Principal Investigators and Department:
Aondover A. Tarhule, Geography and Elizabeth A. Bergey, Zoology, University of Oklahoma

Project Abstract/Summary:
Groundwater is an important commodity in Oklahoma, with extensive use by agriculture, industry, municipalities, and private landowners. Recently regional plans have been developed to further tap aquifers and streams for water sales to distant municipalities. This poses a risk to maintenance of minimum stream flows to protect stream invertebrate communities. This study will determine whether spring discharge in each of five aquifers is being impacted by groundwater mining and document the faunal biodiversity of Oklahoma springs that are at risk from groundwater mining based on historical and predicted future trends.

Principal Investigators and Department:
Guy W. Sewell, Environmental Health Sciences, East Central University; Paul Mauck and David Walker, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Project Abstract/Summary:
Rivers and streams contain a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and algae. Most are naturally occurring and have little impact on human health. A few, however, do pose risks to human health, especially from those associated with human and animal feces. Bacterial water quality standards are guidelines for determining whether a fecal contamination indicator such as E. coli represent an acceptable risk. These levels are determined by the water use, e.g., drinking water, in which the standard is set at 1 CFU/100 ml. However, to assess such risk accurately, an understanding of the local environment and dominant mechanisms for bacterial survival is required. This background or native loading can then be used to assess the risk associated with anthropogenic loading as measured by increases in bacterial concentrations. Oklahoma's Blue River presents a unique opportunity to conduct this type of assessment because its genesis is the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer and its watershed includes both undeveloped wilderness areas, trout fisheries, and developed areas, which allows paired sampling to determine differential biological loads (concentrations as well as flux) and decay or turnover rate for bacteria both upstream and downstream of human impacts. The findings of this study will support Oklahoma's efforts to develop appropriate risk-based criteria for bacterial contaminants in surface water.

Principal Investigators and Department:
Brian D. Adam, Arthur Stoecker, and Bailey F. Norwood, Agricultural Economics; and Daniel E. Storm, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University

Project Abstract/Summary:
Lake eutrophication has been blamed on excessive land application of poultry litter and resulting phosphorus runoff. The proposed research will provide spatially optimal, least-cost allocations of management practices between point and non-point sources to reduce phosphorus runoff in a watershed. Second, it will provide recommendations on management practices each producer should adopt how each producer should apply less litter, use alum treated litter, buffer strips, or adopt other management practices. It investigates the feasibility of a cooperative venture to convert poultry litter into electricity and commercially saleable byproducts, which will reduce the land application of poultry litter. The amount of litter allocated to this plant and the plant’s expected net income/loss will be included with the alternative management practices to determine the plant’s effect on cost of achieving TMDLs.