Checklist for Potomac/Mid-Atlantic Hydrologic Observatory

 

Name:  Keith Van Ness           Institution:      Montgomery County, Maryland

                                                                        Department of Environmental Protection

 

Number of watersheds: Two Maryland 12 digit watersheds; 021403020223 ­ Little Bennett Creek, Sopers Branch Tributary and 021402080857 ­ Little Seneca Creek, 3 unnamed Tributaries and Cabin Branch

 

For each watershed where monitoring is going on, provide the following (copy to additional pages as needed)

 

Geographic coordinates for a reference point in the watershed or at the basin outlet:

Sopers Branch: 39o 15¹ 27.36² -77 o 17¹ 48.01²

Crystal Rock Drive Tributary: 39 o 11¹ 38.2² -77 o 15¹ 26.6²

Cabin Branch Tributary 39.2065391540527  -77.2886734008789

Unnamed Tributary 104 39.2315940856934 -77.2558288574219

Unnamed Tributary 109 39.2226142883301 -77.2500534057617

 

Number of sites being monitored within the watershed, with the range or average size of drainage areas (where relevant):

Sopers Branch ­ 4 study reaches

Crystal Rock Drive Tributary - 2 study reaches

Cabin Branch Tributary - 4 study reaches

Unnamed Tributary 104 ­ 4 study reaches

Unnamed Tributary 109 ­ 3 study reaches

 

Drainage area sizes range from 70 acres to 500 acres.

 

Parameters being monitored

(list by category, e.g. streamflow; groundwater levels; meteorological variables ­ precip, relative humidity, wind speed, components of radiation balance; temperature; water quality constituents ­ nutrients, metals, organics, microorganisms, etc.; if there are different suites monitored at different sites, give approximate number of sites where each group of parameters is being monitored)

 

Streamflow at 5 USGS gages (2 to be real time, 3 maintained cooperatively with Montgomery County DEP staff).

Groundwater levels: SPA or Groundwater Protection Strategy groundwater wells, also wells to be established through U of MD College Park. cooperative study

Precipitation at 2 recording tipping bucket rain gages

Nutrients through U of MD College Park cooperative study

Fish and benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring

1 Longitudinal survey, 2 to 3 cross sections, Wolman Pebble Count, and sinuosity ratio per study reach

Various studies as to Sediment and Erosion Control device and SWM BMP device efficiency

Annual LIDAR photography of study area

Nesting Bird Surveys

Vernal Pool Monitoring

 

Period(s) of record:

streamflow: Sopers gage installed Fall 2003, others installed winter/spring 2004 

Groundwater levels: SPA or Groundwater Protection Strategy groundwater wells ­ 2 to 3 years, wells to be established through U of MD College Park. cooperative study not yet installed

Precipitation: One gage since September 2003 

Nutrients through U of MD College Park cooperative study

Fish and benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring: Most reaches for 5 years minimum

1 Longitudinal survey, 2 to 3 cross sections, Wolman Pebble Count, and sinuosity ratio per study reach : 2 years

Various studies as to Sediment and Erosion Control device and SWM BMP device efficiency: varies

LIDAR photography: 2003, 2004

Nesting Bird Surveys: 2004

Vernal Pool Surveys: 2003

 

Frequency of record:

streamflow:  5 minute recording interval

Groundwater levels: SPA and Groundwater Protection Strategy groundwater wells ­ some continuous, some quarterly, U of MD College Park. cooperative study TBD

Precipitation: Any frequency requested, data stored in 5 minute intervals

Nutrients through U of MD College Park cooperative study: TBD

Fish and benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring: Once per year ­ spring for benthics, summer for fish

1 Longitudinal survey, 2 to 3 cross sections, Wolman Pebble Count, and sinuosity ratio per study reach: once per year in May - June

Various studies as to Sediment and Erosion Control device and SWM BMP device efficiency: varies

LIDAR: once per year budget permitting

Nesting Bird Surveys: once a year, June/July

Vernal Pool Monitoring: once a year, February to June

 

Titles of current project or projects or scientific and management objectives of monitoring:

 

Primary scientific and management objectives are to:

1. Assess effectiveness of current and previous Maryland stormwater management design manuals

2. Assess effects that land-use conversion will have on the hydrology, morphology, surface/groundwater interaction, and biology of small piedmont headwater streams.

Names of Principal Investigators on current projects:

Keith Van Ness, MoCo DEP

Don Dorsey, MoCo DEP

Nora Bucke, MoCo DEP

Dave Jordahl, MoCo DEP

Alicia Youmans, MoCo DEP 

Doug Marshall, MoCo DEP

Mark Sommerfield, MoCo DEP

Meo Curtis, MoCo DEP

Ken Medearis, MOCO DEP

Lonnie Darr, MoCo DEP

David Jennings, US EPA

Taylor Jarnagin US EPA

Jim Jefferies, USGS

Chuck Strain, USGS

Gary Fisher, USGS

Margaret Palmer, U of MD College Park

Laura Craig, U of MD College Park

Kevin Kelly, Environmental Systems Analysis, Inc.

Amy Hennessey, Environmental Systems Analysis, Inc.

Doug Redmond, MNCPPC