Browsing by Subject "non-point source pollution"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Nature and Effects of County Drainage Ditches in South Central Minnesota(Water Resources Research Center, 1980-11) Quade, Henry W.; Boyum, Kent W.; Braaten, Duane O.; Gordon, Donald; Pierce, Clay L.; Silis, Ainars Z.; Smith, David R.; Thompson, Bill C.The extent of county drainage was determined for four counties in South Central Minnesota followed by a study of the geomorphic nature of man’s drainage in contrast to natural drainage. Selected drainage ditches and low order rivers were sampled for water quality and quantity in order to determine the contributions and timing of nutrient loads from each. Seventy-nine percent of the drainage ditches were found to terminate into rivers and they more than doubled the length of the surface fluvial systems. The closeness of fit of the drainage ditch systems to the low order Strahler classification scheme suggests that man has taken an immature lake-marsh environment and within 100 years created a geomorphically mature fluvial landscape. Nutrient loading by ditches into receiving bodies was found to vary by season, by individual ditch or river, and by stream order indicating that each ditch was unique. Water quality of one ditch during this wet study year was compared to a previous dry year study and the nutrient loading data was consistent and predictable. The most significant loading nutrient chemical parameter to the Minnesota River was found to be nitrate-nitrogen. Flow showed flashy response to storm events in some ditches and some were quite conservative. Sediment load was directly correlated to flow.Item The Relationship between Policy, Program, and Implementation in Sustainable Urban Water Management(2014-07) SABOONIAN, SARAThis thesis examines the relationship between policies, programs, and implementation in facing today's urban water issues. Our current way of life has resulted in separation of the built environment from the nature and the degradation of natural processes. In addition, climate change phenomenon adversely affects local water cycles. In order to ensure our continuous existence on this planet we have to rethink our approach toward urban water. I have investigated how pioneering cities are addressing their current urban water issues by sustainably managing their surface waters and bringing back the natural balance to local hydrological systems. I also have exploited their strong and weak points. After that, I have categorized urban water issues based on the source of creation, extracted some common connections and disconnections (gaps) between policies, programs, and implementations. Moreover, I have discussed the role of these gaps in the efficiency of municipalities' approaches. This is followed by a framework to fill out these gaps between policies, programs, and implementation. Finally, I have applied the proposed framework to the city of Minneapolis.