Stream ecology and surface-hyporheic hydrologic exchange: Implications, techniques and limitations

1993 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Boulton
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Stream Ecology ◽  
Benthic Algae ◽  
Benthic Invertebrate ◽  
Stream Channels ◽  
Hydrologic Exchange ◽  
Invertebrate Colonization ◽  
Oxygen Surface

In many streams with coarse substrata, there is continuous exchange between surface water and interstitial (hyporheic) water. Upwelling hyporheic water usually contains less dissolved oxygen and may provide nutrients that are limiting in the surface water. Downwelling stream water carries oxygen, surface detritus and other material to the hyporheic zone where microbes and invertebrates reside. The magnitude and direction of this hydrologic exchange can be measured using relatively simple techniques (such as dye injections and mini-piezometers) although there are some important limitations to consider. As hydrologic exchange has been shown to affect the distribution of benthic algae and invertebrates in some streams, this variable has implications for a variety of lotic studies including those of drift, leaf breakdown, benthic invertebrate colonization, sedimentation, and nutrient limitation. Experiments in flumes and artificial stream channels usually remove the influence of hydrologic exchange although it would be possible to incorporate this into their design. Stream ecologists should consider assessing the significance of the hyporheic zone to surface processes by quantifying the vectors of hydrologic exchange to ascertain how these may affect results of work conducted on the benthos at a variety of scales.

The effects of contaminated sediments of the Blesbok Spruit near Witbank on water quality and the toxicity thereof to Daphnia pulex

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 173-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liesl Hill ◽  
Sebastian Jooste
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Interstitial Water ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Contaminated Sediments ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Major Route ◽  
Acute Toxicity Tests ◽  
Route Of Exposure

With the increasing focus on environmental issues, the objective of this study is to evaluate the potential impact of contaminated sediments of the Blesbok Spruit near Witbank - which receives acid mine drainage (AMD) inter alia - on biota. Direct transfer of chemicals from sediments to organisms is considered to be a major route of exposure for many species, and therefore focusing attention on sediment contamination and highlighting the fact that sediments are an important resource. Acute toxicity tests were performed on Daphnia pulex using both extracted sediment interstitial water and surface water. Chemical analyses were also performed on the sediment, interstitial water and surface water samples. The toxicity results suggest that metal toxicity adds significantly to the toxicity of the stream water which is enhanced by the effect of pH. The pH of the stream and interstitial water was consistently below 4.5.

Effects of riffle–step restoration on hyporheic zone chemistry in N-rich lowland streams

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamao Kasahara ◽  
Alan R Hill
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Ion Concentration ◽  
Hyporheic Exchange ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Exchange Flow ◽  
Nutrient Inputs ◽  
Lowland Streams ◽  
Hyporheic Zones

Stream restoration projects that aim to rehabilitate ecosystem health have not considered surface–subsurface linkages, although stream water and groundwater interaction has an important role in sustaining stream ecosystem functions. The present study examined the effect of constructed riffles and a step on hyporheic exchange flow and chemistry in restored reaches of several N-rich agricultural and urban streams in southern Ontario. Hydrometric data collected from a network of piezometers and conservative tracer releases indicated that the constructed riffles and steps were effective in inducing hyporheic exchange. However, despite the use of cobbles and boulders in the riffle construction, high stream dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations were depleted rapidly with depth into the hyporheic zones. Differences between observed and predicted nitrate concentrations based on conservative ion concentration patterns indicated that these hyporheic zones were also nitrate sinks. Zones of low hydraulic conductivity and the occurrence of interstitial fines in the restored cobble-boulder layers suggest that siltation and clogging of the streambed may reduce the downwelling of oxygen- and nitrate-rich stream water. Increases in streambed DO levels and enhancement of habitat for hyporheic fauna that result from riffle–step construction projects may only be temporary in streams that receive increased sediment and nutrient inputs from urban areas and croplands.

Periodic alterations of the hydrological exchange in hyporheic sediments: colmation, hyporheic fauna and abiotic parameters in a second order stream during one year 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heide Stein ◽  
Hans Jürgen Hahn
Keyword(s):  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Order Stream ◽  
Fine Sediments ◽  
Stream Discharge ◽  
One Year ◽  
Hydrological Exchange

<p>In this study, the temporal variability of the hydrological exchange between stream water (SW) and groundwater (GW), colmation, hyporheic invertebrate fauna, organic matter (OM) and physicochemical parameters were examined for the period of one year. Sampling and measuring were conducted monthly from May 2019 to April 2020 at the Guldenbach river, a second order stream in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. All hyporheic samples were extracted from a depth of 15 cm below stream bottom. Colmation was measured quantitatively in the same depth.</p><p>Following the biotic and abiotic patterns found, three temporal stages of different hydrological conditions can be described:</p><ul><li>1) Strong floods, in February and March 2020 caused hydromorphological alterations of the river bed, leading to a decolmation of the hyporheic zone, a wash out of OM and hyporheic fauna. Due to high GW tables the vertical hydrological gradient (VHG) was positive indicating upwelling GW.</li> <li>2) In the months of Mai to August 2019 and April 2020, precipitation and stream discharge were lowest. Predominantly exfiltrating conditions were observed, while the amount of fine sediments (clay and silt) increased as well as colmation. High densities of hyporheic fauna, dominated by fine sediment dwelling taxa, were assessed.</li> <li>3) From September 2019 to January 2020 stream discharge was low. The VHG became increasingly negative, indicating downwelling SW. In accordance, colmation increased continuously, while densities of hyporheic invertebrates decreased and sediment dwellers became more dominant.</li> </ul><p>Precipitation, discharge events and GW table were found to be the driving factors for the annual dynamics of the hydrological exchange as well as for colmation, fauna and hydrochemistry. Electric conductivity seems a suitable indicator for the origin of water with high values in months of low precipitation and lower values after extensive precipitation events, respectively. Hyporheic fauna displayed a significant seasonality and the community structure was correlated with colmation and changes in the VHG.</p><p>This pronounced seasonality seems to be typical of many streams and should be considered for the monitoring of sediments and hyporheic habitats: Seasons with lower stream discharge are probably the most critical periods for sediment conditions.</p><p>We assume that the basic patterns of the dynamics observed basically reflect the natural situation in the catchment. However, the strength of surface run-off and the amount of fine sediments are mainly the result of anthropogenic activities and land use in the catchment.</p><p>These findings underline the significance of dynamical processes for the assessment and implementation of the Water Framework Directive.</p>

scholarly journals Assessment of Hydrologic Transient Storage of Three Streams

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 79-80
Author(s):  
Michael Gooseff
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Stream Sediments ◽  
Hyporheic Exchange ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
Stream Channel ◽  
Ample Opportunity ◽  
Biogeochemical Transformations

Stream sediments are important locations of biogeochemical transformations upon which many stream ecosystem functions depend. Stream water is often exchanged between the stream channel and surrounding subsurface locations - this process is known as hyporheic exchange. While stream water is moving through the hyporheic zone, solutes and nutrients may undergo important chemical reactions that are not possible in the main stream channel. Further, because the hyporheic zone is composed of porous media (sand, sediment, alluvium, etc.), flow inherently slows down and the exchanging water has ample opportunity to interact with mineral grain surfaces and biofilms.

scholarly journals Storm Driven Seasonal Variation in the Thermal Response of the Streambed Water of a Low-Gradient Stream

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2498
Author(s):  
Erasmus K. Oware ◽  
Eric W. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Thermal Response ◽  
Temperature Data ◽  
Warm Period ◽  
Cold Period ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Stream Channels ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Substrate Temperatures

Storm events strongly influence water temperatures in the saturated substrate underlying stream channels, or the hyporheic zone (HZ). The goal of this study was to evaluate the impacts of storm events on thermal transport in the HZ. A year of temperature data were collected from six (6) multi-level samplers at multiple depths (30 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm and 150 cm) and were categorized into seasonal storm events. Analysis of the HZ temperature profiles revealed a seasonal reversal in the post-storm temperature change (ΔT) in the substrate. Increases in the ΔT were observed in the warm period (summer), whereas decreases occurred during the cold period (winter); both were associated with the direction of the pre-storm thermal gradient between the stream and substrate temperatures. The amplitude of ΔT became muted with increasing depth. Two-sample t-test analyses showed statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-storm temperatures at all depths during the warm period and at all depths except 150 cm in the cold period. Upwelling groundwater moderates the thermal response. There were no statistically significant differences in the pre- and post-storm stream temperatures during both the cold and warm periods.

scholarly journals Assessment of Surface Water Resources in the Big Sunflower River Watershed Using Coupled SWAT–MODFLOW Model

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Gao ◽  
Gary Feng ◽  
Ming Han ◽  
Padmanava Dash ◽  
Johnie Jenkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
River Watershed ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Surface Water Resources ◽  
Supplementary Irrigation

The groundwater level in the Big Sunflower River Watershed (BSRW) in the U.S. has declined significantly in the past 30 years. Therefore, it is imperative to assess surface water resources (SWR) availability in BSRW to mitigate groundwater use for irrigation. This research applied the coupled Soil and Water Assessment Tool–Modular Groundwater Flow model (SWAT–MODFLOW) to assess SWR in BSRW. This study aimed at: (1) Assessing the reliability of SWAT–MODFLOW in BSRW, (2) analyzing temporal and spatial variations of SWR, and (3) assessing the potential availability of SWR in BSRW. Calibration and validation results showed that SWAT–MODFLOW can well simulate streamflow and groundwater levels in BSRW. Our results showed that BSRW had lower average monthly total stream resources (MSR = 8.8 × 107 m3) in growing seasons than in non-growing seasons (MSR = 11.0 × 107 m3), and monthly pond resources (MPR from 30,418 to 30,494 m3) varied less than stream resources. The proportion of sub-basins in BSRW with stream water resources greater than 700 mm was 21% in dry years (229 to 994 mm), while this increased to 35% in normal years (296 to 1141 mm) and 57% in wet years (554 to 991 mm). The Water Stress Index (WSI) ranged from 0.4 to 2.1, revealing that most of the sub-basins in BSRW have net SWR available for irrigation. Our results suggested that surface water resources might be supplementary irrigation sources to mitigate the water resources scarcity in this region.

scholarly journals Insight into the influence of local streambed heterogeneity on hyporheic-zone flow characteristics

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 2697-2712
Author(s):  
Robert Earon ◽  
Joakim Riml ◽  
Liwen Wu ◽  
Bo Olofsson
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Penetration Depth ◽  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Hyporheic Exchange ◽  
Tracer Injection ◽  
Hyporheic Flow ◽  
Exchange Processes

AbstractInteraction between surface water and groundwater plays a fundamental role in influencing aquatic chemistry, where hyporheic exchange processes, distribution of flow paths and residence times within the hyporheic zone will influence the transport of mass and energy in the surface-water/groundwater system. Geomorphological conditions greatly influence hyporheic exchange, and heterogeneities such as rocks and clay lenses will be a key factor for delineating the hyporheic zone. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) were used to investigate the streambed along a 6.3-m-long reach in order to characterise geological layering and distinct features which may influence parameters such as hydraulic conductivity. Time-lapse ERT measurements taken during a tracer injection demonstrated that geological features at the meter-scale played a determining role for the hyporheic flow field. The penetration depth of the tracer into the streambed sediment displayed a variable spatial pattern in areas where the presence of highly resistive anomalies was detected. In areas with more homogeneous sediments, the penetration depth was much more uniformly distributed than observed in more heterogeneous sections, demonstrating that ERT can play a vital role in identifying critical hydraulic features that may influence hyporheic exchange processes. Reciprocal ERT measurements linked variability and thus uncertainty in the modelled resistivity to the spatial locations, which also demonstrated larger variability in the tracer penetration depth, likely due to local heterogeneity in the hydraulic conductivity field.

scholarly journals The influence of riparian-hyporheic zone on the hydrological responses in an intermittent stream

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Butturini ◽  
S. Bernal ◽  
S. Sabater ◽  
F. Sabater
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Level ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Groundwater Hydrology ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Intermittent Stream ◽  
Hydrological Responses ◽  
Runoff Variability

Abstract. Stream and riparian groundwater hydrology has been studied in a small intermittent stream draining a forested catchment for a system representative of a Mediterranean climate. The relationship between precipitation and stream runoff and the interactions between stream water and the surrounding riparian groundwater have been analysed under a wide spectrum of meteorological conditions. The hypothesis that the hydrological condition of the near-stream groundwater compartment can regulate the runoff generation during precipitation events was tested. Stream runoff is characterised by a summer dry period, and precipitation input explained only 25% of runoff variability over the study period (r2 =0.25, d.f.=51, p<0.001). The variability of precipitation v. stream runoff is explained partly by the hydrogeological properties of the riparian near-stream zone. This zone is characterised by high hydrological conductivity values and abrupt changes in groundwater level in summer. The summer dry period begins with a rapid decrease in near-stream groundwater level, and ends just after the first autumnal rain when the original groundwater level recovers suddenly. Within this period, storms do not cause major stream runoff since water infiltrates rapidly into the riparian compartment until it is refilled during the subsequent winter and spring; then the precipitation explains the 80% of the stream runoff variability (r2=0.80, d.f.=34, p<0.001). These results suggest that the hydrological interaction between the riparian groundwater compartment and the stream channel is important in elucidating the hydrological responses during drought periods in small Mediterranean streams. Keywords: riparian zone, groundwater hydrology, runoff, intermittent stream, Mediterranean climate

scholarly journals Assessment of the effects of wastewater treatment plant effluents on receiving streams using oligochaete communities of the porous matrix

2019 ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Régis Vivien ◽  
Michel Lafont ◽  
Inge Werner ◽  
Mélanie Laluc ◽  
Benoit J.D. Ferrari
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Porous Matrix ◽  
Biological Quality ◽  
Coarse Surface

Human activities can disturb the natural dynamics of exchanges between surface water and groundwater in rivers. Such exchanges contribute to the self-purification of the environment and an excess of infiltration can lead to contamination of groundwater. In addition, the porous matrix (coarse surface sediments and hyporheic zone), through which water exchanges occur, is a sink for pollutants. For environmental monitoring programs, it is therefore essential to take into account both the dynamics of vertical hydrological exchanges and the biological quality of this matrix. The functional trait (FTR) method, which is based on the study of oligochaete communities in coarse surface sediments and the hyporheic zone, was proposed as a tool to simultaneously assess the dynamics of vertical hydrological exchanges and the effects of pollutants present in the porous matrix. Here, we applied this method during two different periods (in March and September 2016), upstream and downstream of locations affected by discharges from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) located in Switzerland. The biological quality of surface sediments and the hyporheic zone was shown to be better upstream of the WWTP in both campaigns. In addition, results suggested that the capacity for self-purification was lower downstream of the WWTP, and that groundwater at these locations was vulnerable to pollution by surface water. The FTR method proved valuable as a field method for detecting the effects of point source contamination on receiving streams. In the near future, this community-based approach will benefit from advances in the use of DNA barcodes for oligochaete species identification.

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