CF008
Stream nutrient sampling during winter baseflow conditions in the Andrews Forest and Willamette River Basin, February 2009

CREATOR(S): Julia A. Jones, Jason J.B. Frentress

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): Julia A. Jones

ORIGINATOR(S): Jason J.B. Frentress

OTHER RESEARCHER(S): Kate Lajtha

METADATA CREATION DATE:

10 Aug 2011

MOST RECENT METADATA REVIEW DATE:

4 Mar 2013

KEYWORDS:

history, land use history, hydrology, biogeochemistry, water chemistry, floods, productivity, spatial variability, decomposition, nitrogen cycling, carbon cycling, production, physical processes, organic matter, water, aquatic ecosystems, humans

PURPOSE:

To better understand the impact of land use on stream nutrient export, a synoptic sampling of streams draining 57 sub-basins within the Willamette River basin was conducted during winter baseflow conditions (February 2009).

METHODS:

Field Methods - CF008:

Description: Sampled stream from bridge crossings using weighted Nalgene bottles. Sample locations were chosen based on accessibility and to represent three dominant land use types: forest, agriculture, and urban. Bottles were lowered to stream surface, submerged and rinsed multiple times, then a 1-liter sample was taken from the stream. Sample was filtered to 0.7 micron (GF/F) and frozen prior to chemical analysis.

Laboratory Methods - CF008:

Description: Stream samples were analyzed for concentrations of total nitrogen, ammonium, nitrate/nitrite, total organic carbon, and chloride. Ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate/nitrite (NO₂^-, NO₃^-), and chloride (Cl^-) concentrations were determined via flow injection analysis using a Lachat QuikChem 4200 Analyzer (Lachat, 1992). Total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was determined using the high-temperature catalytic combustion method using a Shimadzu TOC-Vchs Analyzer (Shimadzu, 2001). Total nitrogen, including inorganic and organic forms of nitrogen, was determined using the catalytic thermal decomposition and chemiluminescence detection method using a Shimadzu TOC-V/TN analyzer (ENV, 1996; Jones and Daughton, 1985). Laboratory analyses were performed by the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Cooperative Chemical Analytical Laboratory (Corvallis, OR) using contemporary published methodology and safety protocols (APHA, 1992; US EPA, 1987). Specific ultra-violet absorbance (SUVA) was determined after Weishar et al, (2003) using a Shimadzu 1201 UV-VIS Spectrometer. Ultra-filtered Millipore Milli-Q™ water was used for calibration. Samples and sample blanks were placed in quartz-crystal, WhatmanTM sample cuvets and absorbance254nm determined. SUVA values are determined by normalizing absorbance254 for sample DOC concentration and have the units abs254 L mg-1 cm-1.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

PNWERC LU/LC datasets for the Willamette River basin. http://www.fsl.orst.edu/pnwerc/wrb/access.html

SITE DESCRIPTION:

First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh order streams throughout the WIllamette RIver basin.

TAXONOMIC SYSTEM:

None

GEOGRAPHIC EXTENT:

Willamette River basin in Oregon.

ELEVATION_MINIMUM (meters):

1265

ELEVATION_MAXIMUM (meters):

15

MEASUREMENT FREQUENCY:

Once

PROGRESS DESCRIPTION:

Complete

UPDATE FREQUENCY DESCRIPTION:

notPlanned

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE:

Observed