Item talk:Q226962

{

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 "additionalType": "Project",
 "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/centers/new-jersey-water-science-center/science/new-jersey-subbasin-paired-air-stream-water",
 "headline": "New Jersey Subbasin Paired Air & Stream Water Temperature Networks",
 "datePublished": "December 6, 2023",
 "author": [
   {
     "@type": "Person",
     "name": "Sally A Carullo",
     "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/sally-a-carullo"
   }
 ],
 "description": [
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "In the spring of 2023, in conjunction with the ongoing Flow Photo Explorer project, ten trail cameras were deployed within the Musconetcong basin. The Flow Photo Explorer (FPE) project is a collaboration between U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Walker Environmental Research, Microsoft Research, and many contributing partners, which aims to develop new approaches to hydrologic monitoring in streams and rivers where flow data are historically sparse or non-existent. Flow is a critical variable in streams since it affects aquatic and riparian biological communities and human uses of water (i.e., recreation, public water supply, etc.). Flow regimes are changing due to anthropogenic (e.g., water withdrawals) and natural impacts (e.g., extreme weather events). Many states consider issues with altered hydrology as a growing priority, and some have developed flow criteria for streams. However, most USGS gages are not located in small to mid- size streams and deployment of hydrological equipment is costly and requires specialized expertise. This project was created to help states, tribes, and other entities by promoting a low-cost and user-friendly alternative with the use of continuous imagery for flow monitoring. This project has two main objectives:"
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "Together the web-based data portal and machine learning models will provide an exciting new platform for monitoring flow in rivers and streams based on low cost timelapse imagery."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "The Musconetcong River was chosen to participate in the Flow Photo Explorer (FPE) project which is developing an innovative new method for monitoring streamflow using time-lapse images captured by inexpensive trail cameras. Cameras co-located with TidbiTs will allow for confirmation of low flow or dry conditions while also training the FPE model to better identify these conditions. They also allow for comparing percent baseflow contributions from the paired air-water temperature to the magnitude estimates derived from the cameras."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "In New Jersey, two major sub-basins were chosen as focus areas due to their localized hydrogeologic landscape and landcover."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "The North Branch of the Rancocas subbasin drains mostly forested Pine Barren terrain, characterized by acidic groundwater and shallow groundwater exchange with wetlands and headwater streams. It is a relatively low gradient system underlain by thick unconsolidated sand, gravel, and clay sediments."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "At each site, bankside air and stream water temperature are recorded every 15-minutes by small loggers called TidbiTs. These sensors were deployed for a year to allow the USGS to develop a high spatial resolution map of headwater temperature sensitivity to air temperature patterns, both short (daily/weekly) and longer term (seasonally) as well as record of flow permanence/drying reaches at subset locations. Equipment was 5-point temperature tested against a NIST thermometer in the lab pre- and post-deployment for quality assurance, ensuring TidbiTs were within +/- 0.20 degrees of the reference temperature. Comparison readings were also made during the initial, mid-year, and final visit to ensure logger was reading accurately. Methods were developed with NJWSC Water Quality Specialist."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "During installation, air TidbiTs were attached inside temperature shelters and were placed on the north facing sides of riparian trees. The purpose of the shelter is to shield the instrumentation from direct sunlight and precipitation, while allowing a free flow of air. Water TidbiTs were attached to fence posts or rebar anchored in the channel bed, and in some smaller channels, were attached to in-channel wood with zip-ties. Temperature cross-sections were done during the initial installation to ensure sensor was placed in a location representative of the temperature profile. Water sensors were placed in areas with flow during deployments."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "The temperature, water quality, and channel connectivity along headwater stream networks often show highly dynamic spatiotemporal patterns that are controlled by recharge, topography, and geology. However, high spatial resolution characterization of groundwater discharge along headwater networks using traditional tools, such as tracers or physical gaging, is labor intensive, expensive and not scalable. Currently, the USGS NGWOS program is evaluating the use of high spatial resolution temperature data in headwater streams to assess groundwater/surface water exchange. Ambient stream temperature data can be analyzed to infer spatial patterns in groundwater discharge and other streamflow generation process, particularly when bankside air temperature is also collected. Beginning in 2019, NGWOS has supported low cost, continuous paired air/water temperature monitoring in the Delaware River Basin. Two study areas in New Jersey were chosen to be included in this larger study due to their unique hydrogeology and sensitive ecological habitats. In the North Branch of the Rancocas subbasin at 46 sites and 25 sites within the Lopatcong, Pohatcong, and Musconetcong subbasins, paired air and water data was collected using low-cost HOBO TidbiT MX2203 Bluetooth enabled data loggers. Methods were developed at the NJWSC to test the loggers for quality assurance, as well as standardize deployment. Loggers were set to log at 15-minute intervals and deployed in the field for a full year, with data downloaded mid-year. Datasets were appended into Aquarius and screened for data anomalies, such as logger out of water due to low flow, erroneous values, or data gaps. Data collection overall was successful, although some challenges were encountered (low water levels, theft/vandalism, and power issues with the TidbiTs). After approval, the multicenter NGWOS temperature datasets will be used to develop a high spatial resolution map of relative groundwater discharge and headwater temperature sensitivity to air temperature patterns throughout the sub-basins of the Delaware River Basin (DRB)."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "This stretch of the Musconetcong between Lake Hopatcong and Hackettstown, within carbonate bedrock geology, is currently being assessed by the Musconetcong Watershed Association under a 319(h) non-point source pollution planning grant, which includes remedying thermal impairments as well as covers the most important potential wild trout water/known wild trout tributaries where Trout Unlimited works and collect samples. The stretch also contains two dams with unknown, but anticipated impacts on isolating thermal refuges and fragmenting wild trout populations. This data can be used by multiple researchers to infer potential groundwater discharge zones and areas of thermal refuge for wild trout."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "Three site visits were made to each site. During the first visit, loggers were installed. Next, sites were visited for mid-year downloads and to ensure logger was reading accurate to reference. The final trip was to download data and pull sensors. After the post-removal equipment quality assurance testing, all data was appended to air and water temperature time-series\u2019 in Aquarius. Data was then analyzed and approved."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "In conjunction with the paired air and water temperature network in the Musconetcong basin, a more detailed high resolution, spatially contiguous survey of channel thermal heterogeneity along a half-mile of the mainstem as well as several Musconetcong tributaries were completed using thermal infrared (TIR) sensors. These surveys, completed during summer low flow conditions, used handheld TIR cameras to identify thermal anomalies and groundwater discharge. This sampling event was also funded by the Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS)."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "3450 Princeton Pike\nSuite 110\nLawrenceville, NJ 08648\nUnited States"
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "In contrast to the Rancocas subbasin, the Pohatcong, Lopatcong and Musconetcong River subbasin(s) are partially underlain by karst terrain. Strong stream-groundwater connectivity via karst springs helps maintain trout habitat that is rare in the region due to generally warm summer stream temperatures. The mainstem of the Musconetcong River is classified by the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries as a \u201ctrout maintenance\u201d stream. Trout maintenance designation means the stream can support trout populations year-round. Stream locations in the Musconetcong are known to periodically dry at low-flow, and there are streams that sink into the karst aquifer, demonstrating the unique hydrogeology of the subbasins compared to more northern headwater monitoring locations in NY and PA. Additionally, the Musconetcong River is the largest non-tidal tributary to the Delaware River in New Jersey."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "To learn more about FPE or use the Photo Explorer, visit Flow Photo Explorer | USGS"
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "In order to monitor the temperature in these sub-basins, 74 sites were chosen within the Rancocas subbasin and the Pohatcong, Lopatcong and Musconetcong River subbasin(s).  Headwater streams from the watershed were selected, many located within Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, and new sites were established to increase the spatial data coverage in the watershed.  Field sites within the Pohatcong, Lopatcong, and Musconetcong River subbasins were chosen with assistance from Trout Unlimited in areas where they did not currently collect temperature data. These were potential groundwater influences, and at sites where water samples had been taken previously. For both watershed deployments, field sites were visited before deployments for reconnaissance."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "Due to the preexisting intensive monitoring in the Musconetcong basin with air and water temperature sensors, continuous streamgages, discrete discharge measurements, as well as other networks monitored by USGS cooperators, the Musconetcong basin was chosen to participate in this ongoing project. The basin will benefit greatly from more information provided by the trail cameras such as relative flow and to better define groundwater and surface water interactions. Funding for the trail cameras was provided by NGWOS."
   },
   {
     "@type": "TextObject",
     "text": "The temperature, water quality, and channel connectivity along headwater stream networks often show highly dynamic spatiotemporal patterns that are tied to localized hydrogeologic and landcover controls. Groundwater exchanges exert a spatially discontinuous influence on streams that reflect, in part, the preferential nature of groundwater discharge as controlled by recharge, topography, and geology. However, high spatial resolution characterization of groundwater discharge along headwater networks is labor intensive and not scalable, so, the USGS has developed projects, funded by the Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS), for paired air/water temperature monitoring to identify groundwater inputs and dry stream channel periods that impede fish passage."
   }
 ],
 "funder": {
   "@type": "Organization",
   "name": "New Jersey Water Science Center",
   "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/centers/new-jersey-water-science-center"
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