Longitudinal Streamflow in Headwater Streams on Prospect Hill Tract

Data

• hf034-01: streamflow data

Overview

• Lead: Elizabeth Colburn
• Investigators: Kate Musgrove
• Contact: Elizabeth Colburn
• Start date: 2003-06-01
• End date: 2003-12-31
• Location: Prospect Hill Tract (Harvard Forest)
• Latitude: +42.53 to +42.55
• Longitude: -72.20 to -72.17
• Elevation: 280 to 420 meters
• Taxa:
• Research topic: watershed
• Study type: short-term measurement
• LTER core area: disturbance
• Keywords: headwater streams, hydrology, intermittent streams, stream ecology, stream salamanders, streamflow, water quality
• Release date: 2006
• EML version: knb-lter-hfr.34.9
• Revisions:
• Related links:
• Headwater Habitat Streams in Central Massachusetts
• Prospect Hill Hydrological Stations
• Abstract:

  We have initiated long-term monitoring of streamflow in headwater streams on the Prospect Hill Tract at the Harvard Forest. In addition, we have periodically recorded summer flow conditions longitudinally along the length of headwaters within Harvard Forest to obtain information about spatial heterogeneity of flow and of availability of aquatic habitat within these headwaters. In summer of 2003, we recorded streamflow each week at 20-m intervals along the length of two tributaries of Nelson Brook, Tributary A, from Route 32 to its outlet from the Black Gum Swamp, and Tributary B, from its junction with Tributary A to its origin in wetlands north of Prospect Hill Road.

• Methods:

  Stream mapping

  Each stream channel is flagged at 20-m intervals. 0 represents the most downstream point on the study stream; successive numbers represent 20-m distances upstream from the 0 point to the seasonal head of flow.

  Streamflow

  Weekly monitoring of streamflow in a subset of the streams in summer, 2003, involved recording flow characteristics in each 20-m reach (e.g., continuous flow, flow interspersed with stagnant water, pools interspersed with waterless stretches, dry channel).

  In fall 2004 stream gages were installed in three tributaries, Nelson Brook A and E (BGA and BGE) and Bigelow Brook west (PHA). In fall 2007 these gages were instrumented for continuous measurement of water level and temperature (see HF070).

• Use:

  This dataset is released to the public and may be freely downloaded. Please keep the designated Contact person informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation or collaboration with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset must include proper acknowledgement. For more information on LTER Network data access and use policies, please see: http://www.lternet.edu/data/netpolicy.html.

• Citation:

  Colburn E. 2006. Longitudinal Streamflow in Headwater Streams on Prospect Hill Tract. Harvard Forest Data Archive: HF034.

Detailed Metadata

hf034-01: streamflow data

1. Stream: study stream and sampling location
   • BGA: main tributary of Nelson Brook, originating in Black Gum Swamp
   • BGB: west tributary of Nelson Brook, originating in wetland north of Prospect Hill road and flowing below road to join tributary A
2. Flag: location along stream length, identified by the flag number at upper end of study reach, representing a 20-meter stretch of stream (e.g., flag # 640 represents the reach from 620 m to 640 m) above the 0 point on the stream (number )
3. Bridged: whether the stream flows below the surface, as in through a culvert or in subsurface scree pile
   • 0: open to the surface, free-flowing
   • 1: bridged
4. 3-Jun: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
   • 1: continuous, flowing water
   • NA: no data
5. 9-Jun: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
   • 1: continuous, flowing water
   • 2: continuous, stagnant water
   • 3: pools interspersed with areas of wet channel
   • NA: no data
6. 16-Jun: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
   • 1: continuous, flowing water
   • 2: continuous, stagnant water
   • 3: pools interspersed with areas of wet channel
   • 5: no standing water, wet channel
   • 6: no pools, dry channel
   • 7: channel obscured by vegetation or debris, not visible
7. 30-Jun: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
   • 1: continuous, flowing water
   • 2: continuous, stagnant water
   • 3: pools interspersed with areas of wet channel
   • 5: no standing water, wet channel
   • 6: no pools, dry channel
   • 7: channel obscured by vegetation or debris, not visible
8. 8-Jul: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
   • 1: continuous, flowing water
   • 2: continuous, stagnant water
   • 3: pools interspersed with areas of wet channel
   • 4: pools interspersed with areas of dry channel
   • 5: no standing water, wet channel
   • 6: no pools, dry channel
   • 7: channel obscured by vegetation or debris, not visible
9. 16-Jul: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
   • 1: continuous, flowing water
   • 2: continuous, stagnant water
   • 3: pools interspersed with areas of wet channel
   • 4: pools interspersed with areas of dry channel
   • 5: no standing water, wet channel
   • 6: no pools, dry channel
   • 7: channel obscured by vegetation or debris, not visible
10. 22-Jul: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
    • 1: continuous, flowing water
    • 2: continuous, stagnant water
    • 3: pools interspersed with areas of wet channel
    • 4: pools interspersed with areas of dry channel
    • 5: no standing water, wet channel
    • 6: no pools, dry channel
    • 7: channel obscured by vegetation or debris, not visible
11. 29-Jul: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
    • 1: continuous, flowing water
    • 2: continuous, stagnant water
    • 3: pools interspersed with areas of wet channel
    • 4: pools interspersed with areas of dry channel
    • 5: no standing water, wet channel
    • 6: no pools, dry channel
    • 7: channel obscured by vegetation or debris, not visible
12. 5-Aug: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
    • 1: continuous, flowing water
    • 2: continuous, stagnant water
    • 3: pools interspersed with areas of wet channel
    • 5: no standing water, wet channel
    • 6: no pools, dry channel
13. 12-Aug: flow characteristics of the 20-m study reach on the observation date
    • 1: continuous, flowing water
    • 2: continuous, stagnant water
    • 3: pools interspersed with areas of wet channel
    • 5: no standing water, wet channel
    • 6: no pools, dry channel