class8_20250131_present

Course Information

• Course Title: ENVR 3200/6200: WATER RESOURCES

• Instructor: Asst. Prof. P. James Dennedy-Frank

• Date: 1/31/25

Surface Water Overview

• Key Topics:

  • Reservoirs

  • Wetlands

Classroom Activities

• Participation Platforms: PollEv.com/jamesdennedyfrank873

• Sample Questions:

  • Location of spillway on a dam

  • Location of outlet works on a dam

Announcements

• Office Hours: No office hours on 3/25/2025

• Internship Applications: Open for MES/Marine Science Center; due 2/14/25

Current News Highlights

• Article Reference: The New York Times

  • Topic: Kentucky's Mountaintop Mines transformed into neighborhoods

  • Issue: Relocating flood survivors as climate change increases flooding risk

Learning Objectives for Surface Water

• Understand characteristics of lakes and reservoirs

• Learn wetland functions and categorizations

• Grasp watershed concepts and determining boundaries

• Familiarize with river structures and geomorphological effects

Water Management

• Dams are crucial for water infrastructure

• Connecticut River: Managed river spanning 255 miles with 13 dams balancing hydropower and ecological needs

Nile River Case Study

• Focus on international dam uses and conflict

• Significant dam projects impact development and potential conflicts in the Nile basin

Wetlands

• Defined as ecosystems that are either constantly or recurrently inundated or saturated with water

• Importance: Critical for biodiversity, water quality, nutrient retention, and carbon storage

• Wetlands types include freshwater marshes, swamps, coastal wetlands, and more

Characteristics of Wetlands

• Hydric soils and hydrophytic vegetation are key features

• Functions in improving water quality and flood storage

Environmental Concerns

• Wetlands are facing threats from development, pollutants, agriculture, and climate change

• Ramsar Convention: International treaty focused on wetland conservation, initiated in 1971

The Okavango Delta

• Located in Botswana and characterized as an inland swamp, reliant on seasonal floods

• Supports diverse wildlife and local human communities dependent on water availability

River Ecosystems

• Rivers move water, sediment, and nutrients, playing a vital role in watershed hydrology

• Features main zones: channel, floodplain, and upland fringe

River Processes

• Flooding alters river cross-sections and affects landscape connectivity

• Hyporheic flow is critical for interactions between rivers and shallow groundwater

This summary captures the essential points of the content provided, covering course details, announcements, learning objectives, and information about wetlands and rivers.

Equations Related to Surface Water

1. Flow Rate (Q):[ Q = A \cdot v ]Where:

   • ( Q ) = flow rate (cubic meters per second)

   • ( A ) = cross-sectional area of the river (square meters)

   • ( v ) = velocity of the water (meters per second)

2. Darcy's Law (groundwater flow):[ Q = -K \cdot A \cdot \frac{\Delta h}{L} ]Where:

   • ( Q ) = discharge (cubic meters per second)

   • ( K ) = hydraulic conductivity (meters per second)

   • ( A ) = cross-sectional area (square meters)

   • ( \Delta h ) = change in hydraulic head (meters)

   • ( L ) = length of the flow path (meters)

3. Hydraulic Radius (R):[ R = \frac{A}{P} ]Where:

   • ( R ) = hydraulic radius (meters)

   • ( A ) = cross-sectional area of flow (square meters)

   • ( P ) = wetted perimeter (meters)

4. Drainage Basin Area (A):Often useful for calculating runoff:[ A = \int D(x) , dx ]Where ( D(x) ) is the depth of water over the area.

5. Retention Time (T) in a Reservoir:[ T = \frac{V}{Q} ]Where:

   • ( T ) = retention time (seconds)

   • ( V ) = volume of water in the reservoir (cubic meters)

   • ( Q ) = outflow (cubic meters per second)

6. Water Quality Model (Dilution):[ C_1 \cdot V_1 = C_2 \cdot V_2 ]Where:

   • ( C_1 ) = initial concentration (mg/L)

   • ( V_1 ) = initial volume (L)

   • ( C_2 ) = final concentration (mg/L)

   • ( V_2 ) = final volume (L)

These equations are crucial for understanding water flow dynamics, groundwater movement, and water quality assessments, which are essential topics within surface water management.