Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2007NH73B

Physical , Biological, and biogeochemical response of a northestern river to a severe flood

Institute: New Hampshire
Year Established: 2007 Start Date: 2007-03-01 End Date: 2008-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $32,152 Total Non-Federal Funds: $18,374

Principal Investigators: William McDowell

Project Summary: The proposed work will continue documentation of the physical, biological, and biogeochemical effects of the May, 2006 avulsion on the Suncook River. To do so, data will be collected from three impacted reaches (new channel, dewatered channel, and sediment laden channel downstream of the avulsion) as well as upstream reference sites. Changes in water physiochemistry (including temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, DOC, DON, NH4+, PO4, total phosphorus, NO3-, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl, SO42-), stream biota (benthic macroinvertebrates and fish), and ecosystem processes (stream metabolism) of the affected reaches and upstream reference sites will be monitored. By advancing knowledge of the fundamental drivers of stream communities and whole-ecosystem function, this research has practical applications for stream conservation and restoration practices.