Stream tracer experiments to assess channel and hyporheic residence times of streams in the Andrews Experimental Forest in 2001 & 2002

DB Code: 
HF011
Abstract: 

Time series of tracer (Rhodamine WT) concentration data representing a "break-through curve" resulting from a stream tracer injection. Stream tracer experiments were conducted in the lower reach of 2nd-order Watershed 3 in April, 2001, and 2 adjacent reaches of 4th-order Lookout Creek in July, 2002. Rhodamine WT dye was injected as a pulse (non-continuous injection). Concentration data were collected in the field at early time using a field fluorometer equipped with a flow-through cell. Late-time samples collected with an ISCO auto sampler, which were analyzed in the lab with the same fluorometer (reconfigured for analysis with cuvettes) within 72 hours. Particular care was taken to collect late-time, low-concentration data, which are useful in quantifying the residence time of secondary storage within or adjacent to the stream, such as the hyporheic zone or in-stream transient storage zones. In the data set, Tracer 1 refers to the injection in Watershed 3; Tracer 2 refers to the injection in Reach 411 of Lookout Creek; Tracer 3 refers to the injection in the combined Reach 410/411 of Lookout Creek.

Study date: 
April 21, 2001 to July 18, 2001
Researchers: 

Justin M LaNier, Michael N. Gooseff, Roy Haggerty, Steven M. Wondzell

Purpose: 

This experiment was designed to assess the residence times of water in the channel and hyporheic zones of the lower reach of Watershed 3 and two adjacent reaches of 4th-order Lookout Creek.