Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Stream and Watershed Studies - Projects

Biotic And Abiotic Channel Change In The Gwynns Falls Watershed
The research effort is evaluating biotic, physical, and chemical stream changes in Gwynns Falls watershed from the mid- 1980s to present, as land use and cover changes took place.

Biotic characteristics are being evaluated by collecting benthic macroinvertebrate and fish data. Physical channel change is being measured by collecting stream channel: cross-sections, sediments, bed aggredation, degradation and mobility, longitudinal profiles, sinuosity, as well as bankfull discharge and critical discharge and their frequency of occurrence. Similarly, past chemical data sets are be replicated. Biotic and abiotic data sets being replicated follow similar collection protocols, location and sampling time period at 23 sampling locations.

Further Inter-relationships between biotic, physical and chemical stream changes and land use changes are being explored, and indicator variables are being evaluated to determine reliability and predictability, as well as threshold requirements for stream restoration projects.

The work is collaborative with BES long-term stream monitoring work. This project utilizes date from some of the BES long-term sites, and this investigator samples a group of ancillary sites that are then analyzed by BES.