United States watershed processes

Though several studies (5-9) have described the concentrations of trace elements in surface waters, most of them did not differentiate between species of a particular element. Some (10) have considered the distribution between dissolved and particulate forms. However, few attempts (11) have been made to evaluate the distribution of metals between various solid phase components of the suspended material. The present study provides quantitative estimates of dissolved (dissolved is defined as those aquatic components that could not be removed by centrifugation from liquid phase) and various solid phase associated metal fractions in southeastern United States streams. Between November 83 and August 85, 46 bi-weekly samples were taken from six SRP associated watersheds to determine dissolved (filterable) and total element concentrations. As one of several goals of the study was to assess the impact of natural and production related activities on trace element behavior in these aquatic systems, knowledge of speciation within solid and dissolved phases was essential for data interpretation. The research described herein used sequential extraction and a thermodynamics approach to define solid and dissolved phase species of Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn. The study also evaluated the effects of natural and production related processes on the distribution of metals in aquatic systems at SRP. 

Scientists have developed computer models that depict the physical, chemical and biological processes within forest watersheds. Watershed acidification models can be used as research and management tools to investigate factors responsible for the historical acidification of soil and water as well as the ecosystem response to anticipated future changes in acidic deposition. In order to effectively predict the pH, ANC and aluminum concentrations in streams, all major chemicals must be accurately simulated (e.g., sulfate, nitrate, calcium, magnesium). The acidification model PnET-BGC was used for this assessment because it has been rigorously tested at Hubbard Brook and other sites in the northeastern United States, and it allows the user of the model to consider the ecosystem response to multiple chemicals simultaneously. Other frequently used acidification models include MAGIC (Cosby et al. 2001), and NuCM (Lui et al. 1992). 

Case study - Cooper River Watershed, Charleston, SC, USA The Cooper River Watershed empties into the Charleston Harbor on the southern Atlantic coast of the United States. In the lower reaches, the Cooper River is a highly industrialized and urbanized watershed with storm sewer and surface run-off impact. The river supports industries such as a wood pulp processing plant, a former naval shipyard, and a chromium mining/proccssing facility. In addition a number of fossil fuel refineries, storage facilities. 

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