Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America
Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America
Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America
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31-7 3:50 PM Wagner, Zachary C. [218764]<br />
THE REDUCTION OF RIVERINE SILICA TRANSPORT DUE TO INVASIVE RIPARIAN<br />
VEGETATION<br />
WAGNER, Zachary C., Geology, Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 W College Ave,<br />
Saint Peter, MN 56082, zwagner@gustavus.edu, TRIPLETT, Laura D., Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Geology and Environmental Studies Program, Gustavus Adolphus College, 800 W College<br />
Ave, St Peter, MN 56082, and KETTENRING, Karin M., College <strong>of</strong> Natural Resources, Utah<br />
State University, 5210 Old Main Hill, NR 210, Logan, UT 84322<br />
The plant Phragmites australis subs. australis, also known as the common reed, has spread<br />
widely across the United States after its introduction on the eastern coast. On the Platte River<br />
in central Nebraska, one effect <strong>of</strong> Phragmites invasion is that previously unvegetated or lightly<br />
vegetated banks and islands have become stabilized by the vegetation. This has allowed<br />
sediment to accumulate where it might otherwise have been transported downstream. Phragmites<br />
may additionally reduce the amount <strong>of</strong> dissolved silica in rivers <strong>with</strong> riparian zones dominated by<br />
it due to the production <strong>of</strong> silica phytoliths by the plant. Also, the dense growth habit <strong>of</strong> Phragmites<br />
may locally slow river velocity and cause deposition <strong>of</strong> the river’s suspended load, which contains<br />
some biogenic silica like diatoms, freshwater sponge spicules and phytoliths that have been<br />
washed into the river. The combination <strong>of</strong> the biological and physical effects could significantly<br />
decrease the total load <strong>of</strong> silica flowing down the river. This study explored the differences in<br />
biogenic silica concentration in Platte River sediments occupied by live Phragmites, recently<br />
killed Phragmites, native Salix (willow), and unvegetated tracts. A sodium hydroxide digestion<br />
was used to dissolve biogenic silica in sediment, the silica was then quantified using a molybdate<br />
colormetric test UV visualization and also inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry<br />
(ICP-MS). The study showed that biogenic silica concentrations are higher in places dominated<br />
by live Phragmites, indicating a loss <strong>of</strong> bioavailable silica in the river system. Biogenic silica<br />
concentrations in sediments underlying killed Phragmites are lower, suggesting that when<br />
the vegetation has died the silica is re-released back to the river system on a relatively short<br />
time scale.<br />
31-8 4:10 PM Wilch, T.I. [218694]<br />
MONITORING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE UPPER KALAMAZOO WATERSHED, MI:<br />
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN A LOCAL NATURAL LABORATORY<br />
WILCH, T.I. and LINCOLN, T.N., <strong>Geological</strong> Sciences, Albion College, 611 East Porter St,<br />
Albion, MI 49224, twilch@albion.edu<br />
For more than 10 years, Albion College students and faculty have been engaged in monitoring<br />
and research <strong>of</strong> the Upper Kalamazoo Watershed in Calhoun and Jackson Counties, MI. Our<br />
initial studies were a response to citizen concerns about piping <strong>of</strong> effluent from a local village’s<br />
sewage lagoons directly into Rice Creek, a tributary <strong>of</strong> the upper Kalamazoo River. The research<br />
evolved into a multi-faceted watershed monitoring project supported in part by an EPA section<br />
319 grant through the local conservation district. More recent studies have focused on diel<br />
cycling <strong>of</strong> multiple water quality parameters and the interaction between the stream system<br />
and groundwater systems in riparian zone wetlands. Detailed studies have largely been facultymentored,<br />
student-centered projects and have included individualized directed studies during the<br />
academic year and college-sponsored, 10-week summer research experiences.<br />
The Upper Kalamazoo Watershed provides an ideal natural laboratory for undergraduate<br />
research. Stream reaches include 5th to 1st order tributaries <strong>of</strong> the Kalamazoo River, draining<br />
an 1163 km2 , mostly rural watershed. The watershed includes reaches that appear “natural”<br />
and others that have been intensely altered by dredging and straightening, as well as multiple<br />
in-stream dams that have altered the gradient.<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> the basic findings <strong>of</strong> our research are novel and important in terms <strong>of</strong> watershed<br />
processes and management. Students discovered and carefully documented diel turbidity<br />
cycles and hypothesized that the turbidity cycles were driven by a biological wetlands pump that<br />
intercepted groundwater for plant use during daytime hours. Much student work continues to<br />
focus on testing this hypothesis. Other students’ work suggests that nitrate levels in the river result<br />
primarily from a series <strong>of</strong> springs <strong>with</strong> quite high nitrate levels, while the bulk <strong>of</strong> the river water<br />
derives from distributed base flow <strong>with</strong> much lower nitrate concentrations. Future work includes<br />
building a foundational GIS database for the Upper Kalamazoo Watershed which will put in place<br />
a much needed overarching structure for the local watershed research.<br />
31-9 4:30 PM Syverson, Kent M. [218689]<br />
WATER RESOURCE IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAND-MINING BOOM IN WESTERN<br />
WISCONSIN: A COMPARISON BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND SAND<br />
PROCESSING<br />
SYVERSON, Kent M., Dept. <strong>of</strong> Geology, University <strong>of</strong> Wisconsin, Eau Claire, WI 54702,<br />
syverskm@uwec.edu<br />
The sand-mining industry has been booming in western Wisconsin to meet the demand for frac<br />
sand. New sand facilities are located outside <strong>of</strong> the recently glaciated area where the upper<br />
Cambrian Mt. Simon, Wonewoc, and Jordan formations are exposed. These units are quartz-rich<br />
(commonly >95%) and have large tonnages <strong>of</strong> the strong, well-rounded 20/50- and 40/70-mesh<br />
sand grains prized in the oil and gas industry.<br />
The rapid increase in sand mining has led to concerns about truck traffic, reclamation,<br />
generation <strong>of</strong> respirable dust, and water resources. Water quantity and quality issues rarely are<br />
compared to familiar agricultural activities.<br />
Dairy cattle drink between 20 and 50 gallons <strong>of</strong> water per day. A 1000-head industrial dairy<br />
operation requires 20,000 to 50,000 gal/day for drinking water alone. A center-pivot irrigation<br />
system can pump 1000 gal/minute from the ground. An irrigation system watering a corn field for<br />
24 hours extracts 1.4 million gallons <strong>of</strong> water.<br />
Industrial sand must be washed before it is shipped to users. EOG runs ~2 million gal/day<br />
through its sand plant in Chippewa Falls, WI. Most <strong>of</strong> this water is recycled, so the plant requires<br />
~18,000 gal/day <strong>of</strong> “make-up water.”<br />
Flocculants quickly remove clay particles from the water, permit effective water recycling,<br />
and greatly reduce the water demands for sand processing. Polyacrylamide, the most common<br />
flocculant, is safe and used in most municipal wastewater treatment facilities. However,<br />
polyacrylamide commonly has trace amounts <strong>of</strong> acrylamide -- a neurotoxin. If acrylamide gets into<br />
the ground water, is it likely to cause health problems?<br />
Acrylamide degrades to carbon dioxide and ammonia rather quickly in the environment<br />
(US EPA, 1985). In oxygen-rich soils, 74-94% <strong>of</strong> the acrylamide breaks down <strong>with</strong>in 14 days.<br />
In oxygen-poor soils, 64-89% <strong>of</strong> the acrylamide breaks down in 14 days. In river water, 10-20<br />
ppm levels <strong>of</strong> acrylamide degrade completely in 12 days. Because horizontal ground-water flow<br />
velocities are typically on the order <strong>of</strong> centimeters/day, acrylamide will not persist long <strong>with</strong>in the<br />
ground water. This reduces, but does not eliminate, the chances for adverse health impacts. Other<br />
activities such as applications <strong>of</strong> manure, nitrate fertilizers, and pesticides also must be monitored<br />
carefully to protect water resources.<br />
SESSION NO. 32<br />
31-10 4:50 PM Vye, Erika C. [218678]<br />
OPENING A CLEAR AND EQUITABLE DIALOGUE ON THE ISSUE OF MINING IN MICHIGAN’S<br />
KEWEENAW PENINSULA<br />
VYE, Erika C., <strong>Geological</strong> and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological<br />
University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, ecvye@mtu.edu, ROSE, William I.,<br />
<strong>Geological</strong> and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological Univ, 1400<br />
Townsend Dr, Houghton, MI 49931, and MACLENNAN, Carol A., Social Sciences,<br />
Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49930<br />
The long mining history in Michigan’s Keweenaw leaves a shadow <strong>of</strong> environmental issues<br />
which are threatening to some residents; others see mining as a hope for needed jobs. With<br />
approximately 200 million tons <strong>of</strong> copper in the Keweenaw, recent exploration by Highland Copper<br />
Company Inc. has triggered urgent public interest. As Earth scientists we recognize that mining is<br />
a necessity, as is the need to do so in an environmentally responsible manner. The general public<br />
needs to know more about Earth science in order to make informed decisions for a sustainable<br />
and high quality future. How can universities better communicate geoscience information? We<br />
wish to gain insight into what the general public knows about mining (environmental concerns,<br />
mining practices, economic benefits) and what their attitudes are toward mining in this region<br />
(do people want this? why or why not?).<br />
Methodologies include a survey administered to the general public by random sample that<br />
addresses what the public knows about mining; this will be followed by semi-structured interviews<br />
<strong>with</strong> select respondents in order to deepen understanding <strong>of</strong> attitudes toward mining and the way<br />
place attachment may affect peoples’ position and decisions on land use issues. Additional data<br />
will be generated from an open discussion at a public meeting organized specifically to discuss<br />
concerns and misconceptions identified throughout this process. We wish to use this data to<br />
open a clear, genuine and equitable dialogue to discuss the issue <strong>of</strong> mining in our community.<br />
Understanding misconceptions, concerns, and attitudes toward mining among all stakeholders<br />
involved is critical in order to guide and develop open channels <strong>of</strong> communication <strong>with</strong>in the<br />
Keweenaw community.<br />
31-11 5:10 PM Phillips, Michael A. [218466]<br />
PROVIDING GEOLOGIC EXPERTISE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES FACING ENVIRONMENTAL<br />
CONCERNS<br />
PHILLIPS, Michael A., Natural Sciences, Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando<br />
Smith Ave, Oglesby, IL 61348-9692, mike_phillips@ivcc.edu<br />
Tens <strong>of</strong> thousands <strong>of</strong> sites where environmentally hazardous substances have been released<br />
into the environment or where industrial or mining operations are being proposed can be found<br />
in communities across the North <strong>America</strong>. These sites are investigated by pr<strong>of</strong>essionals under<br />
the oversight <strong>of</strong> state and local environmental protection agencies. The oversight agencies have<br />
programs to keep impacted people informed. Unfortunately, these efforts may not succeed<br />
because local citizens and elected <strong>of</strong>ficials lack the technical expertise to understand what is<br />
being done and why. The lack <strong>of</strong> understanding combined <strong>with</strong> investigations that can take years<br />
can lead to resentment and mistrust.<br />
Offering geologic expertise to a community working through an environmental investigation<br />
can be both rewarding and educational. Environmental reports include a variety <strong>of</strong> basic geologic<br />
information including stratigraphy, well logs, maps <strong>of</strong> surficial and bedrock deposits, and cross<br />
sections. The reports may contain more detailed geologic material such as hydrogeologic<br />
analyses, river discharge forecasts, estimates <strong>of</strong> minable reserves, and coastal erosion<br />
projections. Communities impacted by these reports may lack the resources to hire their own<br />
consultant and welcome input from academic pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and students. The resulting effort can<br />
provide benefits to all participants.<br />
The community benefits from having an objective review and someone on their side. Students<br />
benefit from working <strong>with</strong> real-world data; seeing how that data is collected, analyzed, and<br />
presented by pr<strong>of</strong>essionals; and by preparing summaries and critiques that are accurate and<br />
easily understood. Academic pr<strong>of</strong>essionals benefit from access to data they may utilize in<br />
teaching or further research, helping local communities understand their environment, and by<br />
working <strong>with</strong> other geologists to develop solutions to environmental issues.<br />
This talk will conclude <strong>with</strong> several examples <strong>of</strong> community outreach including an analysis <strong>of</strong><br />
a mine proposal, a long-term consultation <strong>with</strong> a community advisory group seeking remediation<br />
<strong>of</strong> a Superfund site, and the examination <strong>of</strong> a groundwater contamination concern. Effective<br />
outreach can result in long-term pr<strong>of</strong>essional relationships and access to additional opportunities<br />
to provide assistance.<br />
SESSION NO. 32, 1:30 PM<br />
Friday, 3 May 2013<br />
T12. Research in Earth Science Education<br />
Fetzer Center, Room 2020<br />
32-1 1:30 PM Gilchrist, Ann M. [217999]<br />
STUDENT SURVEYS: USEFUL TOOLS TO ENGAGE NON-SCIENCE MAJORS IN LAB<br />
ACTIVITY REVISIONS<br />
GILCHRIST, Ann M., Geosciences Department, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo,<br />
MI 49008, ann.m.gilchrist@wmich.edu<br />
Like most universities, WMU <strong>of</strong>fers an introductory-level geology course for general-education<br />
students (non-majors). In early 2012, declining enrollment, poor student evaluations and negative<br />
teaching assistant feedback drove the formation <strong>of</strong> a committee to revise this course. The issues<br />
were: a lab that was not coordinated <strong>with</strong> lecture, a computer tutorial that was not engaging, and<br />
a focus on memorization. The committee selected the Earth Science Literacy Initiative (ESLI) “Big<br />
Ideas” as a guide for reform. New course goals were to help students develop an understanding<br />
<strong>of</strong> how earth works, how it influences them and how their choices influence it. A revised course<br />
developed in spring and summer was implemented in fall.<br />
To ensure that the original issues were rectified, student surveys were developed and<br />
completed for each lab session. These consisted <strong>of</strong> modified Likert ratings for overall lab quality,<br />
6-9 Likert items such as was lab connected <strong>with</strong> lecture, did it have a clear purpose and improve<br />
understanding, and concluded <strong>with</strong> open-ended questions on what was most helpful, least<br />
enjoyable and recommendations for improvement.<br />
As a member <strong>of</strong> the committee, the lab coordinator compiled data and reported the results.<br />
Highest overall rated labs were stream tables, Michigan fossils, earth hazards and pit mining.<br />
Comments indicated these were popular since most <strong>of</strong> the period was hands-on exercises and<br />
student teams were larger.<br />
2013 GSA North-Central Section Meeting 69