How Hydrologic Connectivity Regulates Water Quality in River Corridors

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorHarvey, Juden
dc.contributor.authorGomez-Velez, Jesus D.en
dc.contributor.authorSchmadel, Noah M.en
dc.contributor.authorScott, Durelle T.en
dc.contributor.authorBoyer, Elizabeth W.en
dc.contributor.authorAlexander, Richard B.en
dc.contributor.authorEng, Kenen
dc.contributor.authorGolden, Heatheren
dc.contributor.authorKettner, Alberten
dc.contributor.authorKonrad, Chrisen
dc.contributor.authorMoore, Richarden
dc.contributor.authorPizzuto, Jimen
dc.contributor.authorSchwarz, Gregen
dc.contributor.authorSoulsby, Chrisen
dc.contributor.authorChoi, Jayen
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-26T19:41:05Zen
dc.date.available2020-06-26T19:41:05Zen
dc.date.issued2019-04en
dc.description.abstractDownstream flow in rivers is repeatedly delayed by hydrologic exchange with off-channel storage zones where biogeochemical processing occurs. We present a dimensionless metric that quantifies river connectivity as the balance between downstream flow and the exchange of water with the bed, banks, and floodplains. The degree of connectivity directly influences downstream water quality - too little connectivity limits the amount of river water exchanged and leads to biogeochemically inactive water storage, while too much connectivity limits the contact time with sediments for reactions to proceed. Using a metric of reaction significance based on river connectivity, we provide evidence that intermediate levels of connectivity, rather than the highest or lowest levels, are the most efficient in removing nitrogen from Northeastern United States' rivers. Intermediate connectivity balances the frequency, residence time, and contact volume with reactive sediments, which can maximize the reactive processing of dissolved contaminants and the protection of downstream water quality. Our simulations suggest denitrification dominantly occurs in riverbed hyporheic zones of streams and small rivers, whereas vertical turbulent mixing in contact with sediments dominates in mid-size to large rivers. The metrics of connectivity and reaction significance presented here can facilitate scientifically based prioritizations of river management strategies to protect the values and functions of river corridors.en
dc.description.adminPublic domain – authored by a U.S. government employeeen
dc.description.notesThe work is a product of the John Wesley Powell Center River Corridor Synthesis Group, supported by U.S. Geological Survey and National Science Foundation Hydrologic Sciences Program. USGS authors received additional support from the USGS National Water Quality Program. Gomez-Velez received additional support from the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) in the Subsurface Biogeochemistry Program (SBR) as part of SBR's Scientific Focus Area at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The synthesis is based entirely on analysis of published information and publicly available data sources. Any use of trade, firm, or product is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.en
dc.description.sponsorshipU.S. Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey; National Science Foundation Hydrologic Sciences ProgramNational Science Foundation (NSF)NSF - Directorate for Geosciences (GEO); USGS National Water Quality Program; DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) in the Subsurface Biogeochemistry Program (SBR) as part of SBR's Scientific Focus Area at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12691en
dc.identifier.eissn1752-1688en
dc.identifier.issn1093-474Xen
dc.identifier.issue2en
dc.identifier.orcidScott, Durelle T. [0000-0002-5792-789X]en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/99154en
dc.identifier.volume55en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.rightsCreative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedicationen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/en
dc.subjecthydrologic connectivityen
dc.subjectriver corridoren
dc.subjecthyporheic flowen
dc.subjectClean Water Ruleen
dc.titleHow Hydrologic Connectivity Regulates Water Quality in River Corridorsen
dc.title.serialJournal of the American Water Resources Associationen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.dcmitypeStillImageen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
1752-1688.12691.pdf
Size:
8.92 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download

Collections

Scholarly Works, Biological Systems Engineering
Destination Area: Global Systems Science (GSS)