Modeling linkages between groundwater, surface water and perhiphyton-driven oxygen dynamics in the lower Truckee River, Nevada
Abstract
Long-term water quality monitoring in the lower Truckee River, Nevada (U.S.) reveals increases in several constituents [e.g., total dissolved solids (TDS) and nitrogen (N)] not easily explained by simple solute and hydrologic budgets of surface inputs (i.e., suburban runoff; agricultural surface return flow; etc). Regional and sub-regional hydrologic investigations focusing on groundwater indicate that much of the solute increase is attributable to subsurface non-point source (NPS) returns driven by a complex combination of agricultural activities (e.g., flood irrigation of field crops) juxtaposed upon naturally occurring regional groundwater flow. A two-year monitoring program focusing on periphyton within the same river reach further reveals local maxima in biomass corresponding to gaining river reaches. A long-term dynamic surface water quality model provides the unifying element for these data, and helps support earlier theses suggesting a link between NPS groundwater returns, nutrient enrichment and periphyton-driven oxygen dynamics in the lower river.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003AGUFM.H51C1086M
- Keywords:
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- 1800 HYDROLOGY