Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2010KY138B

Improving water quality: river channel versus riparian edge

Institute: Kentucky
Year Established: 2010 Start Date: 2010-03-01 End Date: 2011-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $4,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $8,881

Principal Investigators: Kristine Hopfensperger

Project Summary: We propose to investigate the difference between channel and riparian denitrification rates along a rural to urban gradient on the Licking River. We hypothesize that denitrification rates (i.e., nitrogen removal) will be higher at the riparian sites due to greater organic matter content in the sediment and greater variability in soil moisture. We also hypothesize that denitrification rates will be higher in rural areas due to greater organic matter and nitrate concentrations in the surface water runoff entering the system.