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Scholarly Works, Virginia Water Resources Research Center

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https://hdl.handle.net/10919/24331
Research articles, presentations, and other scholarship

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Browsing Scholarly Works, Virginia Water Resources Research Center by Author "Biological Systems Engineering"

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    Assessing Strontium and Vulnerability to Strontium in Private Drinking Water Systems in Virginia
    Scott, Veronica; Juran, Luke; Ling, Erin; Benham, Brian L.; Spiller, Asa (MDPI, 2020-04-08)
    A total of 1.7 million Virginians rely on private drinking water (PDW) systems and 1.3 million of those people do not know their water quality. Because most Virginians who use PDW do not know the quality of that water and since strontium poses a public health risk, this study investigates sources of strontium in PDW in Virginia and identifies the areas and populations most vulnerable. Physical factors such as rock type, rock age, and fertilizer use have been linked to elevated strontium concentrations in drinking water. Social factors such as poverty, poor diet, and adolescence also increase social vulnerability to health impacts of strontium. Using water quality data from the Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP) and statistical and spatial analyses, physical vulnerability was found to be highest in the Ridge and Valley province of Virginia where agricultural land use and geologic formations with high strontium concentrations (e.g., limestone, dolomite, sandstone, shale) are the dominant aquifer rocks. In terms of social vulnerability, households with high levels of strontium are more likely than the average VAHWQP participant to live in a food desert. This study provides information to help 1.7 million residents of Virginia, as well as populations in neighboring states, understand their risk of exposure to strontium in PDW.
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    Integrating Climate Forecasts with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for High-Resolution Hydrologic Simulations and Forecasts in the Southeastern U.S.
    Sehgal, Vinit; Sridhar, Venkataramana; Juran, Luke; Ogejo, Jactone Arogo (MDPI, 2018-08-29)
    This study provides high-resolution modeling of daily water budget components at Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC)-12 resolution for 50 watersheds of the South Atlantic Gulf (SAG) region in the southeastern U.S. (SEUS) by implementing the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in the form of a near real-time, semi-automated framework. A near real-time hydrologic simulation framework is implemented with a lead time of nine months (March–December 2017) by integrating the calibrated SWAT model with National Centers for Environmental Prediction coupled forecast system model version 2 (CFSv2) weather data to forecast daily water balance components. The modeling exercise is conducted as a precursor for various future hydrologic studies (retrospective or forecasting) for the region by providing a calibrated hydrological dataset at high spatial (HUC-12) and temporal (1-day) resolution. The models are calibrated (January 2003–December 2010) and validated (January 2011–December 2013) for each watershed using the observed streamflow data from 50 United States Geological Survey (USGS) gauging stations. The water balance analysis for the region shows that the implemented models satisfactorily represent the hydrology of the region across different sub-regions (Appalachian highlands, plains, and coastal wetlands) and seasons. While CFSv2-driven SWAT models are able to provide reasonable performance in near real-time and can be used for decision making in the region, caution is advised for using model outputs as the streamflow forecasts display significant deviation from observed streamflow for all watersheds for lead times greater than a month.
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    Upper Stroubles Creek Watershed TMDL Implementation Plan Montgomery County, Virginia
    Stroubles Creek IP Steering Committee; Virginia Tech. Department of Biological Systems Engineering; Virginia Water Resources Research Center (Virginia Tech, 2006-05-24)
    A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study was conducted on Stroubles Creek from April 2002 through October 2003 and approved by EPA in January 2004 (Benham et al., 2003). The TMDL specified the maximum sediment load that Stroubles Creek can handle in a manner that is protective of the habitat for benthic macroinvertebrates, in particular, and aquatic life, in general, so that it is in compliance with Virginia water quality standards. This document serves as the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation plan (IP) for Stroubles Creek in Montgomery County and the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia. The implementation plan is the next step in the TMDL process that specifies where and how the sediment reductions called for in the TMDL study will be made to remove the benthic impairment on Stroubles Creek.