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Research about Columbia, Missouri

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Columbia, Missouri.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2022

Remote sensing of visible dye concentrations during a tracer experiment on a large, turbid river

Understanding dispersion in rivers is critical for numerous applications, such as characterizing larval drift for endangered fish species and responding to spills of hazardous materials. Injecting a visible dye into the river can yield insight on dispersion processes, but conventional field instrumentation yields limited data on variations in dye concentration over time at a few, fixed points. Remote sensing can provide more detailed, spatially distributed information on the dye's motion, but this approach has only been tested in clear-flowing streams. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of remote sensing to facilitate tracer studies in more turbid rivers. To pursue this objective, we injected Rhodamine WT dye into the Missouri River and collected field spectra from a boat, videos from a small unoccupied aircraft system (sUAS), and orthophotos from an airplane. Applying an optimal band ratio analysis (OBRA) algorithm to the field spectra revealed strong correlations ( R 2 = 0.936) between a spectrally based quantity and in situ concentration measurements. OBRA also performed well for broadband RGB (red, green, blue) images extracted from the sUAS-based videos; the resulting concentration maps were used to produce animations that captured movement of the dye pulse. Spectral mixture analysis of repeat orthophoto coverage yielded relative concentration estimates that provided a synoptic perspective on dispersion of the dye throughout the entire 13.8 km reach over the full 2.5-hr duration of the experiment. The results of this study demonstrate the potential to remotely sense tracer dye concentrations in large, highly turbid rivers.

Missouri↗
USGS2019

An experimental evaluation of the feasibility of inferring concentrations of a visible tracer dye from remotely sensed data in turbid rivers

The movement of contaminants and biota within river channels is influenced by the flow field via various processes of dispersion. Understanding and modeling of these processes thus can facilitate applications ranging from the prediction of travel times for spills of toxic materials to the simulation of larval drift for endangered species of fish. A common means of examining dispersion in rivers involves conducting tracer experiments with a visible tracer dye. Whereas conventional in situ instruments can only measure variations in dye concentration over time at specific, fixed locations, remote sensing could provide more detailed, spatially distributed information for characterizing dispersion patterns and validating two-dimensional numerical models. Although previous studies have demonstrated the potential to infer dye concentrations from remotely sensed data in clear-flowing streams, whether this approach can be applied to more turbid rivers remains an open question. To evaluate the feasibility of mapping spatial patterns of dispersion in streams with greater turbidity, we conducted an experiment that involved manipulating dye concentration and turbidity while acquiring field spectra and hyperspectral and RGB (red, green, blue) images from a small Unoccupied Aircraft System (sUAS). Applying an Optimal Band Ratio Analysis (OBRA) algorithm to these data sets indicated strong relationships between reflectance (i.e., water color) and Rhodamine WT dye concentration across four different turbidity levels from 40-60 NTU. Moreover, we obtained high correlations between spectrally based quantities (i.e., band ratios) and dye concentration for the original, essentially continuous field spectra; field spectra resampled to the bands of a five-band imaging system and an RGB camera; and both hyperspectral and RGB images acquired from a sUAS during the experiment. The results of this study thus confirmed the potential to map dispersion patterns of tracer dye via remote sensing and suggested that this approach can be extended to more turbid rivers than those examined previously.

Missouri↗
USGS2019

Columbia Environmental Research Center

The U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center performs research to solve challenging environmental problems related to contaminants and habitat alterations in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The research is interdisciplinary and pursued through partnerships within the U.S. Geological Survey and with national, international, state, and local agencies; nongovernmental organizations; and universities. Research is prioritized to provide science to the U.S. Department of the Interior and other natural resource management agencies to inform rehabilitation of degraded habitats and imperiled fish and wildlife populations. The Columbia Environmental Research Center was established in 1966 in Columbia, Missouri, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish Pesticide Research Laboratory; the Columbia Environmental Research Center was incorporated into the U.S. Geological Survey in 1996. The U.S. Geological Survey’s staff of 130 includes 90 scientists of which one-half have advanced degrees in ecology, toxicology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, hydrology, geology, and information technology.

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USGS2012

Toxicity of chloride under winter low-flow conditions in an urban watershed in central Missouri, USA

Deicers such as sodium chloride and calcium chloride are used to treat snow and ice on road surfaces and have been identified as potential stressors on aquatic life. Hinkson Creek is an urban stream on the Missouri 303(d) list of impaired waters and is classified as impaired due to urban non-point source pollution. A 7-day toxicity test using Ceriodaphnia dubia was conducted to assess the toxicity of stream water during snowmelt at seven sites within the Hinkson Creek watershed. Chloride concentrations at two sites (Site 6, 1252 mg Cl/L; Site 4, 301 mg Cl/L) exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chronic criterion (230 mg Cl/L). Survival (30 %) and total reproduction (6.9 young/adult) of C. dubia at Site 6 was significantly lower than survival (100 %) and total reproduction (30.4 young/adult) at Site 1 (reference site). Results indicate that chloride concentrations are elevated above water-quality criteria and that chloride may be a significant chemical stressor for macroinvertebrate communities during winter low-flow conditions in the Hinkson Creek watershed.

Missouri↗
USGS2011

3-D flow and scour near a submerged wing dike: ADCP measurements on the Missouri River

Detailed mapping of bathymetry and three-dimensional water velocities using a boat-mounted single-beam sonar and acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) was carried out in the vicinity of two submerged wing dikes located in the Lower Missouri River near Columbia, Missouri. During high spring flows the wing dikes become submerged, creating a unique combination of vertical flow separation and overtopping (plunging) flow conditions, causing large-scale three-dimensional turbulent flow structures to form. On three different days and for a range of discharges, sampling transects at 5 and 20 m spacing were completed, covering the area adjacent to and upstream and downstream from two different wing dikes. The objectives of this research are to evaluate whether an ADCP can identify and measure large-scale flow features such as recirculating flow and vortex shedding that develop in the vicinity of a submerged wing dike; and whether or not moving-boat (single-transect) data are sufficient for resolving complex three-dimensional flow fields. Results indicate that spatial averaging from multiple nearby single transects may be more representative of an inherently complex (temporally and spatially variable) three-dimensional flow field than repeated single transects. Results also indicate a correspondence between the location of calculated vortex cores (resolved from the interpolated three-dimensional flow field) and the nearby scour holes, providing new insight into the connections between vertically oriented coherent structures and local scour, with the unique perspective of flow and morphology in a large river.

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USGS2004

Overwintered Bullfrog tadpoles negatively affect Salamanders and Anurans in native amphibian communities

We examined the interactive effects of overwintered Bullfrog ( Rana catesbeiana ) tadpoles and pond hydroperiod on a community of larval amphibians in outdoor mesocosms including American Toads ( Bufo americanus ), Southern Leopard Frogs ( Rana sphenocephala ), and Spotted Salamanders ( Ambystoma maculatum ) - species within the native range of Bullfrogs. Spotted Salamanders and Southern Leopard Frogs were negatively influenced by the presence of overwintered Bullfrogs. Spotted Salamanders had shorter larval periods and slightly smaller masses at metamorphosis, and Southern Leopard Frogs had smaller masses at metamorphosis when reared with Bullfrogs than without. Presence of overwintered Bullfrogs, however, did not significantly affect American Toads. Longer pond hydroperiods resulted in greater survival, greater size at metamorphosis, longer larval periods, and later time until emergence of the first metamorphs for Southern Leopard Frog tadpoles and Spotted Salamander larvae. Our study demonstrated that overwintered Bullfrog tadpoles can respond to changing pond hydroperiods and can negatively impact metamorphosis of native amphibians.

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USGS2002

Interactions of an insecticide with competition and pond drying in amphibian communities

Amphibian populations are often imbedded in agricultural landscapes. Therefore the potential for contamination of their habitat is considerable. Our study examined the effects of an insecticide (carbaryl, a neurotoxin), on larval amphibian communities experiencing natural stresses of competition for resources, predation, and pond drying. In a set of experimental ponds, tadpoles of three anuran species (southern leopard frog [ Rana sphenocephala ], plains leopard frog [ R. blairi ], and the Woodhouse's toad [ Bufo woodhousii ]) were added to 1000-L ponds containing leaf litter, plankton, two newts ( Notophthalmus viridescens ), and four overwintered green frog ( R. clamitans ) tadpoles. We manipulated the overall tadpole density (low or high), pond hydroperiod (constant or drying), and chemical exposure (0, 3.5, 5.0, or 7.0 mg/L carbaryl) of the ponds. We measured mass, time, and survival to metamorphosis to determine treatment effects. Carbaryl positively affected Woodhouse's toad survival, although it had a negligible effect on both leopard frog species. Tadpole density interacted with the chemical treatment: Proportionately more Woodhouse's toads survived to metamorphosis in high-density environments than in low-density or control environments. Greater survival may be an indirect effect of increased algal food resources from carbaryl exposure. Most newts lost mass over the course of the experiment, although ponds with drying hydroperiods and high anuran density were the least favorable environments. Overwintered green frogs exposed to carbaryl had longer larval periods on average than did green frogs in control ponds. Our study demonstrated that even sublethal, short-lived contaminants can alter natural communities in ways that cannot be predicted from simple, one-factor studies.

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USGS1999

Hydrologic data for the Columbia/Eagle Bluffs Wetland Complex, Columbia, Missouri-1993-96

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation and the city of Columbia, Missouri, collected hydrologic data from September 1993 through October 1996 as part of a hydrologic characterization of the Columbia/Eagle Bluffs Wetland Complex. The wetland complex was constructed in the Missouri River alluvial plain adjacent to the Columbia municipal supply wells. Part of the wetland complex was designed to treat sewage effluent from Columbia, with the treated effluent being used as the primary water source for wetland management practices on the Eagle Bluffs Wildlife Area. This report presents hydrologic data and the procedures used to collect the data, which include water-quality analyses of samples collected quarterly from 28 wells and 2 surface-water sites. Four additional wells were incorporated into the monitoring network in November 1994 and also were sampled quarterly. Data from these 4 wells also are included. Water samples were analyzed for specific conductance, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, bacteria, alkalinity, major cations and anions, nutrients, trace elements, and total and dissolved organic carbon. Dissolved nitrite plus nitrate as nitrogen concentrations were equal to or less than 5.2 milligrams per liter for all ground-water samples and were equal to or less than 2.7 milligrams per liter in surface-water samples. Dissolved phosphorous concentrations ranged from less than 0.01 to 2.2 milligrams per liter in the ground-water samples, and from less than 0.01 to 0.19 milli-grams per liter in the surface-water samples. Fecal coliform bacteria counts ranged from less than 1 to 39 colonies per 100 milliliters for ground-water samples, and from 1 to greater than 6,000 colonies per 100 milliliters for surface-water samples. Fecal streptococcus bacteria counts ranged from less than 1 to 92 colonies per 100 milliliters for ground-water samples, and from 2 to greater than 10,000 colonies per 100 milliliters for surface-water samples. Samples for well USGS-6 had dissolved arsenic concentrations that exceeded 50 micrograms per liter. Dissolved manganese concentrations exceeded 50 micrograms per liter at least once for each site except for USGS-9S. Dissolved iron concentrations exceeded 300 micro-grams per liter at least once for 28 of 34 sites. Samples from 8 of the 32 wells and both surface-water sites were analyzed for base/neutral/ acid semi-volatile organic compounds, selected pesticides, selected organochlorine compounds, and purgeable volatile organic compounds. All but one of the organic compounds detected in the samples collected from the monitoring wells or surface-water sites were pesticides. Atrazine was detected consistently at both surface-water sites. Other frequently detected pesticides include metolachlor, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, prometon, and simazine. Following the 1993 Missouri River flood samples of residual flood water and flood-deposited sediments were collected from the Columbia/ Eagle Bluffs Wetland Complex. A brief description of the flooding and damage to the study area is presented. Methods of collection of the four residual flood water and the four flood-deposited sediment samples, as well as the analytical results of these samples, are included in this report. Data from two continuous water-level recorders and from quarterly water-level measurements in wells also are included.

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