Keywords
Watershed, residence times, stable isotopes, nutrients, best management practices
Presentation Type
Poster
Research Abstract
Nutrient runoff from agricultural lands feeds harmful algae blooms that create a variety of problems in freshwater ecosystems. In order to reduce the effects of this nutrient runoff, Best Management Practices (BMPs) are being put in place in agricultural lands. Most of these BMPs focus on slowing down the flow of water through the watershed to give nutrient concentrations time to deplete before the water flows to the stream or river. However, the effectiveness of these BMPs are highly unknown and the process of monitoring nutrient runoff is often complex and costly. The data in this study consists of 7 years of existing water stable isotope data and 9 years of nutrient concentrations collected by volunteers of the nonprofit Wabash River Enhancement Corporation (WREC). Samples are taken twice a year (spring and fall) across a fairly large area draining into the Wabash river. We use stable isotopes, deuterium and oxygen-18 as a proxy for residence times and correlate these residence times with land use and nutrient concentrations.
Session Track
Environment and Sustainability
Recommended Citation
Emma Beck, Lisa Welp, and Alexandra L. Meyer,
"Estimating Watershed Residence Times in Artificially-Drained Landscapes and Relation to Nutrient Concentrations"
(August 2, 2018).
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium.
Paper 105.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/surf/2018/Presentations/105
Included in
Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Fresh Water Studies Commons, Hydrology Commons, Sustainability Commons
Estimating Watershed Residence Times in Artificially-Drained Landscapes and Relation to Nutrient Concentrations
Nutrient runoff from agricultural lands feeds harmful algae blooms that create a variety of problems in freshwater ecosystems. In order to reduce the effects of this nutrient runoff, Best Management Practices (BMPs) are being put in place in agricultural lands. Most of these BMPs focus on slowing down the flow of water through the watershed to give nutrient concentrations time to deplete before the water flows to the stream or river. However, the effectiveness of these BMPs are highly unknown and the process of monitoring nutrient runoff is often complex and costly. The data in this study consists of 7 years of existing water stable isotope data and 9 years of nutrient concentrations collected by volunteers of the nonprofit Wabash River Enhancement Corporation (WREC). Samples are taken twice a year (spring and fall) across a fairly large area draining into the Wabash river. We use stable isotopes, deuterium and oxygen-18 as a proxy for residence times and correlate these residence times with land use and nutrient concentrations.