You are here:
Modeling the effects of isolated wetlands on downstream hydrology at the watershed scale
Citation:
SANDER, H., H. E. GOLDEN, AND C. R. LANE. Modeling the effects of isolated wetlands on downstream hydrology at the watershed scale. Presented at Association of American Geographers 2012 Annual Meeting, New York, NY, February 24 - 28, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
The goal of this research is to develop methods and indicators that are useful for evaluating the condition of aquatic communities, for assessing the restoration of aquatic communities in response to mitigation and best management practices, and for determining the exposure of aquatic communities to different classes of stressors (i.e., pesticides, sedimentation, habitat alteration).
Description:
Geographically-isolated wetlands, wetlands completely surrounded by uplands (e.g., prairie potholes, vernal pools and cypress domes), are depressional landscape features. They provide numerous ecological functions including biogeochemical cycling and water storage and recharge and thus may impact human health and well-being via flood regulation, pollutant uptake, and sedimentation and nutrient pollutin reductions. In 2001 the US Supreme Court determined that Clean Water Act protections did not apply to isolated wetlands leaving them largely unprotected. This and subsequent rulings suggested that, if a significant nexus exists between geographycally-isolated wetlands and navigable downstream waters, Clean Water Act protection would be afforded to these wetlands. This study examines whether hydrologic connectivity between isolated wetland complexes and downstream hydrology exists and thus will support decisions regarding the significance of this nexus. We use two complementary approaches to explore connections between isolated wetlands and stream hydrology in the Neuse River basin, North Cajrolina. The first applies regression techniques to identify landscape and wetland factors that influence the effec ts of isolated wetlands on hydrology. The second applies a modified version of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool to identify potential hydrological dynamics that regulate connectivity of siolated wetlands to downstream systems. Combining insights generated using both models will provide a clearer picture of the connections between isolated wetlands and stream hydrology. This talk focuses particularly on the findings of the first approach, discussing landscape and wetland characteristics that influence downstream hydrology and their implications for the policy debate surrounding isolated wetland protection under the Clean Water Act.