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Explore the relationships between floodplain, wetland, and channel biogeochemistry following the removal of a dam on the Little River in North Carolina. The study delves into the release of stored wetland waters, impacts on biogeochemical components like DOC, NO3, NH4, PO4, and the successional changes in floodplain ecosystems post-dam removal.
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Floodplain Wetland and Channel Biogeochemical Relationships following Dam Removal on a Coastal Plain River Adam Riggsbee1, Robert G. Wetzel1, Martin W. Doyle2 and Jason P. Julian2 1 Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill 2 Department of Geography at UNC-Chapel Hill
Today’s Talk • The dam removal begins… • Fresh Data (4-28-05) • Dam dewatering releases stored wetland surface and ground waters into the adjacent channel • Biogeochemical impacts • DOC • NO3, NH4 • PO4
Little River Background • 4th order • Edge of piedmont and coastal plain • Neuse River Basin • Matrix supported sand/gravel • Floodplain wetlands are permanently inundated bottomland hardwood forests (impounded) • ~ 8km impoundment
Dam Little River, NC FLOW
April 25, 2005 April 28, 2005 Impoundment Dewatering
June 06, 2005 Floodplain Succession July 13, 2005
ISCO 1 Dam ISCO 2 Little River, NC FLOW
Dewatering Hydrology • Event occurred near baseflow (1.87 m3/s) • Qpeak = 3.20 m3/s • Duration • 13 h • Dam Team sampled for 8 h • 6 h during event
Preliminary Conclusions • Minimal loading • Short duration • TSS/Nutrient contributions negligible relative to other dam removal studies • Doyle, et al. 2003
ISCO 1 Dam ISCO 2 Little River, NC FLOW
Wetland Surface H2O Dewatering • Little impact on channel biogeochemistry • TSS contributions rapidly attenuated • What about wetland groundwater drainage?
Ongoing Research • Floodplain wetland plant treatments • Colonized • Uncolonized • Plant biomass • Fungal biomass • Bacterial productivity • Interstitial [N, P, C]
Ongoing Research • Greenhouse mesocosms • Nutrient attenuation during low velocity flood events • Independent variable • Plant biomass • Nutrient source/sink
Acknowledgements • Robert G. Wetzel • The Dam Team (4-28-05) • The Wundergrads • US Fish and Wildlife Service • Restoration Systems, LLC.