THE HURON NATURAL AREA WORKING GROUP
ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE STUDIES 490
CARL BURGESS, MARK CONRAD, STEVE DIGGON, MARNIE EGGEN, ROBIN GREEN, CLINT
JOHNSON, RYAN METCALFE AND IAIN THOMSON
ADVISOR: James J. Kay
Environment and Resource Studies
University of Waterloo
April 6, 1995
1.0 Introduction 2
- 1.0.1 Proposal Focus 2
- 1.0.2 Objectives 4
1.1. Monitoring Network Design 5
- 1.1.1 Transect Rationale 7
- 1.1.2 Site Documentation 8
- 1.1.3 Network Code 8
- 1.1.4 Database Management 9
2.0.1 Steps of the Sampling Protocol 11
2.0.2 Collection within the 5m Radius 12
- 2.0.2.1 Invertebrate Community 12
- 2.0.2.2 Ground Cover 13
- 2.0.2.3 Leaf Litter Depth 14
- 2.0.2.4 Field Hand Test for Soil (from W.M. Marsh, 1991) 14
- 2.0.2.5 Shrub Measurements 15
- 2.0.2.6 Saplings and Poles 16
- 2.0.2.7 Canopy Cover 16
- 2.0.2.8 Slope and Aspect 17
2.0.3 Collections within the 11m Radius 17
- 2.0.3.1 Trees. 17
- 2.0.3.2 Strata Heights 17
- 2.0.3.3 Community Synopsis 17
- 2.0.3.4 Downed Woody Debris 17
- 2.0.3.5 Mycological Inventory 18
- 2.0.3.6 Micro-Climate Field Work 18
2.1.1 Vegetation Transects the Point-Centered Quarter Technique 19
- 2.1.1.1 The Point Centered Quarter Technique 20
2.2 Sampling and
Analysis Recommendations 21
3.0.1 Relationship of Aquatic Monitoring to Other Componments 25
3.1.1Siting Criteria 26
- 3.2.1 StreamLength 26
- 3.2.2 Stream Drainage Area 27
- 3.2.3 Average Gradient 27
- 3.2.4 Stream Type 28
- 3.3.1 Sample Collection 28
- 3.3.2 Sample Handling 29
- 3.3.3 Sample Storage 30
- 3.4.1Stream Dimensions and Flow Rate 30
- 3.4.2 Width 31
- 3.4.3 Depth 31
- 3.4.4 Area (cross sectional) 31
- 3.4.5 Velocity 32
- 3.4.6 Discharge 32
- 3.4.7 Stream Gradient (Calculated % slope) 33
- 3.4.8 Instream Cover 33
- 3.4.9 Overstream Cover 34
- 3.4.10 Substrate Type 34
- 3.4.11Bank Stability 35
- 3.4.12 Temperature 36
- 3.4.13Turbidity 36
- 3.4.14 Conductivity 37
- 3.4.15 Alkalinity 37
- 3.5.1 Phosphorous 39
- 3.5.2 Nitrogen, Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites 40
- 3.5.3 Dissolved Oxygen 41
3.6 Biological Parameters 41
- 3.6.1 Dissolved Organic and Particulate Carbon 42
- 3.6.2 Chlorophyll a 42
3.7Aquatic Microbiology 42
- 3.7.1 Water Sampling 44
- 3.7.2 Sample Processing 44
- 3.7.3 Microbial Numbers 45
- 3.7.4 Microbial Biomass 47
- 3.7.5 Microbial Activity 49
- 3.8 Macroinvertebrates 51
- 3.9 Vertebrate Sampling 52
- 3.10 Macrophyton 52
- 4.2.1 Overland Flow 56
- 4.2.2 Interflow 56
- 4.2.3 Groundwater - Baseflow 56
- 4.6.1 Step 1 60
- 4.6.2 Step 2 61
- 4.63 Step 3 62
- 4.6.4 Step 4 62
- 4.6.5 Step 5 (a) 62
- 4.6.6 Step 5 (b) 63
- 4.6.7 Step 6 64
- 4.6.8 Step 7 66
- 4.7.1 Mapping the Water Table 66
- 4.7.2 Field Testing and Discharge Areas 67
- 4.7.2.1 Equipment and Materials 67
- 4.7.2.2 Piezometer Construction 68
- 4.7.3 Siting the Piezometers 68
- 4.7.4 Installing the Piezometer 69
- 4.7.5 Measuring the Water Table Depth 70
- 4.7.6 The Contour Map and Discharge Areas 70
- 5.2.1 Definition of Integrity for the Wetlands 73
- 5.4.1 Hydrological Flows 76
- 5.4.2 Precipitation 77
- 5.4.3 Surface Runoff 78
- 5.4.4 Groundwater 79
- 5.4.5 Evaporation 79
- 5.4.6 Stormwater Inflow/Outflow 80
- 5.4.7 Water Budget 81
- 5.4.8 Hydroperiod 82
- 5.4.9 Water Quality 83
- 5.4.10 Nutrients 84
- 5.4.11 Conductivity and Metals 87
- 5.4.12 pH 88
- 5.4.13 Erosion and sedimentation 88
- 5.4.14 Turbidity 90
- 5.4.15 Organic Composition of the Soil 91
- 5.4.16 Redox Potential 92
- 5.4.17 Atmospheric Deposition 92
- 5.5.1 Soil Organisms 94
- 5.5.2 Populations and Communities 95
- 5.5.3 Purple loose-strife 96
- 5.5.4 Bird Counts 97
- 5.5.5 Herpetofauna 98
- 5.5.6 Wildlife Populations 99
- 5.6.1 Urbanization 99
- 5.6.2 Carrying Capacity and Educational Value 100
- 5.7.1 Developing Biological Indicators 100
- 5.7.3 Ecosystem Characteristics 101
- 5.7.4 Information as Seed Banks
FIGURE 1: Proposed Research Network For Huron Natural Park 7
FIGURE 2: Conceptual Database Management Flowchart 11
FIGURE 3: Sample Point Plot Design 12
FIGURE 4: Field Hand Test Diagram 15
FIGURE 5: Sampling Technique 20
FIGURE 6: A Graph For Estimating the time of Overland Flow 63
FIGURE 7: The Amount of Rainfall that can be Expected 65
FIGURE 8: Rainfall Intensity Curves 65
FIGURE 9: Location of the Central Wetlands in Huron Park 75
FIGURE 10: Water Budget Diagram 82
FIGURE 11: Water Measurement Placement 83
FIGURE 12: Measurement of Erosion at Stakes 90
FIGURE 13: Collection of Sediments in a Gerlach Trough 90
FIGURE 14: Trap for Collecting Sediment 91
FIGURE 15:Chemical Transformations in Soil After Flooding 93
TABLE 1: Soil Shapes of the Field Hand Test 16
TABLE 2: Coefficients of Runoff for Rural Areas 61
TABLE 3: Coefficients of Runoff for Selected Urban Areas 62
TABLE 4: Roughness Coefficients (n) 64