2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference

March 13 - 15, 2022

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5/21/2019  |   9:15 AM - 9:30 AM   |  DOES LAND CONSERVATION IMPROVE STREAM ECOSYSTEM HEALTH?   |  250 AB

DOES LAND CONSERVATION IMPROVE STREAM ECOSYSTEM HEALTH?

Extensive land cover change in human-dominated landscapes has impaired stream ecosystems throughout the Midwest U.S. Land conservation and restoration activities have sought to improve stream ecosystem health, yet little research has investigated the efficacy of these projects. In our study, we investigated streams in or adjacent to Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, a 9,000-acre property that includes restored prairie, wetlands, and forests in Central Iowa. We quantified a suite of structural and functional metrics at six streams with varying proportions of conservation in their watersheds. Three streams were small headwaters with natural channel geomorphology, low discharge (3–30 L/s), and low mean residence time (0.34–0.61 hours), whereas the other three streams were channelized ditches with higher discharge (40–200 L/s) and longer residence times (1.5–3.6 hours). Despite contrasting geomorphology and hydrology, the streams with more natural land cover in their proximal watersheds frequently had lower rates of whole-stream metabolism relative to the streams in more highly impacted watersheds. A thorough understanding of the predictors of stream ecosystem health can provide a strong tool for the management and restoration of watersheds and streams in highly developed landscapes.

  • Landuse
  • Metabolism
  • Water Quality

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Presenters/Authors

Peter S. Levi (), Drake University, peter.levi@drake.edu;


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Katlyn Schulz (), Drake University, katlyn.schulz@drake.edu;


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Grace Mikelsons (), Drake University, grace.mikelsons@drake.edu;


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Bret Lang (), Drake University, bret.lang@drake.edu;


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