Hydrology and Nutrient Dynamics in Managed Restored Wetlands of California’s Central Valley, USA
Extensive wetland losses in California’s Central Valley have led to significant reductions in their natural functions, such as nutrient removal. Past studies suggest that individual wetland restoration efforts in the region yield mixed results mainly due to differences in management practices and de...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Water |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/21/3574 |
| _version_ | 1797466185592209408 |
|---|---|
| author | Sharon N. Kahara Buddhika D. Madurapperuma Breana K. Hernandez Luke Scaroni Eric Hopson |
| author_facet | Sharon N. Kahara Buddhika D. Madurapperuma Breana K. Hernandez Luke Scaroni Eric Hopson |
| author_sort | Sharon N. Kahara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Extensive wetland losses in California’s Central Valley have led to significant reductions in their natural functions, such as nutrient removal. Past studies suggest that individual wetland restoration efforts in the region yield mixed results mainly due to differences in management practices and degree of access to limited water resources, yet few studies have examined their hydrology or nutrient dynamics with any detail. Our objective was to explore nutrient reduction across a range of hydrological regimes. We recorded hydroperiods and nutrient concentrations of the received and discharged applied water at 21 managed wetlands on national wildlife refuges and private lands over 6 years from 2015 to 2020. Water depths at 18 of these wetlands were monitored continuously for over 400 days. Climatic variation over the observation period included exceptional drought, above-average flooding and relatively stable water conditions. Privately managed wetlands retained water for longer durations of time, but at shallower depths than seasonal wetlands in wildlife refuges. An assessment of nutrient concentrations at inflows relative to outflows was inconclusive and varied among years. However, assessment of nutrient loads indicated consistent retention of ammonium and nitrates across all management types, locations and time periods. Multivariate analysis indicated that climate and location played a role in influencing nutrient concentrations among wetlands. In conclusion, restored wetlands in the central valley provide ecosystem service functions such as removing nutrients from ambient water and provide unique habitats for waterfowls with the presence of seasonal flood and drain management practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:33:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-69628c7e1cc54cde90a3d3c551abc66c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:33:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-69628c7e1cc54cde90a3d3c551abc66c2023-11-24T07:21:42ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-11-011421357410.3390/w14213574Hydrology and Nutrient Dynamics in Managed Restored Wetlands of California’s Central Valley, USASharon N. Kahara0Buddhika D. Madurapperuma1Breana K. Hernandez2Luke Scaroni3Eric Hopson4Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USADepartment of Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Management, California Polytechnic Humboldt, Arcata, CA 95521, USADepartment of Wildlife, California Polytechnic Humboldt, Arcata, CA 95521, USADepartment of Forestry, Fire, and Rangeland Management, California Polytechnic Humboldt, Arcata, CA 95521, USASan Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Vernalis, CA 95385, USAExtensive wetland losses in California’s Central Valley have led to significant reductions in their natural functions, such as nutrient removal. Past studies suggest that individual wetland restoration efforts in the region yield mixed results mainly due to differences in management practices and degree of access to limited water resources, yet few studies have examined their hydrology or nutrient dynamics with any detail. Our objective was to explore nutrient reduction across a range of hydrological regimes. We recorded hydroperiods and nutrient concentrations of the received and discharged applied water at 21 managed wetlands on national wildlife refuges and private lands over 6 years from 2015 to 2020. Water depths at 18 of these wetlands were monitored continuously for over 400 days. Climatic variation over the observation period included exceptional drought, above-average flooding and relatively stable water conditions. Privately managed wetlands retained water for longer durations of time, but at shallower depths than seasonal wetlands in wildlife refuges. An assessment of nutrient concentrations at inflows relative to outflows was inconclusive and varied among years. However, assessment of nutrient loads indicated consistent retention of ammonium and nitrates across all management types, locations and time periods. Multivariate analysis indicated that climate and location played a role in influencing nutrient concentrations among wetlands. In conclusion, restored wetlands in the central valley provide ecosystem service functions such as removing nutrients from ambient water and provide unique habitats for waterfowls with the presence of seasonal flood and drain management practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/21/3574California Central Valleyhydrologymanaged wetlandswater qualitymultivariate analysis |
| spellingShingle | Sharon N. Kahara Buddhika D. Madurapperuma Breana K. Hernandez Luke Scaroni Eric Hopson Hydrology and Nutrient Dynamics in Managed Restored Wetlands of California’s Central Valley, USA Water California Central Valley hydrology managed wetlands water quality multivariate analysis |
| title | Hydrology and Nutrient Dynamics in Managed Restored Wetlands of California’s Central Valley, USA |
| title_full | Hydrology and Nutrient Dynamics in Managed Restored Wetlands of California’s Central Valley, USA |
| title_fullStr | Hydrology and Nutrient Dynamics in Managed Restored Wetlands of California’s Central Valley, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrology and Nutrient Dynamics in Managed Restored Wetlands of California’s Central Valley, USA |
| title_short | Hydrology and Nutrient Dynamics in Managed Restored Wetlands of California’s Central Valley, USA |
| title_sort | hydrology and nutrient dynamics in managed restored wetlands of california s central valley usa |
| topic | California Central Valley hydrology managed wetlands water quality multivariate analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/21/3574 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sharonnkahara hydrologyandnutrientdynamicsinmanagedrestoredwetlandsofcaliforniascentralvalleyusa AT buddhikadmadurapperuma hydrologyandnutrientdynamicsinmanagedrestoredwetlandsofcaliforniascentralvalleyusa AT breanakhernandez hydrologyandnutrientdynamicsinmanagedrestoredwetlandsofcaliforniascentralvalleyusa AT lukescaroni hydrologyandnutrientdynamicsinmanagedrestoredwetlandsofcaliforniascentralvalleyusa AT erichopson hydrologyandnutrientdynamicsinmanagedrestoredwetlandsofcaliforniascentralvalleyusa |