Landscape Influences on Headwater Streams on Fort Stewart,Georgia, USA |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Henriette?I?JagerEmail author Mark?S?Bevelhimer Roy?L?King Katy?A?Smith |
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Institution: | (1) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6036, USA;(2) Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Fort Stewart, GA, USA;(3) University Georgia Marine Extension Service, Brunswick, GA, USA |
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Abstract: | Military landscapes represent a mixture of undisturbed natural ecosystems, developed areas, and lands that support different
types and intensities of military training. Research to understand water-quality influences of military landscapes usually
involves intensive sampling in a few watersheds. In this study, we developed a survey design of accessible headwater watersheds
intended to improve our ability to distinguish land–water relationships in general, and training influences, in particular,
on Fort Stewart, GA. We sampled and analyzed water from watershed outlets. We successfully developed correlative models for
total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), organic carbon (OC), and organic nitrogen (ON), which dominated in this
blackwater ecosystem. TSS tended to be greater in samples after rainfall and during the growing season, and models that included
%Wetland suggested a “build-and-flush” relationship. We also detected a positive association between TSS and tank-training, which
suggests a need to intercept sediment-laden runoff from training areas. Models for OC showed a negative association with %Grassland. TN and ON both showed negative associations with %Grassland, %Wetland, and %Forest. Unexpected positive associations were observed between OC and equipment-training activity and between ON and %Bare ground + Roads. Future studies that combine our survey-based approach with more intensive monitoring of the timing and intensity of training
would be needed to better understand the mechanisms for these empirical relationships involving military training. Looking
beyond local effects on Fort Stewart streams, we explore questions about how exports of OC and nitrogen from coastal military
installations ultimately influence estuaries downstream. |
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