Grantee Research Project Results
2002 Progress Report: Big Sioux River Drainage Basin Information Outreach Project
EPA Grant Number: R828575Title: Big Sioux River Drainage Basin Information Outreach Project
Investigators: Johnson, Lyle D. , Greenlee, David D , Sando, Steven K. , Gilbertson, Jay P. , Bender, Alan R. , Smith, Kevin , Van Aartsen, Steven , Stefanich, Tim , Cowman, Tim
Institution: South Dakota State University
Current Institution: South Dakota State University , United States Geological Survey
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002
Project Amount: $572,976
RFA: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Air , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration
Objective:
The overall objective of this research project is to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting the Big Sioux River Drainage Basin. To accomplish this, the City of Sioux Falls and its partnering agencies are seeking to expand and improve public accessibility to a wide variety of relevant environmental data.
Progress Summary:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collects a variety of hydrologic data in the Big Sioux River Basin. Much of the data collected are available on the Internet on a real-time basis. For example, the USGS operates several real-time streamflow gaging stations on the mainstem Big Sioux River, including stations 06479215 (Big Sioux River near Florence), 06479438 (Big Sioux River near Watertown), 06479500 (Big Sioux River at Watertown), 06479512 (Big Sioux River at Broadway at Watertown), 06481000 (Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids), 06482020 (Big Sioux River at North Cliff Avenue at Sioux Falls), and 06485500 (Big Sioux River at Akron, IA).
Real-time stage/discharge data for these stations, as well as stations located on several tributaries in the Big Sioux River Basin, are now readily accessible to the public via links on the Sioux Falls Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) Web Site. Purchase and installation of the instrumentation needed to provide real-time data at three of the mainstem Big Sioux River gauging stations (06479520, Big Sioux River below Watertown; 06479525, Big Sioux River near Castlewood; and 06480000, Big Sioux River near Brookings) was provided jointly by the City of Sioux Falls, through the EMPACT program and the USGS.
In addition to the real-time streamflow data collected by the USGS, continuous-recording water-quality monitors have been installed at three existing USGS gaging stations (06480000, Big Sioux River near Brookings; 06482020, Big Sioux River at North Cliff Avenue at Sioux Falls; and 06485500, Big Sioux River at Akron, IA), as part of the EMPACT project. Providing real-time water-quality data at these locations gives valuable information concerning stream conditions in the upstream/middle part of the basin, the vicinity of Sioux Falls, and the downstream part of the basin.
Beginning in the spring of 2002, water samples have been collected at the continuous water-quality monitor sites and analyzed in laboratories for concentrations of nitrogen nutrients and suspended sediment. Statistical techniques will be used to compare the laboratory-analyzed concentrations with concurrent readings on the monitors. If the statistical relations between the laboratory results and the monitor readings are strong (after an adequate amount of data have been collected), real-time information concerning suspended-sediment and nitrogen loads in the Big Sioux River eventually will be available for these monitor sites on the Sioux Falls EMPACT Web Site.
The City of Sioux Falls utilized a portion of the EMPACT funds to acquire a solid terrain model of the city and its year 2015 growth area. Because the Big Sioux River courses through the core of the city, having a true three-dimensional model helps determine how growth has affected the landscape, and more importantly, how the city can continue to grow in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible. In addition, one of the interesting aspects of the model is that the image used was taken during a high water year, and the areas prone to flooding are visually obvious. Not only has the model educated decision makers and local officials who consider decisions regarding water in the general vicinity of Sioux Falls, but also it is being utilized in all aspects of city government. Both professionals and non-professionals easily can visualize the contours and surface features that form Sioux Falls. Citizens and tour groups who visit City Hall can observe and touch a model of the city in a form that changes how they view the area in which they live.
The Big Sioux River Drainage Basin Information Outreach Project was the focus of a presentation at the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) User's Conference held in the summer of 2002. More than 11,000 geographic information systems (GIS) professionals had the opportunity to view the EMPACT maps.
The solid terrain model featured the Small Business Homeland Security Expo 2002, held on July 10, 2002, in Washington, DC. Senator Barbara Boxer of California nominated Solid Terrain Modeling to attend the event because of their ingenuity and their dedication to America's homeland security. Senators John F. Kerry and Christopher S. Bond co-chaired the gathering to showcase small businesses and their homeland security products. More than 1,000 attendees passed through the expo, held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. In addition, several administration officials attended the expo and delivered remarks, including: Tom Ridge, Director, Office of Homeland Security; Hector Barreto, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration; and Michael Wynne, Deputy Under Secretary for Acquisition and Technology, Department of Defense.
Recently, Jay Donnelly, Director of the National Atlas of the United States, honored the City of Sioux Falls by requesting a copy of our model to be displayed in the newly remodeled lobby of the USGS headquarters in Washington, DC. The model will be available to all visitors and employees.
Future Activities:
Future activities include the continued availability of additional remotely sensed imagery from the EROS Data Center, along with maps showing locations of all facilities with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits along with display of recent results of Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs). The project is expected to be completed by December 2003.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
steering committee, community awareness, involvement, geographic information systems, GIS, interactive GIS, consortium, remote sensing, midwest, agriculture, feedlots, hydrology, sustainability, water supply, groundwater, information technology, file transfer protocol, FTP, Oracle., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Toxics, Waste, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Hydrology, Nutrients, Contaminated Sediments, Environmental Chemistry, pesticides, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, fate and transport, aquatic ecosystem, microbial indicators, nutrient supply, nutrient transport, remote sensing, EMPACT, bioterrorism, contaminated sediment, coliform, coliform and crytosporidium alerts, triazine, web site development, community outreach, water quality, environmental monitoring data, public health alerts, public outreach, herbicides, groundwaterRelevant Websites:
http://www.bigsioux.com Exit
http://www.siouxfalls.org Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.