Small reservoir effects on headwater water quality in the rural-urban fringe, Georgia Piedmont, USA
Small reservoirs are prevalent landscape features that affect the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of headwater streams. Tens of thousands of small reservoirs, often less than a hectare in size, were constructed over the past century within the United States. While remote-sensing a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2016-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581816300519 |
| _version_ | 1818929409877344256 |
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| author | Dr.. Amber R. Ignatius, Geographer Todd C. Rasmussen |
| author_facet | Dr.. Amber R. Ignatius, Geographer Todd C. Rasmussen |
| author_sort | Dr.. Amber R. Ignatius, Geographer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Small reservoirs are prevalent landscape features that affect the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of headwater streams. Tens of thousands of small reservoirs, often less than a hectare in size, were constructed over the past century within the United States. While remote-sensing and geographic-mapping technologies assist in identifying and quantifying these features, their localized influence on water quality is uncertain. We report a year-long physicochemical study of nine small reservoirs (0.15–2.17 ha) within the Oconee and Broad River Watersheds in the Georgia Piedmont. Study sites were selected along an urban-rural gradient with differing amounts of agricultural, forested, and developed land covers. Sites were sampled monthly for discharge and inflow/outflow water quality parameters (temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, alkalinity, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate, ammonium). While the proportion of developed land cover within watersheds had positive correlations with reservoir specific conductivity values, agricultural and forested land covers showed correlations (positive and negative, respectively) with reservoir alkalinity, total nitrogen, nitrate, and specific conductivity. The majority of outflow temperatures were warmer than inflows for all land uses throughout the year, especially in the summer. Outflows had lower nitrate concentrations, but higher ammonium. The type of outflow structure was also influential; top-release dams showed higher dissolved oxygen and pH than bottom-release dams. Water quality effects were still evident 250 m below the dam, albeit reduced. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:44:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2739d3a43cc84dddb674c4b43530065e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:44:21Z |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-2739d3a43cc84dddb674c4b43530065e2022-12-21T19:54:39ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182016-12-018C14516110.1016/j.ejrh.2016.08.005Small reservoir effects on headwater water quality in the rural-urban fringe, Georgia Piedmont, USADr.. Amber R. Ignatius, Geographer0Todd C. Rasmussen1University of Georgia, Department of Geography, 210 Field St., Athens, GA 30602, USAWarnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street., Athens, GA 30602, USASmall reservoirs are prevalent landscape features that affect the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of headwater streams. Tens of thousands of small reservoirs, often less than a hectare in size, were constructed over the past century within the United States. While remote-sensing and geographic-mapping technologies assist in identifying and quantifying these features, their localized influence on water quality is uncertain. We report a year-long physicochemical study of nine small reservoirs (0.15–2.17 ha) within the Oconee and Broad River Watersheds in the Georgia Piedmont. Study sites were selected along an urban-rural gradient with differing amounts of agricultural, forested, and developed land covers. Sites were sampled monthly for discharge and inflow/outflow water quality parameters (temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, alkalinity, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate, ammonium). While the proportion of developed land cover within watersheds had positive correlations with reservoir specific conductivity values, agricultural and forested land covers showed correlations (positive and negative, respectively) with reservoir alkalinity, total nitrogen, nitrate, and specific conductivity. The majority of outflow temperatures were warmer than inflows for all land uses throughout the year, especially in the summer. Outflows had lower nitrate concentrations, but higher ammonium. The type of outflow structure was also influential; top-release dams showed higher dissolved oxygen and pH than bottom-release dams. Water quality effects were still evident 250 m below the dam, albeit reduced.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581816300519Water qualityReservoirsPondsDamsHeadwater streamsPiedmont |
| spellingShingle | Dr.. Amber R. Ignatius, Geographer Todd C. Rasmussen Small reservoir effects on headwater water quality in the rural-urban fringe, Georgia Piedmont, USA Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Water quality Reservoirs Ponds Dams Headwater streams Piedmont |
| title | Small reservoir effects on headwater water quality in the rural-urban fringe, Georgia Piedmont, USA |
| title_full | Small reservoir effects on headwater water quality in the rural-urban fringe, Georgia Piedmont, USA |
| title_fullStr | Small reservoir effects on headwater water quality in the rural-urban fringe, Georgia Piedmont, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Small reservoir effects on headwater water quality in the rural-urban fringe, Georgia Piedmont, USA |
| title_short | Small reservoir effects on headwater water quality in the rural-urban fringe, Georgia Piedmont, USA |
| title_sort | small reservoir effects on headwater water quality in the rural urban fringe georgia piedmont usa |
| topic | Water quality Reservoirs Ponds Dams Headwater streams Piedmont |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581816300519 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dramberrignatiusgeographer smallreservoireffectsonheadwaterwaterqualityintheruralurbanfringegeorgiapiedmontusa AT toddcrasmussen smallreservoireffectsonheadwaterwaterqualityintheruralurbanfringegeorgiapiedmontusa |