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Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed via Field Studies and GIS-Based Erosion Model

Received: 20 November 2018    Accepted: 3 December 2018    Published: 26 December 2018
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Abstract

This paper presents a one-year-long study of the baseline hydrologic conditions of the Geus Watershed in the tropical island of Guam, through field observations. Data analyses show a strong correlation between stream level, turbidity, and rainfall within the watershed, suggesting a highly dynamic nature of Geus watershed. Field data were then used to create a stage discharge curve, which increases the efficiency of future watershed management by providing an estimate of stream flow from a simple measure of water level. The supplemental analyses based on the test results of soil samples and a GIS-based erosion model identified areas within the watershed with higher contributions to erosion potential. In addition, synthesis of the information in this watershed study will allow for future recommendations for effective and sustainable watershed management strategies, thereby opening a way for evaluating progress within the Geus watershed with continued monitoring.

DOI 10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12
Published in Hydrology (Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2018)
Page(s) 88-99
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

References
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[2] Khosrowpanah Sh, Lander M, Golabi M, and Manibusan S. A GIS-Based Watershed Management Plan for the Piti-Asan Watersheds. Technical Report No. 139, Water and Environmental Research Institute, University of Guam. October 2012.
[3] Khosrowpanah Sh, and Jenson J. Environmental Assessment for Non-Point Sources of Pollution for Ugum Watershed. Technical Report No. 109, Water and Environmental Research Institute, University of Guam. December 2005.
[4] Wolanski, ER, Richmond H, Davis G, and Bonito V. 2003a. Water and fine sediment dynamics in transient river plumes in a small, reef fringed bay, Guam. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 56: 1-13.
[5] Burdick D, Brown V, Asher J, Gawel M, Goldman L, Hall A, Kenyon J, Leberer T, Lundblad E, McIlwain J, Miller J, Minton D, Nadon M, Pioppi N, Raymundo L, Richards B, Schroeder R, Schupp P, Smith E, and Zgliczynski B. 2008. The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of Guam. Waddell, JE and AM Clarke, editors. 465-509.
[6] Dumaliang P, and Khosrowpanah S. 1998. Soil Erosion in Micronesia. American Water Resources Association: Third International Symposium on Tropical Hydrology and Fifth Caribbean Islands Water Resources Congress, San Juan, Puerto Rico. July 12 – 16, 1998.
[7] Lewis RR. 1999. MA thesis on Quantifying Geomorphic Processes of Guam’s Taelayag River Badlands by Determining Rates of Basin Yield, Slope Retreat and Fracture Movement. University of Guam. Mangilao, Guam. December 1999.
[8] Scheman, NS, Khosrowpanah S, Golabi MH, and Heitz L. 2002. Identification of Erosion Processes and Sources of Exposed Patches in the La Sa Fua Watershed of Southern Guam. Technical Report No. 99, Water and Energy Research Institute, University of Guam. December 2002.
[9] Golabi, MH., C. Iyekar, and M. J. Denney. 2005a. Challenges and Actions Regarding the Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands: Case Study from the Pacific Island of Guam. Sociedade & Natureza, Uberlandia, Special Issue, 87-106. May 2009.
[10] Park MH. 2007. M. S. thesis on Developing a GIS-Based Soil Erosion Potential Model for the Ugum Watershed. University of Guam. Mangilao, Guam.
[11] Forestry and Soil Resources Division (FSRD). 2010. Guam Statewide Forest Resource Assessment and Resource Strategy 2010–2015. Department of Agriculture. Prepared by Watershed Professionals Network (WPN).
[12] Manibusan S. 2012. MA thesis on The Hydrologic Response of the Piti-Asan Watershed to Development. University of Guam. Mangilao, Guam. October 2012.
[13] UNCCD. (2017). The Global Land Outlook (GLO) Report by UNCCD. First Edition: https://global-land-outlook.squarespace.com/the-outlook/#the-bokk. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
[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] Lander MA, and Guard, CP. 2003. Creation of a 50-Year Rainfall Database, Annual Rainfall Climatology, and Annual Rainfall Distribution Map for Guam.
[16] Schumacher BA. 2002. Methods for the Determination of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in Soils and Sediments. Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center, Office of Research and Development. US Environmental Protection Agency. NCEA-C-1281, EMASC-001. April.
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[18] Park MH. 2007. M. S. thesis on Developing a GIS-Based Soil Erosion Potential Model for the Ugum Watershed. University of Guam. Mangilao, Guam.
[19] Dumaliang P. 1998. M. S. thesis on The Determination of R-Factors for Southern Guam by accounting for Climate Variability. University of Guam. Mangilao, Guam. March 1998.
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[21] Khosrowpanah Sh, Wen Y, and Heitz L. 2007b. Development of a digital watershed atlas for Guam. Technical Report No. 116, Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific, University of Guam. 2007.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    William M. C. Whitman, Shahram Khosrowpanah, Mark A. Lander, Ujwalkumar D. Patil, Joseph D. Rouse. (2018). Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed via Field Studies and GIS-Based Erosion Model. Hydrology, 6(3), 88-99. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12

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    ACS Style

    William M. C. Whitman; Shahram Khosrowpanah; Mark A. Lander; Ujwalkumar D. Patil; Joseph D. Rouse. Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed via Field Studies and GIS-Based Erosion Model. Hydrology. 2018, 6(3), 88-99. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12

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    AMA Style

    William M. C. Whitman, Shahram Khosrowpanah, Mark A. Lander, Ujwalkumar D. Patil, Joseph D. Rouse. Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed via Field Studies and GIS-Based Erosion Model. Hydrology. 2018;6(3):88-99. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12,
      author = {William M. C. Whitman and Shahram Khosrowpanah and Mark A. Lander and Ujwalkumar D. Patil and Joseph D. Rouse},
      title = {Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed via Field Studies and GIS-Based Erosion Model},
      journal = {Hydrology},
      volume = {6},
      number = {3},
      pages = {88-99},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hyd.20180603.12},
      abstract = {This paper presents a one-year-long study of the baseline hydrologic conditions of the Geus Watershed in the tropical island of Guam, through field observations. Data analyses show a strong correlation between stream level, turbidity, and rainfall within the watershed, suggesting a highly dynamic nature of Geus watershed. Field data were then used to create a stage discharge curve, which increases the efficiency of future watershed management by providing an estimate of stream flow from a simple measure of water level. The supplemental analyses based on the test results of soil samples and a GIS-based erosion model identified areas within the watershed with higher contributions to erosion potential. In addition, synthesis of the information in this watershed study will allow for future recommendations for effective and sustainable watershed management strategies, thereby opening a way for evaluating progress within the Geus watershed with continued monitoring.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of a Dynamic Watershed via Field Studies and GIS-Based Erosion Model
    AU  - William M. C. Whitman
    AU  - Shahram Khosrowpanah
    AU  - Mark A. Lander
    AU  - Ujwalkumar D. Patil
    AU  - Joseph D. Rouse
    Y1  - 2018/12/26
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12
    T2  - Hydrology
    JF  - Hydrology
    JO  - Hydrology
    SP  - 88
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7617
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20180603.12
    AB  - This paper presents a one-year-long study of the baseline hydrologic conditions of the Geus Watershed in the tropical island of Guam, through field observations. Data analyses show a strong correlation between stream level, turbidity, and rainfall within the watershed, suggesting a highly dynamic nature of Geus watershed. Field data were then used to create a stage discharge curve, which increases the efficiency of future watershed management by providing an estimate of stream flow from a simple measure of water level. The supplemental analyses based on the test results of soil samples and a GIS-based erosion model identified areas within the watershed with higher contributions to erosion potential. In addition, synthesis of the information in this watershed study will allow for future recommendations for effective and sustainable watershed management strategies, thereby opening a way for evaluating progress within the Geus watershed with continued monitoring.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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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

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

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

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