Understanding the components of soil, particularly its water concentration, is an important aspect of the hydrological cycle. This concept is key in understanding the relationship of the circulation pathway of water and heat as they travel between Earth’s surface and then the atmosphere. This interaction has a great impact on weather, ecosystems and their climates. Advances in remote sensing, particularly microwave remote sensing, have provided significant information on soil water content. If coupled with geographic pieces of information such as soil types and topographical details, it may be able to provide accurate data on soil water content on a global basis. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission takes place in an orbiting observatory that measures the amount of water in the top 10 cm of soil on Earth’s surface every 2 – 3 days since 2015. Environmental factors including precipitation, temperature, vegetation cover, soil properties (density and texture), and surface roughness may all affect the accuracy of the remotely sensed soil moisture measurement. There being so many variables that can affect data, it is critical to compare SMAP soil moisture data with in situ observations for sensor calibration and hydrometeorological applications. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential utility of the surface soil moisture data retrieved from remote sensing techniques, those derived from SMAP satellites in particular, by comparing them with the ground-observed data of the Oklahoma Mesonet that monitors a number of atmospheric and hydrologic variables, including solar radiation, humidity, temperature, wind speed and direction, and soil moisture. This data will aid in operational weather forecasting and environmental research across the state. First, the spatiotemporal variation pattern of statewide soil moisture is described with site-wise monthly average Mesonet data from the top 5, 25, and 60 cm of soil respectively. This would then show the correlation between the remotely-sensed SMAP soil moisture data and Mesonet soil moisture observations at three soil depths, both spatially – statewide, as well as regions of three precipitation zones, three temperature zones, and nine climatic zones, and temporally – for each season. Three specific hypotheses and findings will be made and reached. First, the remotely sensed SMAP retrievals relatively fit and correlate well with Mesonet data. Spatially, the wetter and warmer climatic regions have a higher correlation and lower error in the SMAP soil moisture. During the summer and winter for short periods, the SMAP soil moisture data has a greater degree of deviations to the observations than in the other times of the year. Second, the Mesonet data of the top 5 cm of soil shows the best correlation with the SMAP information. This reconfirms the remotely sensed SMAP data validity for measuring top soil layer than root zone soil moisture. Third and lastly, the SMAP soil moisture closely corresponds with environmental conditions. This is especially pertinent with precipitation events and temperature variations. This study proves the hypotheses and concludes that the remotely sensed soil moisture data retrieved from SMAP is considered to be effective in observing land surface soil moisture data in Oklahoma. Furthermore, the quantitative findings support electrical engineers to calibrate the errors in remote sensing signals and retrieval algorithms, and thus to develop more functional satellite sensors for future missions.
Open Access
Monitoring Norman, Oklahoma for temporal variation in SARS-CoV-2 using wastewater during University of Oklahoma football games
(2022-05) Rhodes, Emily; Vogel, Jason; Strevett, Keith; Bryce, Lowery
Coronavirus Disease 2019, more commonly referred to as COVID-19, is the disease caused by the virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is difficult to then get an accurate measure of cases through typical epidemiological methods such as clinical testing because many people do not know they have the disease. However, SARS-CoV-2 viral particles are often excreted by infected hosts, including those who are asymptomatic, and can be tracked through wastewater in a process called wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). A problem that complicates WBE is that humans are not static and move in and out of sewer drainages throughout the day. One way to track human movement anonymously is through their cell phones and a software called StreetLight®. Football games at the University of Oklahoma provided an opportunity to combine WBE with StreetLight software to determine if there was an increase in the amount of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater due to large events. To determine this, wastewater samples were taken hourly at the City of Norman Water Reclamation Facility (NWRF) beginning on Saturday mornings and ending on Sunday mornings. To compare the amount of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater on gamedays was different than other days, composite samples were collected from the NWRF representing weekdays as well as two control Saturdays were selected to sample (one per football season). Finally, population data was collected at hourly intervals on Saturdays to normalize the SARS-CoV-2 concentrations, resulting in a measure we called the viral load per person and make the amount of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater comparable between seasons. This study can inform decision makers about hosting large-scale events throughout the rest of the pandemic, as well as during other disease outbreaks. Furthermore, the viral load per person is a novel way of presenting this data that makes comparing sewer drainages possible.
Open Access
QUANTIFYING HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY IN MINE DRAINAGE PASSIVE TREATMENT SYSTEM VERTICAL FLOW BIOREACTORS
(2016-12) Page, Bryan J.; Nairn, Robert W.; Miller, Gerald A.; Knox, Robert C.
Heavy industrial mining has occurred in the United States for more than 100 years, and in many cases, has led to large-scale environmental degradation, especially from historical operations where mining occurred prior to environmental regulations. Many of these derelict or abandoned operations discharge abandoned mine drainage (AMD), which contains ecotoxic metal-contamination that impairs receiving stream water quality and negatively impacts local ecology. Passive treatment systems (PTS) are cost effective treatment technologies that are designed to use relatively little fossil fuels and natural physicochemical (e.g., limestone dissolution) and biological (e.g., bacterial sulfate reduction) processes for the treatment of AMD. One of the key components of PTS are vertical flow bioreactors (VFBRs). VFBRs typically include waste organic materials as microbial substrates overlying rock drainage layers. They utilize the dissolution of limestone to generate alkalinity for neutralization of excess protons and promote sulfate-reducing bacteria for additional alkalinity generation and trace metal removal as sulfides. However, long-term operation and maintenance issues in PTS include decreased hydraulic conductivity in VFBRs. Decreased hydraulic conductivity leads to either water by-passing the cell or decreased treatment efficiencies. This research focused on quantifying the hydraulic conductivity and characterizing the organic layer in VFBRs of multiple passive treatment systems with the intention of developing plans for extending the lives of the treatment systems. VFBRs at the Mayer Ranch, Hartshorne and Red Oak PTS were selected for this study. This research used four different methods to estimate hydraulic conductivity in VFBRs that have been in operation for 8-15 years. Hydraulic conductivity was compared against several different treatment media characteristics. The hydraulic conductivity measurements ranged from 9.93x10-3 to 1.74x10-5 cm/s. The comparison of the hydraulic conductivity and the treatment media characteristics indicated a trend that as particle density increased the hydraulic conductivity decreased. The comparison of the different methods did not yield one definitive method, but found that site variables dictated that certain methods may be more accurate or viable than others. The results helped to characterize the treatment media and quantified the hydraulic conductivity of the treatment media of VFBRs.
Open Access
Temporal and Spatial Variations in Sediment Trace Metal Concentrations in Streams, Rivers, and a Reservoir near a Derelict Lead-Zinc Mining District
(2021-05) Folz, Carlton; Nairn, Robert; Knox, Robert; Dee, Kato
Historic lead and zinc mining in the Tri-State Mining District has ceased, but the legacy of trace metal contamination (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) throughout the region still exists. This thesis focuses on stream sediments in and downstream from contaminated areas. This study evaluated temporal changes of trace metal concentrations over 35-years in Tar Creek sediments. The spatial distribution of trace metal concentrations was subject to analyses between Tar Creek, the Neosho River, the Spring River, and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. The last study focused on the bioavailability of trace metals in sediments and what factors may influence it. The watershed of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees drains multiple National Priority List Superfund sites from miningrelated activities. Sources of trace metals entering the surface water systems include artesian flowing mine drainage, mining waste pile leachate, and mine waste in the active channels. When evaluating temporal changes in Tar Creek sediments, Cd, Mn, Ni, and Zn concentrations and organic carbon content increased. At the same time, Fe, Pb, and S decreased from 1985 to 2020. Spatially, Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations decreased with increasing distance from mining impaired areas. Lastly, evaluating the impact of sediment pH, sediment organic carbon, and total Fe concentrations resulted in a wide range of responses and variability. The bioavailable concentrations of trace metals were not influenced equally by these factors. Use of statistical evaluations at the 95th confidence interval for the appropriate tests allowed for the determination of significance. Sediment-bound trace metals in freshwater sediments have complex behaviors and are becoming distributed downstream of the mining district. As remediation of sediments in the Superfund sites begins, it is imperative to understand the sources, mobility, and bioavailability of the trace metals to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of remediation while minimizing potential human and environmental risks.