HR: 11:35h
AN: H52D-06    [Abstracts]
TI: Cation Chemistry in Baltimore Streams: Another Syndrome Symptom?
AU: * Mehta, A S
EM: asm31@pitt.edu
AF: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Geology and Planetary Science 200 SRCC 4107 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15260,
AU: Bain, D J
EM: dbain@pitt.edu
AF: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Geology and Planetary Science 200 SRCC 4107 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15260,
AU: Belt, K T
EM: kbelt@fs.fed.us
AF: USDA Forest Service, Rm 180 TRC Bldg. University of Maryland at Baltimore County 5200 Westland Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21227,
AU: Groffman, P M
EM: groffmanP@ecostudies.org
AF: Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Box AB 65 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY 12545,
AU: Kaushal, S S
EM: skaushal@cbl.umces.edu
AF: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, PO Box 380, Solomons, MD 20688,
AU: Pouyat, R V
EM: rpouyat@fs.fed.us
AF: USDA Forest Service, Rm 180 TRC Bldg. University of Maryland at Baltimore County 5200 Westland Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21227,
AB: Urban streams are degraded due to a variety of physical and chemical factors including impervious surfaces, sewer cross-connections, and multiple chemical contaminants. There is particular interest in the loading of anionic nutrients and heavy metals into urban streams, especially those draining to nutrient sensitive receiving waters. However, there has been less characterization of cation chemistry in urban streams. We examined metal concentrations in archived water samples as part of the stream monitoring program of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES), an urban component of the U.S. National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological Research network. Preliminary analysis suggests sewer cross-connections (storm and sanitary) influence metal concentrations (e.g. Si, Ca, Mg). For example, while silica content is elevated in water draining BES agricultural watersheds, it is also elevated in watersheds with extensive impervious surface coverage, areas with the least water-rock interaction. These results raise questions about the effects of urbanization on chemical weathering, the stoichiometry of urban storm and sewer waters, and the potential for human inputs to function as hydrologic tracers in urban watersheds.
DE: 0461 Metals
DE: 1830 Groundwater/surface water interaction
DE: 1834 Human impacts
DE: 1871 Surface water quality
DE: 1879 Watershed
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting