Methods of Assessing Streamflow and Shallow Groundwater Interactions
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom B/C/D
Start Date
21-5-2015
End Date
21-5-2015
Keywords
Stream Restoration, Hyporheic Flow, Stream Ecology
Abstract
In recent years, the importance of groundwater-surface water interactions to stream ecology has been increasingly recognized. Interactions between stream flow and hyporheic flow, which is shallow groundwater connected to stream water, are important to stream ecology by moderating surface-water temperatures, slowing stream velocity, increasing nutrient residence times, and providing water to the ecosystem beyond the immediate area of the stream channel. The purpose of our research was to determine if and how stream restoration efforts impact interactions between stream flow and hyporheic flow. We collected stream stage and hyporheic potentiometric elevation data from sites in the Reecer Creek Floodplain Restoration project and an unrestored section of Reecer Creek. We installed a piezometer, a perforated hollow steel pipe, to a depth of one to two feet in the stream substrate, and inserted a water pressure sensor within the piezometer. Comparing piezometer water depth to stream depth allowed us to determine the extent of the interaction between the stream and the groundwater within the hyporheic zone. Discharge of hyporheic flow to stream flow (i.e., upwelling) is indicated by a higher water level within the piezometer, while stream flow discharge to hyporheic flow (i.e., downwelling) is indicated by lower water levels in the piezometer. We predict more interaction between stream and hyporheic flow in restored reaches due to higher permeability of the stream bed, resulting from less silt and more gravel in the substrate. Ultimately, we hope to determine if restoration efforts measurably improved stream flow interactions with the hyporheic zone, which directly affects stream ecology.
Recommended Citation
Presher, Jacob and Morton, Cristopher, "Methods of Assessing Streamflow and Shallow Groundwater Interactions" (2015). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 17.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2015/posters/17
Poster Number
12
Department/Program
Environmental Studies
Additional Mentoring Department
Geological Sciences
Additional Mentoring Department
Geological Sciences
Methods of Assessing Streamflow and Shallow Groundwater Interactions
SURC Ballroom B/C/D
In recent years, the importance of groundwater-surface water interactions to stream ecology has been increasingly recognized. Interactions between stream flow and hyporheic flow, which is shallow groundwater connected to stream water, are important to stream ecology by moderating surface-water temperatures, slowing stream velocity, increasing nutrient residence times, and providing water to the ecosystem beyond the immediate area of the stream channel. The purpose of our research was to determine if and how stream restoration efforts impact interactions between stream flow and hyporheic flow. We collected stream stage and hyporheic potentiometric elevation data from sites in the Reecer Creek Floodplain Restoration project and an unrestored section of Reecer Creek. We installed a piezometer, a perforated hollow steel pipe, to a depth of one to two feet in the stream substrate, and inserted a water pressure sensor within the piezometer. Comparing piezometer water depth to stream depth allowed us to determine the extent of the interaction between the stream and the groundwater within the hyporheic zone. Discharge of hyporheic flow to stream flow (i.e., upwelling) is indicated by a higher water level within the piezometer, while stream flow discharge to hyporheic flow (i.e., downwelling) is indicated by lower water levels in the piezometer. We predict more interaction between stream and hyporheic flow in restored reaches due to higher permeability of the stream bed, resulting from less silt and more gravel in the substrate. Ultimately, we hope to determine if restoration efforts measurably improved stream flow interactions with the hyporheic zone, which directly affects stream ecology.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Lisa Ely, Carey Gazis