『Abstract
Rapid exchange of stream water and groundwater in streambeds
creates hotspots of biogeochemical cycling of redox-sensitive
solutes. Although stream-groundwater interaction can be increased
through stream restoration, there are few detailed studies of
the increased heterogeneity of water and solute fluxes through
the streambed and associated patterns of biogeochemical processes
around stream restoration structures. In this study, we examined
the seasonal patterns of water and solute fluxes through the streambed
around a stream restoration structure to relate patterns of water
flux through the streambed to morphology of the channel and biogeochemical
processes occurring in the bed. We characterized different biogeochemical
zones in the streambed using principal component analysis (PCA)
and examined the change in spatial patterns of these zones during
different seasons. The PCA results show that two principal components
summarized 83% of the variance in the original data set. Streambed
pore water was characterized as oxic (indicating production of
nitrate), anoxic (indicating sulfate, iron and manganese reduction),
or stream-like (indicating there was minimal change in the stream
water chemistry in the bed). Regardless of season of the year,
anoxic zones were predominantly located upstream of the structure,
in a low-velocity pool, and oxic zones were predominantly located
downstream of the structure, in a turbulent riffle. We expect
structures that span the full channel, are impermeable, and permanent,
such as those installed in natural channel design restoration
will similarly impact biogeochemical processing in the streambed.
The installation of these types of restoration structures may
be a way to increase the degree of biogeochemical cycling in stream
ecosystems.
Keywords: Hyporheic zone; Principal component analysis; Redox
processes; Stream restoration; Surface water-groundwater interaction』
Introduction
Methods
Site description
Field and laboratory methods
Multivariate statistical analysis
Results
Hydrology at the restoration site
Water chemistry at the restoration site
PCA and typing of water chemistry at the restoration site
Hydrology and water chemistry at the reference site
Discussion
Spatial patterns of biogeochemical hotspots in the streambed
Anoxic hotspots in the streambed
Oxic hotspots in the streambed
Stream water zones in the streambed
Seasonal differences in streambed geochemistry
Impacts of stream restoration structures
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References