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Georgia Water Resources Institute
Georgia Water Resources Institute
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ItemWood debris recruitment from differing riparian landforms in a gulf coastal plain stream: the role of floods(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005-04) Golladay, Stephen W. ; Battle, JuliannWood recruitment dynamics in Coastal Plain streams are complex. Recruitment rates are dependent on stream valley morphology, forest composition, and flow diversity. Infrequent high flows are critical in the maintenance of the instream debris pool. Following extensive flooding in 1994, surveys of downed trees were made across replicated riparian landforms (floodplains, terraces, and sand ridges) in a Gulf Coastal Plain 5th order stream. Annually, the fate of these trees was determined and newly recruited trees were noted. Generally, tree recruitment was greatest in years with substantial floods (1994 and 1998). For each riparian landform type, tree mortality was correlated with the maximum daily flow during the period preceding annual debris surveys.
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ItemMussel Conservation in the Chickasawhatchee and Elmodel Wildlife Management Areas: Methods for a Relocation Study(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003-04) Battle, Juliann ; Golladay, Stephen W. ; Bambarger, A. RaynieSouthwest Georgia has among the richest mussel assemblages in the world. The Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area (WMA), location of the second largest swamp in Georgia, and the Elmodel WMA have recently been placed into permanent conservation status (+15,000 acres) providing an opportunity for the management of mussels. In 2001, 16 locations within the WMAs were surveyed for mussels using visual and tactile methods. Nine species were found with one being very rare (Alasmidonta triangulata) and another federally endangered (Lampsilis subangulata). Mussel densities were much lower than those found in nearby streams, which may be due to prior land use and historical droughts. During the spring of 2003, we plan to relocate three mussel species (Elliptio complanata, E. crassidens, Villosa vibex) that serve as surrogates for endangered species. Their survivorship will be observed for two years; in addition, water quality and hydrology will be monitored. We hope that with the development of relocation methods and identification of suitable habitat, populations of endangered species can eventually be established within the WMAs.
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ItemThe Effects of the 2000 Drought on Freshwater Mussels in the Lower Flint River Basin(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003-04) Golladay, Stephen W. ; Gagnon, Paula ; Kearns, Margaret ; Battle, Juliann ; Hicks, David W.A drought during the summer of 2000 caused record low flows in the lower Flint River Basin (FRB) and many perennial streams dried or became intermittent. Pre-drought surveys conducted in 1999 allowed an assessment of the impact of the drought on mussel assemblages. During 2001, 21 stream reaches which had abundant or diverse mussel assemblages were resurveyed. Where possible, study sites were classified as flowing or non-flowing during the drought. Mussel abundance at sites classified as non-flowing showed significant declines (median value 80% decrease) compared to flowing sites (median value 5% increase). Generally, greatest declines in mussel abundance occurred in the mid-reaches of the major tributaries of the lower Flint River. Declines in mussel populations appear to be associated with unusual climatic conditions and increasing demand on the area streams and the regional aquifer system for irrigation water supply.
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ItemAquatic Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality Characteristics in Five Wetland Types: Preliminary Results on Biomonitoring(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2001-03) Battle, Juliann ; Golladay, Stephen W. ; Clayton, BrianIn southwest Georgia, wetlands can be classified based on source of inundation and vegetation. Depressional wetlands are inundated predominantly through rainfall and are identified as grass-sedge marshes, cypress savannas, and cypress-gum swamps. Riparian sloughs, composed of cypress and gum, occur along river corridors and are flooded when rivers are at high flow. During 1998-2000, we sampled water and aquatic invertebrates in replicates of these 4 wetland types, as well as, agriculturally disturbed marshes. Multivariate analysis indicated that sloughs had the highest levels of inorganic carbon and pH, which we attributed to river water inputs. Compared to the other depressional wetlands, disturbed marshes had approximately five-fold higher PO₄₋P concentrations. Disturbed wetlands most likely derive nutrient inputs from soil and fertilizer runoff from nearby agricultural fields. Macroinvertebrate communities were similar between sloughs and swamp sites given that both wetland types had rather low diversity and numbers. Marsh and disturbed wetlands were also comparable and characterized by Belostomatidae and Tropisternus. Vegetation appears to be the primary factor that determines macroinvertebrate assemblages. Preliminary results indicated that of the proposed 31 metrics four were potentially capable of distinguishing disturbed and reference marshes with the best metrics being % isopods and % scavengers. Ongoing research will confirm whether these metrics can be used to monitor impacted/restored wetlands.
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ItemDoes the Chickasawhatchee Swamp Influence Water Quality? (Poster)(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2001-03) Golladay, Stephen W. ; Battle, JuliannAs watersheds become dominated by human land use, water quality is often altered or degraded. Since 1994, water-quality constituents have been measured monthly in three adjacent Coastal Plain watersheds in southwest Georgia. Row-crop agriculture and managed forestlands are the dominant land use within each watershed; however, one watershed (Chickasawhatchee Creek) had 10-13% less agriculture and greater wetland area than the others. Much of the wetland area was within the Chickasawhatchee Swamp, a substantial wetland complex adjacent to the lower portion of the creek. Riparian areas had less forest, greater agriculture, and greater wetland area compared to the other watersheds. Chickasawhatchee Creek had significantly lower suspended sediment and NO₃₋N concentrations than the other sites. Organic and inorganic carbon concentrations were significantly greater than the other sites. These results suggest that the Chickasawhatchee Swamp may be an important buffer preserving water quality in southwest Georgia. However, these results should be considered preliminary because water quality was not quantified in tributaries entering the swamp. An expansion of the current sampling effort to include upstream tributaries of the swamp is addressing this information need.
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ItemHydrologic and Geomorphic Controls on Particulate Concentrations in Ichawaynochaway Creek, a Blackwater Coastal Plain Stream(Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999-03) Golladay, Stephen W. ; Watt, Kevin ; Entrekin, Sally ; Battle, JuliannExamining controls on particulate concentrations in streams is an important step in understanding stream structure and function. In Coastal Plain streams, organic particles derived from floodplain soils are an important food source for aquatic life; inorganic particle concentrations can ·be indicators of watershed disturbance. Since 1993, we have been examining organic and inorganic particle concentrations in Ichawaynochaway Creek, a 5th order blackwater tributary of the lower Flint River. Monthly samples have been collected during stable flow periods at 7 stations ranging from near the headwaters to the confluence with the Flint River. Our study indicates that geomorphology and hydrology interact to control particle concentrations. Concentrations of all particles were greatest during floods. Areas with well-developed floodplains appear to be source areas for organic particles. In the development of regional conservation programs, floodplain swamp forests may merit special consideration to protect the trophic base of stream communities. In addition, management actions or water allocation formulae that systematically reduce the annual period of floodplain inundation may reduce organic particle transport from floodplains. Reductions in organic concentrations would lower food availability to support aquatic life.
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ItemWater Quality and Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Three Types of Reference Limesink Wetlands in Southwest Georgia(Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999-03) Battle, Juliann ; Golladay, Stephen W.In SW Georgia, three wetlands types have been classified based on vegetation and soils: marshes dominated by herbaceous vegetation, open savannas with an overstory canopy of cypress, and forested swamps composed of cypress/hardwoods. We sampled 28 relatively unimpacted limesink wetlands for water quality at eight different times during 1997-98, and sampled invertebrates using a D-frame sweep net at early, mid, and late hydroperiod times during 1997. Water quality was similar in all wetland types upon initial inundation, but later in the hydroperiod marshes and savannas still had similar water quality that differed from swamps. Swamps had higher levels of dissolved inorganic carbon, NH₄-N, NO₃-N, and PO₄-P, low dissolved oxygen levels, and darkly stained water. We identified 121 different aquatic invertebrate taxa, with 40 taxa occurring in ≤10% of the samples. Marshes had higher density, taxa richness, and diversity than the other wetland types. Our findings suggests that vegetation is the most important factor in determining invertebrate assemblages and that marshes have more niches and a wider variety of food sources than the other wetland types. This study will be useful in assessing and restoring wetlands in the region, although more work is needed to understand the role of fire and hydrologic variation in these wetlands.