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Barton Springs Salamander - Right-of-Way
Metadata
This scenario is intended to represent right-of-way areas including roads, fence lines, power lines, and railroads in the Barton Springs Segment (BSS) of the Edwards Aquifer. Unlike most of EFED existing scenarios, the scenario is conceptually different in that it represents a linear surface that drains into an adjacent water body (drainage ditch). However, for this exercise, EFED assumes that while conceptually different, the scenario is for practicality purposes developed in a similar manner as a standard scenario that assumes a 10 hectare field draining into a 1 hectare static pond.
Crop cover parameters for this scenario were based on typical plants found adjacent to state maintained highway right-of ways. State-maintained highways include farm-to-market (FM) roads, state highways, interstates, and US highways. Bermuda grass is typically found in right-of-way areas in urban areas, while rural areas are dominated by native species such as little bluestem, side-oats grama, and hairy grama (John Mason, Vegetation Management Specialist, Texas DOT, Maintenance Div., personal communication).
Soils were chosen based on co-location with right-of-way areas based on land use coverage developed by the City of Austin (City of Austin 2003). The land use data set includes roads, utilities, and railroads, but does not include fence lines. Based on a geospatial analysis of right-of-way land uses (City of Austin 2003) and USDA soils data (USDA 2006), Brackett soils were chosen to represent right-of-way areas in the BSS (Table 5). Brackett soils are found in both the contributing and recharge zones of the Edwards Aquifer and are the most common soil on which right-of-way areas are located, accounting for 32% of soils in right-of-way areas (USDA 2006; City of Austin 2003). The Brackett series is loamy, carbonatic, thermic, shallow Typic Haplustepts. This soil consists of very shallow to shallow soils over bedrock. These well drained and moderately permeable soils formed in residuum over chalky limestone bedrock (Soil Survey Staff 2006).
The Brackett series was selected for this scenario because it is both highly representative of right-of-way areas in the BSS and because it represents the 90th percentile of vulnerability in drainage, erodibility, and slope. Brackett is a Hydrologic Group C soil with a USLE K factor of 0.37 which includes the 90th percentile of these soils in erodibility (Table 5). The relatively low organic matter content is also expected to result in lower microbial activity and thus reduced potential for pesticide degradation. Slopes range from 1 to 60 percent (Soil Survey Staff, 2006). Since the most typical range for the Brackett series in right-of-way areas is 1-12 %, comprising 17% of all soils in right-of-way areas in BSS (USDA 2006; City of Austin 2003), soil data available for "Brackett-Rock Outcrop Complex," slopes 1-12% were used to represent the soil profile of this scenario (Table 4).
The meteorological station selected for this scenario is located in Austin, Texas. This station is the closest available weather station that includes data required for PRZM.
| Parameter | Value | Source/Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Date | Jan. 1, 1961 | Meteorological File from Austin, TX (W13958) |
| Ending Date | Dec. 31, 1990 | Meteorological File from Austin, TX (W13958) |
| Pan Evaporation Factor (PFAC) | 0.69 | PRZM Manual Figure 5.1 (EPA 1998). |
| Snowmelt Factor (SFAC) | 0.36 | PRZM Manual, Table 5.1 (EPA 1998). |
| Minimum Depth of Evaporation (ANETD) | 25 | Mid point of range (20-30), PRZM Manual, Figure 5.2 (EPA 1998). |
| Parameter | Value | Source/Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Method to Calculate Erosion (ERFLAG) | 4 (MUSS) | Default value. |
| USLE K Factor (USLEK) | 0.37 tons EI-1* | Brackett-Rock outcrop-complex, 1-12% slopes, Travis County, TX. NRCS Soil Data Mart Database (
http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/).
 |
| USLE LS Factor (USLELS) | 1.34 | Calculated according to Haan and Barfield (1978) equation: LS = ((λ/72.6)m)((430x2 + 30x + 0.43)/6.613), where λ = slope length, x = SLP/100 and m = constant. In this case, λ = 400 m (default value) and m = 0.5 (EPA 2004). |
| USLE P Factor (USLEP) | 1 | No contour plowing is expected (EPA 2004). |
| Field Area (AFIELD) | 10 ha | Default drainage area for standard ecological pond (EPA, 2004) |
| NRCS Hyetograph (IREG) | 4 | PRZM Manual, Figure 5.12 (EPA, 1998). |
| Slope (SLP) | 6 % | Brackett-Rock Outcrop-Complex slope range 1-60% (USDA 2006). Default value for field crops (e.g. hay, alfalfa) when the maximum of the slope range > 12% (EPA 2004). |
| Hydraulic Length (HL) | 356 m | Default value for standard ecological pond (EPA, 2004) |
| Irrigation Flag (IRFLAG) | 0 | Irrigation not applicable to right-of-way areas. |
* EI = 100 ft-tons * in/ acre*hr
| Parameter | Value | Source/Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Crop (INICRP) | 1 | Default value |
| Initial Surface Condition (ISCOND) | 3 | Set similar to rangeland conditions (Cris Perez, NRCS - District Conservationist, 3-16-06, Phone: 512-392-4050 x3) |
| Number of Different Crops (NDC) | 1 | Set to number of crops in simulation. Default value. |
| Number of Cropping Periods (NCPDS) | 30 | Set to weather data in meteorological file: Austin, TX (W13958). |
| Maximum rainfall interception storage of crop (CINTCP) | 0.2 | Representative of grasses that can intercept as much as 20% of gross precipitation during individual storms (Dunne and Leopold, 1978). |
| Maximum Active Root Depth (AMXDR) | 43 cm | Cris Perez, NRCS - District Conservationist; Date: 3-16-06, Phone: 512-392-4050 x3
Root depth depends upon the soil depth. Can grow as deep as 3-4'. Therefore, this value set to CORED. |
| Maximum Canopy Coverage (COVMAX) | 97% | Cris Perez, NRCS - District Conservationist Date: 3-16-06, Phone: 512-392-4050 x3 |
| Soil Surface Condition After Harvest (ICNAH) | 3 | Set similar to rangeland conditions (Cris Perez, NRCS - District Conservationist, 3-16-06, Phone: 512-392-4050 x3) |
| Date of Crop Emergence (EMD, EMM, IYREM) |
01/03/61 | Cris Perez, NRCS - District Conservationist Date: 3-16-06, Phone: 512-392-4050 x3 Natural herbaceous plants emerge from late February-March. They mature mid June. Plants go dormant after the first frost, which occurs in November. |
| Date of Crop Maturity (MAD, MAM, IYRMAT) |
15/06/61 | |
| Date of Crop Harvest (HAD, HAM, IYRHAR) |
15/11/61 | |
| Maximum Dry Weight (WFMAX) | 0.0 | Not used in scenario. |
| Maximum Canopy Height (HTMAX) | 122 cm | From BS rangeland/pasture scenario. Native grasses are expected to be present on right-of-way areas. Little bluestem is a typical grass for Brackett soils (USDA 2006). |
| SCS Curve Number (CN) | 92, 92, 92 | TR-55 (Table 2-2a). CN for paved; open ditches (including right-of-way). |
| Manning's N Value (MNGN) | 0.110 | San Antonio Pasture, warm season (I93PWPWN). This file incorporates no tillage and has a cover code representing first year grass, pasture or hay crops (2). Similar to TR-55 (Table 3-3) for short grass surface condition. |
| USLE C Factor (USLEC) | 0.004 | San Antonio Pasture, warm season (I93PWPWN). |
| Parameter | Value | Source/Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Total Soil Depth (CORED) | 46 cm | Brackett-Rock outcrop-complex, 1-12% slopes, Travis County, TX. NRCS Soil Data Mart Database (
http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/).
|
| Number of Horizons (NHORIZ) | 3 | Top horizon split in two and thatch layer added as HORIZN 1. Additional data were listed for a 4th HORIZN. However, these were not included in this soil profile since the 4th HORIZN is composed of bedrock. |
| Horizon Thickness (THKNS) |
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| Bulk Density (BD) |
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| Initial Water Content (THETO) |
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| Compartment Thickness (DPN) |
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PRZM Scenario Guidance (2004). |
| Field Capacity (THEFC) |
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| Wilting Point (THEWP) |
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| Organic Carbon Content (OC) |
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Adjusted using the relationship % OC = % Organic Matter/1.724 (Doucette 2000). |
| Soil | Total Acreage | Area | Drainage Class | Slope (%) | KF | pH | OM (%) | Sand (%) | Silt (%) | Clay (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brackett | 3,531 | 32% | C | 1 - 60 | 0.37 | 8 | 2 | 34 | 37 - 38 | 28 - 30 |
| Speck | 1,444 | 13% | D | 1 - 5 | 0.32 | 7 | 2 | 34 | 37 | 30 |
| Tarrant | 1,417 | 13% | D | 0 - 50 | 0.32 | 8 | 5 | 22 | 28 | 50 |
| Real | 430 | 4% | D | 1 - 8 | 0.28 | 8 | 6 | 36 | 34 | 31 |
| Crawford | 408 | 4% | D | 0 - 2 | 0.32 | 7 | 2 | 22 | 28 | 50 |
| Urban land | 398 | 4% | D | 0 - 8 | 0.00 | |||||
| Comfort | 388 | 4% | D | 1 - 8 | 0.32 | 8 | 6 | 28 | 29 | 43 |
| Rumple | 355 | 3% | C | 1 - 8 | 0.32 | 7 | 2 | 34 | 37 | 30 |
| Volente | 355 | 3% | C | 1 - 8 | 0.32 | 8 | 3 | 7 - 30 | 32 - 54 | 39 |
| Doss | 243 | 2% | D | 1 - 5 | 0.32 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 49 | 44 |
| Eddy | 231 | 2% | C | 1 - 6 | 0.32 | 8 | 1 | 38 | 36 | 26 |
| San Saba | 225 | 2% | D | 0 - 2 | 0.32 | 8 | 3 | 18 | 29 | 53 |
| Denton | 212 | 2% | D | 1 - 5 | 0.32 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 48 | 46 |
| Purves | 160 | 1% | D | 1 - 5 | 0.32 | 8 | 3 | 6 - 23 | 29 - 47 | 48 |
| Austin | 151 | 1% | C | 1 - 6 | 0.32 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 48 | 45 |
| Krum | 133 | 1% | D | 0 - 5 | 0.32 | 8 | 2 | 26 | 29 | 45 |
| Heiden | 124 | 1% | D | 1 - 8 | 0.32 | 8 | 3 | 22 | 28 | 50 |
| Houston Black | 111 | 1% | D | 0 - 8 | 0.32 | 8 | 3 | 17 | 28 | 55 |
| Bolar | 94 | 1% | C | 1 - 3 | 0.32 | 8 | 2 | 34 | 37 | 30 |
| Sunev | 69 | 1% | B | 0 - 3 | 0.32 | 8 | 2 | 18 - 34 | 37 - 52 | 30 |
| Tarpley | 61 | 1% | D | 1 - 3 | 0.32 | 7 | 3 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| Castephen | 60 | 1% | C | 1 - 5 | 0.32 | 8 | 2 | 19 - 34 | 32 - 48 | 34 |
| Gruene | 57 | 1% | D | 1 - 5 | 0.28 | 8 | 2 | 28 | 29 | 43 |
| Alluvial land | 51 | 0% | A | 0 - 1 | 0.15 | 8 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 5 |
| Medlin | 48 | 0% | D | 1 - 20 | 0.32 | 8 | 2 | 22 | 28 | 50 |
| Lewisville | 44 | 0% | B | 0 - 3 | 0.32 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 51 | 41 |
| Ferris | 35 | 0% | D | 8 - 20 | 0.32 | 8 | 1 | 18 | 29 | 53 |
| Patrick | 26 | 0% | B | 1 - 10 | 0.32 | 8 | 2 | 28 | 29 | 43 |
| Anhalt | 25 | 0% | D | 1 - 3 | 0.32 | 7 | 3 | 26 | 29 | 45 |
| Branyon | 25 | 0% | D | 0 - 3 | 0.32 | 8 | 3 | 22 | 28 | 50 |
| Orif | 12 | 0% | A | 0 - 1 | 0.28 | 8 | 2 | 82 | 9 | 9 |
| Oakalla | 10 | 0% | B | 0 - 2 | 0.32 | 8 | 4 | 18 - 34 | 32 - 48 | 34 |
| Eckrant | 9 | 0% | D | 8 - 40 | 0.32 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 28 | 50 |
| Hardeman | 9 | 0% | B | 3 - 12 | 0.24 | 8 | 1 | 66 | 20 | 14 |
| Pits | 7 | 0% | D | 5 - 40 | 0.00 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bergstrom | 4 | 0% | B | 0 - 2 | 0.32 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 62 | 31 |
| Tinn | 4 | 0% | D | 0 - 1 | 0.32 | 8 | 3 | 22 | 28 | 50 |
| Altoga | 2 | 0% | C | 1 - 8 | 0.32 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 48 | 45 |
| Travis | 2 | 0% | C | 1 - 8 | 0.24 | 7 | 1 | 66 | 19 | 15 |
| Whitewright | 1 | 0% | C | 1 - 5 | 0.32 | 8 | 1 | 31 | 33 | 37 |
| Seawillow | 1 | 0% | B | 1 - 8 | 0.32 | 8 | 1 | 35 | 34 | 31 |
| Gaddy | 0 | 0% | A | 0 - 1 | 0.17 | 8 | 0 | 84 | 7 | 10 |
Sensitive Parameter Uncertainties
Curve Number
The right-of-way use contains a wide range of uses including roads, railroads, utilities, and fencelines. As such, the fraction of impervious surfaces in each of the specific uses will vary widely. Curve numbers were set to TR-55 (Table 2-2a for paved; open ditches (including right-of-way) since a) data was obtained that indicate herbicides are applied to roads and b) impervious curve numbers will produce a high end runoff for this use (impervious areas in road right-of-ways are expected to dominate the runoff processes. This value may need to be refined depending on the particular use to be modeld (e.g. roads versus fencelines). An alternative approach for fencelines and more pervious type right-of-ways may be to use the rangelenad scenario.
Pesticide Application
According to Texas Department of Transportation (TX DOT), Vegetation Manager Dennis Markwardt, the TX DOT applies herbicides only (no insecticides) to all of its state roadways. They only apply herbicide to a one foot wide area along the roadway, not the entire right-of-way. They also limit the use of herbicides within the BSZ to mainly Round-Up, and to a more limited extent, Oust, OutRider and Escort. Occasionally they will need to apply spot treatment to noxious weeds.
According to Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources, Road and Bridge Division Maintenance Manager, Don Ward, Travis County applies herbicide only to their rural roads where there is no curbing gutter. They apply only Round-Up and apply it to a four foot wide area along the roadway approximately two times per year. Scott Lambert provided us with a GIS layer of the Travis County roads where herbicide may be applied.
References
EPA. 1998. Carsel, R.F., J.C. Imhoff, P.R. Hummel, J.M. Cheplick, and A.S. Donigian, Jr. PRZM-3, A Model for Predicting Pesticide and Nitrogen Fate in the Crop Root and Unsaturated Soil Zones: Users Manual for Release 3.0. National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA.
EPA. 2004. Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM) Field and Orchard Crop Scenarios: Guidance for Selecting Field Crop and Orchard Scenario Input Parameters. November 15, 2001; Revisions July 2004.
Haan, C.T. and B.J. Barfield. 1978. Hydrology and Sedimentology of Surface Mined Lands. Office of Continuing Education and Extension, College of Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506. pp. 286.
Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Official Soil Series Descriptions [Online WWW]. Available URL: http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/osd/index.html [Accessed 6 March 2006].
USDA. 2006. Soil Survey Areas of Hays Counties, Texas. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Soil Data Mart. March 1, 2006. Online at: http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov.
USGS, National Mapping Division, Rocky Mountain Mapping Center. 2003. Edwards Aquifer Land Use / Land Cover. Denver, Colorado.