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Physical and plant community controls on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from impounded riverine wetlands following dam removal

Publication ,  Journal Article
Riggsbee, JA; Wetzel, R; Doyle, MW
Published in: River Research and Applications
November 1, 2012

Dam removal has emerged as a critical issue in water resources engineering and management. Of particular concern in many regions of the USA is the effect of dam removal on downstream water quality and potential methods of decreasing sediment and nutrient loading to downstream reaches. Rapid revegetation of reservoir sediments has been suggested as a means of reducing the impact of dam removal, although little data exist about the role of vegetation in controlling the downstream release of sediment or nutrients. This study investigated an impounded riverine wetland complex on the Little River, North Carolina, before and after the removal of a low-head dam. We quantified the leaching of interstitial nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to the adjacent river channel during reservoir dewatering and, through experimental manipulations, isolated the difference between physical (soil) and biological (plant) controls on N and P leaching from dewatering impoundment sediments. We found that the rate and the quantity of N and P leaching from impounded dewatering sediment are predominately controlled by sediment porosity and specific yield. Although vegetation controls on N and P leaching were statistically significant during the first growing season following dam removal, vegetation is likely to be more important as a long-term control on sediment and nutrient loads. Our results suggest that the initial release of N and P from a dewatered reservoir will be difficult to control but that vegetation may play an important long-term role. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Duke Scholars

Published In

River Research and Applications

DOI

EISSN

1535-1467

ISSN

1535-1459

Publication Date

November 1, 2012

Volume

28

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1439 / 1450

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4104 Environmental management
  • 3707 Hydrology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0502 Environmental Science and Management
 

Citation

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Riggsbee, J. A., Wetzel, R., & Doyle, M. W. (2012). Physical and plant community controls on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from impounded riverine wetlands following dam removal. River Research and Applications, 28(9), 1439–1450. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.1536
Riggsbee, J. A., R. Wetzel, and M. W. Doyle. “Physical and plant community controls on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from impounded riverine wetlands following dam removal.” River Research and Applications 28, no. 9 (November 1, 2012): 1439–50. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.1536.
Riggsbee JA, Wetzel R, Doyle MW. Physical and plant community controls on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from impounded riverine wetlands following dam removal. River Research and Applications. 2012 Nov 1;28(9):1439–50.
Riggsbee, J. A., et al. “Physical and plant community controls on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from impounded riverine wetlands following dam removal.” River Research and Applications, vol. 28, no. 9, Nov. 2012, pp. 1439–50. Scopus, doi:10.1002/rra.1536.
Riggsbee JA, Wetzel R, Doyle MW. Physical and plant community controls on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching from impounded riverine wetlands following dam removal. River Research and Applications. 2012 Nov 1;28(9):1439–1450.
Journal cover image

Published In

River Research and Applications

DOI

EISSN

1535-1467

ISSN

1535-1459

Publication Date

November 1, 2012

Volume

28

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1439 / 1450

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4104 Environmental management
  • 3707 Hydrology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0502 Environmental Science and Management