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Title:	Reservoirs and waterways : identification and assessment of environmental quality problems and research program development
Authors:	Keeley, John W. Mahloch, Jerome L. Barko, John W. Gunnison, Douglas Westhoff, James D.
Keywords:	Environmental effects Water quality Navigable waters Water resources development Navigation conditions Waterways Inland navigation Transportation Reservoirs
Publisher:	Environmental Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Description:	Technical Report Abstract: The Civil Works program of the Corps of Engineers (CE) involves the entire spectrum of water resources development for the Nation and, as such, is unique among Federal agencies. Current concern for energy demands and water supply have emphasized the need for comprehensive water resources development including hydropower, water supply, and navigation as project purposes. Recreational demands are at a record high for most CE facilities and recreation is generally included as a purpose for new projects. Fish and wildlife enhancement plus water quality management are project purposes that have a direct relationship to the improvement of the Nation's environmental quality, and flood control remains as a traditional project purpose. Consistent with all of these project purposes, the CE is required to address or meet local, regional, and national environmental quality objectives. This requirement has resulted in numerous problems for CE projects in the planning, design, and operational stages. This report contains the results of an effort to identify and assess environmental quality problems associated with Civil Works activities of the CE, and a recommended research program to address these problems. Information was gathered by visits to all CE Division offices and subsequent submission of written information from field offices. As a result of this effort, six key areas of problems related to current practices and priority research needs were identified. The ability to predict the environmental impact of operational alternatives or proposed projects is needed including hydrodynamic, chemical, and biological aspects. There are many CE projects with water quality problems involving dissolved oxygen, nutrients (and resultant eutrophication), and contaminants. Engineering and operational guidance are required to solve these problems. Operational problems relative to fluctuating water levels, minimum releases, and filling alternatives for reservoirs have been documented, and research is required to address these problems. Inadequate or unsystematic environmental assessment procedures have resulted in the delay of many projects and related Civil Works activities. Improved procedures should be developed and tested for application by field offices. Flood control and navigation projects within waterways have environmental impacts that, for the most part, have not been documented or specifically related to CE activities in waterways. Research is required to document those impacts and to provide technology for alleviating adverse impacts or to provide enhancement in conjunction with a specific project. Comprehensive techniques for water resources management harmonious with environmental quality objectives on a regional basis are inadequate or require verification. A research program to address the stated problems should involve applied research in conjunction with extensive field studies to verify and evaluate program results. A $30 million, six-year research program has been proposed to address the high priority problems documented within this report. NOTE: This file is large. Allow your browser several minutes to download the file.
Rights:	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/4532
Appears in Collections:	Technical Report