In the Baltimore urban long-term ecological research (LTER) project,
(Baltimore Ecosystem Study, BES) we use the watershed approach to
evaluate integrated ecosystem function. The LTER research is centered
on the Gwynns Falls watershed, a 17,150 ha catchment that traverses a
gradient from the urban core of Baltimore, through older urban
residential (1900 - 1950) and suburban (1950- 1980) zones, rapidly
suburbanizing areas and a rural/suburban fringe. Our long-term
sampling network includes four longitudinal sampling sites along the
Gwynns Falls as well as several small (40 - 100 ha) watersheds located
within or near to the Gwynns Falls. The longitudinal sites provide
data on water and nutrient fluxes in the different land use zones of
the watershed (rural/suburban, rapidly suburbanizing, old suburban,
urban core) and the small watersheds provide more focused data on
specific land use areas (forest, agriculture, rural/suburban, urban).
Each of the gaging sites is continuously monitored for discharge and
is sampled weekly for chemistry. Additional chemical sampling is
carried out in a supplemental set of sites to provide a greater range
of land use. Weekly analyses includes nitrate, phosphate, total
nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and sulfate, turbidity, fecal
coliforms, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH. Cations, dissolved
organic carbon and nitrogen and metals are measured on selected
samples.
This dataset presents stream chemistry from the Watershed 263
subwatersheds. Watershed 263 is a 364 ha urban storm drain watershed
(or sewershed), with 30,000 residents with mixed industrial,
institutional, and residential land uses. In March 2004, we
established monitoring sites in two sub-watersheds within W263
(Baltimore Street and Lanvale Street). Both are approximately 17 ha
with 50% impervious surface and 4% vegetation cover.
more »
« less
Baltimore Ecosystem Study: Stream chemistry for Gwynns Falls Upper Tributaries
In the Baltimore urban long-term ecological research (LTER) project,
(Baltimore Ecosystem Study, BES) we use the watershed approach to
evaluate integrated ecosystem function. The LTER research is centered
on the Gwynns Falls watershed, a 17,150 ha catchment that traverses a
gradient from the urban core of Baltimore, through older urban
residential (1900 - 1950) and suburban (1950- 1980) zones, rapidly
suburbanizing areas and a rural/suburban fringe. Our long-term
sampling network includes four longitudinal sampling sites along the
Gwynns Falls as well as several small (40 - 100 ha) watersheds located
within or near to the Gwynns Falls. The longitudinal sites provide
data on water and nutrient fluxes in the different land use zones of
the watershed (rural/suburban, rapidly suburbanizing, old suburban,
urban core) and the small watersheds provide more focused data on
specific land use areas (forest, agriculture, rural/suburban, urban).
Each of the gaging sites is continuously monitored for discharge and
is sampled weekly for chemistry. Additional chemical sampling is
carried out in a supplemental set of sites to provide a greater range
of land use. Weekly analyses includes nitrate, phosphate, total
nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and sulfate, total suspended
solids, turbidity, fecal coliforms, temperature, dissolved oxygen and
pH. Cations, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and metals are
measured on selected samples.
This dataset presents stream chemistry from the Upper Gwynns Falls
tributaries. From April 1999 to August 2000 Johns Hopkins University
graduate student Mark Colosimo sampled a group of sites in the Upper
Gwynns Falls (Red Run, Horsehead Branch, Scotts Level Branch, Holly
Branch). There were two sites in the Red Run drainage. This watershed
drains approximately 19 km2 and has been rapidly suburbanizing since
the early 1990s. Percent impervious surface was approximately 10% as
of 2002. Sampling station Red Run 1 (RR1) was approximately 35 m
upstream of the crossing of Painters Mill Bridge Road, and 350 m
upstream of the confluence with the Gwynns Falls. Sampling station Red
Run 2 (RR2) was farther upstream, between the Pleasant Hill and
Dolfield road crossings. There were two sites along Scotts Level
Branch, an older suburban watershed which was approximately 25%
impervious surface in 1970. Site SL1 drains approximately 11 km2 and
is located at the outlet of the sub-watershed, just above the
confluence with Gwynns Falls. Site SL2 is at the McDonogh Rd. bridge
crossing. The Horsehead Branch (HH) sampling site was located at the
McDonogh Road crossing. It drains approximately 5 km2 that has
undergone rapid urbanization since the mid 1980s. As of 1997 percent
impervious surface was approximately 12%. The Holly Bank (HB) sampling
site was located just upstream of Gwynnbrook Ave. Seventy percent of
land in this drainage is classified residential. The Gwynns Falls at
McDonogh (GF5) site was located at the McDonogh school / McDonogh road
crossing of the Gwynns Falls and samples a drainage area of
approximately 51 km2, with approximately 20% impervious surface.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1855277
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10474643
- Publisher / Repository:
- Environmental Data Initiative
- Date Published:
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
In the Baltimore urban long-term ecological research (LTER) project, (Baltimore Ecosystem Study, BES) we use the watershed approach to evaluate integrated ecosystem function. The LTER research is centered on the Gwynns Falls watershed, a 17,150 ha catchment that traverses a gradient from the urban core of Baltimore, through older urban residential (1900 - 1950) and suburban (1950- 1980) zones, rapidly suburbanizing areas and a rural/suburban fringe. Our long-term sampling network includes four longitudinal sampling sites along the Gwynns Falls as well as several small (40 - 100 ha) watersheds located within or near to the Gwynns Falls. The longitudinal sites provide data on water and nutrient fluxes in the different land use zones of the watershed (rural/suburban, rapidly suburbanizing, old suburban, urban core) and the small watersheds provide more focused data on specific land use areas (forest, agriculture, rural/suburban, urban). Each of the gaging sites is continuously monitored for discharge and is sampled weekly for chemistry. Additional chemical sampling is carried out in a supplemental set of sites to provide a greater range of land use. Weekly analyses includes nitrate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and sulfate, turbidity, fecal coliforms, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH. Cations, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and metals are measured on selected samples. This dataset presents stream chemistry from the Cub Hill stream sites. The Cub Hill site is 14 km from the Baltimore city center (39 degrees 24'30.20N, 76 degrees 30'50.62W) and is the location of the first permanent urban carbon flux tower in an urban/suburban environment, established in 2001 by the U.S. Forest Service. Three stream monitoring sites were established in the residential area in the footprint of the tower; Jennifer Branch at North Wind Rd. (JBNW) and two headwater tributaries to Jennifer Branch: Harford Hills (JBHH) and Ontario (JBON). These sites were sampled weekly from August 2003 through June 2010.more » « less
-
In the Baltimore urban long-term ecological research (LTER) project, (Baltimore Ecosystem Study, BES) we use the watershed approach to evaluate integrated ecosystem function. The LTER research is centered on the Gwynns Falls watershed, a 17,150 ha catchment that traverses a gradient from the urban core of Baltimore, through older urban residential (1900 - 1950) and suburban (1950- 1980) zones, rapidly suburbanizing areas and a rural/suburban fringe. Our long-term sampling network includes four longitudinal sampling sites along the Gwynns Falls as well as several small (40 - 100 ha) watersheds located within or near to the Gwynns Falls. The longitudinal sites provide data on water and nutrient fluxes in the different land use zones of the watershed (rural/suburban, rapidly suburbanizing, old suburban, urban core) and the small watersheds provide more focused data on specific land use areas (forest, agriculture, rural/suburban, urban). Each of the gaging sites is continuously monitored for discharge and is sampled weekly for chemistry. Additional chemical sampling is carried out in a supplemental set of sites to provide a greater range of land use. Weekly analyses includes nitrate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and sulfate, turbidity, fecal coliforms, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH. Cations, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and metals are measured on selected samples. Streamflow data for this site are posted at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/md/nwis/nwisman?site_no=015835701more » « less
-
In the Baltimore urban long-term ecological research (LTER) project, (Baltimore Ecosystem Study, BES) we use the watershed approach to evaluate integrated ecosystem function. The LTER research is centered on the Gwynns Falls watershed, a 17,150 ha catchment that traverses a gradient from the urban core of Baltimore, through older urban residential (1900 - 1950) and suburban (1950- 1980) zones, rapidly suburbanizing areas and a rural/suburban fringe. Our long-term sampling network includes four longitudinal sampling sites along the Gwynns Falls as well as several small (40 - 100 ha) watersheds located within or near to the Gwynns Falls. The longitudinal sites provide data on water and nutrient fluxes in the different land use zones of the watershed (rural/suburban, rapidly suburbanizing, old suburban, urban core) and the small watersheds provide more focused data on specific land use areas (forest, agriculture, rural/suburban, urban). Each of the gaging sites is continuously monitored for discharge and is sampled weekly for chemistry. Additional chemical sampling is carried out in a supplemental set of sites to provide a greater range of land use. Weekly analyses includes nitrate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and sulfate, turbidity, fecal coliforms, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH. Cations, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and metals are measured on selected samples. Streamflow data for this site are posted at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/md/nwis/nwisman?site_no=015835701more » « less
-
The Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) has established a network of long-term permanent biogeochemical study plots. These plots will provide long-term data on vegetation, soil and hydrologic processes in the key ecosystem types within the urban ecosystem. The current network of study plots includes eight forest plots, chosen to represent the range of forest conditions in the area, and four grass plots. These plots are complemented by a network of 200 less intensive study plots located across the Baltimore metropolitan area. Plots are currently instrumented with lysimeters (drainage and tension) to sample soil solution chemistry, time domain reflectometry probes to measure soil moisture, dataloggers to measure and record soil temperature and trace gas flux chambers to measure the flux of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane from soil to the atmosphere. Measurements of in situ nitrogen mineralization, nitrification and denitrification were made at approximately monthly intervals from Fall 1998 - Fall 2000. Detailed vegetation characterization (all layers) was done in summer 1998. Data from these plots has been published in Groffman et al. (2006, 2009) and Groffman and Pouyat (2009). In November of 1998 four rural, forested plots were established at Oregon Ridge Park in Baltimore County northeast of the Gwynns Falls Watershed. Oregon Ridge Park contains Pond Branch, the forested reference watershed for BES. Two of these four plots are located on the top of a slope; the other two are located midway up the slope. In June of 2010 measurements at the mid-slope sites on Pond Branch were discontinued. Monuments and equipment remain at the two plots. These plots were replaced with two lowland riparian plots; Oregon upper riparian and Oregon lower riparian. Each riparian sites has four 5 cm by 1-2.5 meter depth slotted wells laid perpendicular to the stream, four tension lysimeters at 10 cm depth, five time domain reflectometry probes, and four trace gas flux chambers in the two dominant microtopographic features of the riparian zones - high spots (hummocks) and low spots (hollows). Four urban, forested plots were established in November 1998, two at Leakin Park and two adjacent to Hillsdale Park in west Baltimore City in the Gwynns Falls. One of the plots in Hillsdale Park was abandoned in 2004 due to continued vandalism. In May 1999 two grass, lawn plots were established at McDonogh School in Baltimore County west of the city in the Gwynns Falls. One of these plots is an extremely low intensity management area (mowed once or twice a year) and one is in a low intensity management area (frequent mowing, no fertilizer or herbicide use). In 2009, the McDonogh plots were abandoned due to management changes at the school. Two grass lawn plots were established on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in fall 2000. One of these plots is in a medium intensity management area (frequent mowing, moderate applications of fertilizer and herbicides) and one is in a high intensity management area (frequent mowing, high applications of fertilizer and herbicides). Literature Cited Bowden R, Steudler P, Melillo J and Aber J. 1990. Annual nitrous oxide fluxes from temperate forest soils in the northeastern United States. J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos. 95, 13997 14005. Driscoll CT, Fuller RD and Simone DM (1988) Longitudinal variations in trace metal concentrations in a northern forested ecosystem. J. Environ. Qual. 17: 101-107 Goldman, M. B., P. M. Groffman, R. V. Pouyat, M. J. McDonnell, and S. T. A. Pickett. 1995. CH4 uptake and N availability in forest soils along an urban to rural gradient. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 27:281-286. Groffman PM, Holland E, Myrold DD, Robertson GP and Zou X (1999) Denitrification. In: Robertson GP, Bledsoe CS, Coleman DC and Sollins P (Eds) Standard Soil Methods for Long Term Ecological Research. (pp 272-290). Oxford University Press, New York Groffman PM, Pouyat RV, Cadenasso ML, Zipperer WC, Szlavecz K, Yesilonis IC,. Band LE and Brush GS. 2006. Land use context and natural soil controls on plant community composition and soil nitrogen and carbon dynamics in urban and rural forests. Forest Ecology and Management 236:177-192. Groffman, P.M., C.O. Williams, R.V. Pouyat, L.E. Band and I.C. Yesilonis. 2009. Nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide flux in urban forests and grasslands. Journal of Environmental Quality 38:1848-1860. Groffman, P.M. and R.V. Pouyat. 2009. Methane uptake in urban forests and lawns. Environmental Science and Technology 43:5229-5235. DOI: 10.1021/es803720h. Holland EA, Boone R, Greenberg J, Groffman PM and Robertson GP (1999) Measurement of Soil CO2, N2O and CH4 exchange. In: Robertson GP, Bledsoe CS, Coleman DC and Sollins P (Eds) Standard Soil Methods for Long Term Ecological Research. (pp 258-271). Oxford University Press, New York Robertson GP, Wedin D, Groffman PM, Blair JM, Holland EA, Nadelhoffer KJ and. Harris D. 1999. Soil carbon and nitrogen availability: Nitrogen mineralization, nitrification and carbon turnover. In: Standard Soil Methods for Long Term Ecological Research (Robertson GP, Bledsoe CS, Coleman DC and Sollins P (Eds) Standard Soil Methods for Long Term Ecological Research. (pp 258-271). Oxford University Press, New York Savva, Y., K. Szlavecz, R. V. Pouyat, P. M. Groffman, and G. Heisler. 2010. Effects of land use and vegetation cover on soil temperature in an urban ecosystem. Soil Science Society of America Journal 74:469-480."more » « less
