Date of Award:

12-2011

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Watershed Sciences

Committee Chair(s)

Nancy O. Mesner

Committee

Nancy O. Mesner

Committee

David K. Stevens

Committee

Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh

Abstract

I measured inflows and outflows of nutrients and suspended solid through the wetland complex, known as Dingle Marsh, at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge between October 2007 and September 2008. My analysis of changes throughout the year will help Dingle Marsh managers adjust the timing and volume of water movement between Bear River and Bear Lake to meet defined refuge goals, such as improving bird or other animal habitat. These results could also be used to protect Bear Lake’s water quality.

Automated samplers took readings of dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH and water temperature every 30 minutes. These values were combined with flow measurements and used to predict suspended solids, total phosphorus and nitrogen.

The high frequency monitoring allowed for the analysis of nutrient and suspended solid concentrations at multiple time scales. Coupling the high frequency water quality data with discharge measurements, the mass of nutrient and suspended solid parameters could be calculated. The ability to calculate mass at fine time scales allowed for insight into the behavior of this system throughout seasonal changes. This research provided a viable method for tracking nutrient and suspended solid transport in this system, and provided methods that could be applied for uses in similar research.

During my sampling period, most of the suspended solid and nutrient loading entered the marsh from the Bear River. This loading was greatly reduced as flows moved across the marsh. Since the behavior of this system is largely driven by yearly climate patterns, the seasonal loading patterns were defined and analyzed. The results of this study show Dingle Marsh to be an effective retention basin for suspended solids and nutrients. This research also provided a viable method for tracking nutrient and suspended solid transport in this system, and provided methods that could be applied for uses in similar research.

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Comments

This work made publicly available electronically on July 30, 2012.

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