Hydrology

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A GIS Based Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed in Guam

Received: 26 December 2018    Accepted: 14 January 2019    Published: 31 January 2019
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Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the potential impact of existing and proposed natural and human activities on the behavior of existing watershed and suggests recommendations to effectively manage such activities to reduce the detrimental impacts on the watershed. The hydrologic behavior of the Piti-Asan watershed in Guam was analyzed through the field measurements of rainfall, stream level, stream flow, and river turbidity over the course of one year. Estimates of the erosion contribution by areas within the watershed and in particular, within 100-meter buffer zone around the major rivers were conducted based on the data collected via field instrumentation and using the geographic information system (GIS) based erosion model. Stage discharge curves were obtained for both watersheds from analyses of field hydrologic data. In addition, the areas contributing the most potential erosion and the major causes of soil erosion in the Piti-Asan watershed were identified. Finally, best management strategies of the watershed system to aid in maximizing the effectiveness and viability of future restoration efforts were suggested.

DOI 10.11648/j.hyd.20190701.11
Published in Hydrology (Volume 7, Issue 1, March 2019)
Page(s) 1-9
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Watershed, GIS-Based Erosion Model, Turbidity, Stage Discharge Curve, Watershed Management Practices

References
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[2] Houser DL, Pruess H. The effects of construction on water quality: a case study of the culverting of Abram Creek. Environmental monitoring and assessment. 2009 Aug 1;155(1-4), pp.431-42.
[3] U. S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Environmental Assessment for the Freedom Mine West Mine Area. pp. 238, February 2016.
[4] Tecle A, and Neary D. Water Quality Impacts of Forest Fires. Journal of Pollution Effects and Control, 2015, 3(140). doi:10.4172/2375-4397.1000140.
[5] Minton D. Fire, Erosion, and Sedimentation in the Asan-Piti Watershed and War in the Pacific NHP, Guam. Technical Report 150, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawaii at Manoa. November 2006.
[6] The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 2009. Draft Conservation Action Plan for Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve and Adjacent Watershed. Guam CAP Workshop. Hyatt Regency, Tumon, Guam. 6-7 August 2009.
[7] Manibusan S. The Hydrologic Response of the Piti-Asan Watershed to Development. University of Guam. Mangilao, Guam, MA thesis, October 2012.
[8] Kottermair, M. Piti-Asan watershed management plan. Technical Report # 138, Water and Environmental Research Institute, University of Guam, 2012.
[9] Tsuda, R. T. and Donaldson, T. J. Cumulative and Secondary Impacts: Seawalker, Scuba Bob and the Fish Eye Underwater Observatory, Piti and Cocos Lagoon, Guam. Technical Report 108. University of Guam Marine Lab, Mangilao, GU. March 2004.
[10] Park MH. Developing a GIS-Based Soil Erosion Potential Model for the Ugum Watershed. MS Thesis, University of Guam. Mangilao, Guam, 2007.
[11] Young, F. J. A Soil Survey of the Territory of Guam. Soil Conservation Service, No. 16, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1988.
[12] Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR. Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. Agronomy, No. 9. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI. 1982, p. 1159.
[13] Wischmeier WH, Smith DD. Predicting rainfall erosion losses-a guide to conservation planning. Predicting rainfall erosion losses-a guide to conservation planning. 1978.
[14] Khosrowpanah Sh, Heitz L, Wen Y, and Park M. 2007a. Developing a GIS-Based Soil Erosion Potential Model of the Ugum Watershed. Technical Report No. 117, Water and Environmental Research Institute, University of Guam. December 2007.
[15] Van Remortel RRM, and Hickey R. Computing the RUSLE LS Factor based on Array-based Slope Length Processing of Digital Elevation Data Using a C++ Executable. Computers and Geosciences, 2004, Volume 30. No. 9-10, pp. 1,043-1,053.
[16] University of Guam Cooperative Extension Service (UOG CES), 1980. Soil Analysis Recommendations Fact Sheet.
[17] Delhaize, Emmanuel, and Peter R. Ryan. Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants. Plant physiology, 107 (2), 1995, pp. 315-321.
Author Information
  • Water and Environmental Research Institute, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam

  • School of Engineering, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam

  • Water and Environmental Research Institute, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam

  • College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam

  • School of Engineering, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Sydonia Manibusan, Shahram Khosrowpanah, Mark Alan Lander, Mohammad Golabi, Ujwalkumar Dashrath Patil. (2019). A GIS Based Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed in Guam. Hydrology, 7(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20190701.11

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    ACS Style

    Sydonia Manibusan; Shahram Khosrowpanah; Mark Alan Lander; Mohammad Golabi; Ujwalkumar Dashrath Patil. A GIS Based Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed in Guam. Hydrology. 2019, 7(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20190701.11

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    AMA Style

    Sydonia Manibusan, Shahram Khosrowpanah, Mark Alan Lander, Mohammad Golabi, Ujwalkumar Dashrath Patil. A GIS Based Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed in Guam. Hydrology. 2019;7(1):1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20190701.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hyd.20190701.11,
      author = {Sydonia Manibusan and Shahram Khosrowpanah and Mark Alan Lander and Mohammad Golabi and Ujwalkumar Dashrath Patil},
      title = {A GIS Based Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed in Guam},
      journal = {Hydrology},
      volume = {7},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-9},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hyd.20190701.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20190701.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hyd.20190701.11},
      abstract = {This paper presents an analysis of the potential impact of existing and proposed natural and human activities on the behavior of existing watershed and suggests recommendations to effectively manage such activities to reduce the detrimental impacts on the watershed. The hydrologic behavior of the Piti-Asan watershed in Guam was analyzed through the field measurements of rainfall, stream level, stream flow, and river turbidity over the course of one year. Estimates of the erosion contribution by areas within the watershed and in particular, within 100-meter buffer zone around the major rivers were conducted based on the data collected via field instrumentation and using the geographic information system (GIS) based erosion model. Stage discharge curves were obtained for both watersheds from analyses of field hydrologic data. In addition, the areas contributing the most potential erosion and the major causes of soil erosion in the Piti-Asan watershed were identified. Finally, best management strategies of the watershed system to aid in maximizing the effectiveness and viability of future restoration efforts were suggested.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    AU  - Mark Alan Lander
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    AB  - This paper presents an analysis of the potential impact of existing and proposed natural and human activities on the behavior of existing watershed and suggests recommendations to effectively manage such activities to reduce the detrimental impacts on the watershed. The hydrologic behavior of the Piti-Asan watershed in Guam was analyzed through the field measurements of rainfall, stream level, stream flow, and river turbidity over the course of one year. Estimates of the erosion contribution by areas within the watershed and in particular, within 100-meter buffer zone around the major rivers were conducted based on the data collected via field instrumentation and using the geographic information system (GIS) based erosion model. Stage discharge curves were obtained for both watersheds from analyses of field hydrologic data. In addition, the areas contributing the most potential erosion and the major causes of soil erosion in the Piti-Asan watershed were identified. Finally, best management strategies of the watershed system to aid in maximizing the effectiveness and viability of future restoration efforts were suggested.
    VL  - 7
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