Abstract
The central assumption of nonpoint source pollution control efforts in agricultural watersheds is that traditional erosion control programs are sufficient to insure high quality water resources. We outline the inadequacies of that assumption, especially as they relate to the goal of attaining ecological integrity. The declining biotic integrity of our water resources over the past two decades is not exclusively due to water quality (physical/chemical) degradation. Improvement in many aspects of the quality of our water resources must be approached with a much broader perspective than improvement of physical/chemical conditions. Other deficiencies in nonpoint pollution control programs are discussed and a new approach to the problem is outlined.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Allan, J. D. 1975. The distributional ecology and diversity of benthic insects in Cement Creek, Colorado.Ecology 56: 1040–1053.
Ballentine, R. K., and L. J. Guarraie (eds.). 1975.The integrity of water: a symposium. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. 230 pp. (No report number.)
Bormann, F. H., G. E. Likens, and J. S. Eaton. 1969. Biotic regulation of particulate and solution losses from a forest ecosystem.BioScience 19: 600–610.
Cairns, J. Jr. 1975. Quantification of biological integrity. Pages 171–185in Ballentine, R. K., and L. J. Guarraie, eds.The integrity of water: a symposium. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. (No report number.)
Carter, L. J. 1977. Soil erosion: the problem persists despite the billions spent on it.Science 196: 409–411.
Cummins, K. W. 1973. Trophic relations of aquatic insects.Ann. Rev. Ent. 18: 183–206.
Cummins, K. W. 1974. Structure and function of stream ecosystems.BioScience 24: 631–641.
Cummins, K. W. 1975. The ecology of running waters: theory and practice. Pages 227–293in Proc. Sandusky River Basin Symp., Inter. Ref. Group Great Lakes Pollution from Land Use Activities.
Dudley, D. R., and J. R. Karr. 1979. Concentrations and sources of fecal and organic pollution in an agricultural watershed.Water Res. Bull. 15: 911–923.
Fisher, S. G., and G. E. Likens. 1973. Energy flow in Bear Brook, New Hampshire: an integrative approach to stream ecosystem metabolism.Ecol. Monogr. 43: 421–439.
Gorman, O. T., and J. R. Karr. 1978. Habitat structure and stream fish communities.Ecology 59: 507–515.
Harman, W. 1972. Benthic substrates: their effect on fresh water mollusca.Ecology 53:271–277.
Horton, R. E. 1945. Erosional development of streams and their drainage basins; hydrophysical approach to quantitative morphology.Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer. 56: 275–370.
Horwitz, R. J. 1978. Temporal variability patterns and the distributional patterns of stream fishes.Ecol. Monogr. 48:307–321.
Hynes, H. B. N. 1974.The biology of polluted waters. Univ. Toronto Press, Toronto. 202 pp.
Karr, J. R., and O. T. Gorman. 1975. Effects of land treatment on the aquatic environment. Pages 120–150in Non-point source pollution seminar. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, Ill. EPA-905/9-75-007.
Karr, J. R., and I. J. Schlosser. 1977.Impact of nearstream vegetation and stream morphology on water quality and stream biota. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Ga. EPA-600/3-77-097. 91 pp.
Karr, J. R., and D. R. Dudley. 1978. Biological integrity of a headwater stream: evidence of degradation, prospects for recovery. Pages 3–25in J. Morrison, ed.Environmental impact of land use on water quality: final report on the Black Creek Project— supplemental comments. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, Ill. EPA-905/9-77-007-D.
Karr, J. R., and I. J. Schlosser. 1978. Water resources and the landwater interface.Science 201: 229–234.
Keuhne, R. A. 1962. A classification of streams illustrated by fish distribution in an eastern Kentucky creek.Ecology 43: 608–614.
Lake, J. 1978. Text of speech presented to Purdue Nonpoint Source Pollution Committee, Stewart Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, In., December 1, 1978. Published by the National Association of Conservation Districts, Washington, D.C. 5 pp.
Larimore, R. W., and P. W. Smith. 1963. The fishes of Champaign County, Illinois, as affected by 60 years of stream changes.Bull. Illinois Nat. History Surv. 28: 299–376.
Meade, R. H., and S. W. Trimble. 1974.Changes in sediment loads in rivers of the Atlantic drainage of the United States since 1900. Inter. Assoc. Hydrologic Sciences. Publ. 113, pp. 99–104.
Minshall, G. W. 1978. Autotrophy in stream ecosystems.BioScience 28: 767–771.
Morrison, J. 1977a.Environmental impact of land use on water quality: final report on the Black Creek Project-summary. EPA 905-9-77-007A, pp. 2–6.
Morrison, J. 1977b.Environmental impact of land use on water quality: final report on the Black Creek Project. EPA 905-9-77-007A-D. 4 vols.
Morrison, J. 1977c.Environmental impact of land use on water quality: final report on the Black Creek Project-technical report. EPA 905-9-77-007B, pp. 237–250.
Nunnally, N. R. 1978. Stream renovation: an alternative to channelization.Environ. Manage. 2: 403–411.
Odum, E. P. 1969. The strategy of ecosystem development.Science 164: 262–270.
Schlosser, I. J., and J. R. Karr. 1980.Determinants of water quality in agricultural watersheds. Water Resources Center, University of Illinois, Urbana, Il. Water Resources Center Report No. 147, 75 pp.
Sedell, J. R., J. F. Triska, J. D. Hall, N. H. Anderson, and J. H. Lyford. 1973. Sources and fates of organic inputs in coniferous forest streams. Cont. 66, Coniferous Forest Biome, IBP, Oregon State Univ. 23 pp.
Stalnaker, C. B., and J. L. Arnette. 1976.Mesthodologies for the determination of stream resource flow requirements: an assessment. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, D.C. 199 pp. (No report number.)
Warren, C. E. 1971.Biology and water pollution control. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia. 434 pp.
Westman, W. E. 1978. Measuring the inertia and resilience of ecosystems.BioScience 28: 705–710.
Woodwell, G. M. 1975. Biological integrity—1975. Pages 141–147 in R. K. Ballentine and L. J. Guarraie, eds.The Integrity of Water. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. (No report number.)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karr, J.R., Dudley, D.R. Ecological perspective on water quality goals. Environmental Management 5, 55–68 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01866609
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01866609