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Daily phosphorus variation in a mountain stream
Author(s) -
Hatch Lorin K.,
Reuter John E.,
Goldman Charles R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/1999wr900256
Subject(s) - diel vertical migration , snowmelt , hydrology (agriculture) , silt , environmental science , phosphorus , geology , snow , oceanography , geomorphology , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Monthly diel monitoring studies for phosphorus content were conducted (1995–1996 period) for multiple stations on Incline Creek, a mountain stream in the Lake Tahoe basin (California‐Nevada). Large discharge and particulate P (PP) concentration fluctuations occurred during June in the early evening as snowmelt from higher elevations arrived at the lower stream reaches. June diel dissolved organic P (DOP) concentrations steadily increased, while soluble reactive P (SRP) concentrations remained constant. June diel PP concentrations associated with sand‐sized particles (PP sand : >63 μm) exhibited a clockwise hysteresis, indicating possible sediment source depletion on a daily timescale. June diel PP associated with silt‐ and clay‐sized particles (PP SC : >0.45 μm and <63 μm) exhibited counterclockwise hysteresis behavior, suggesting a potential groundwater contribution to PP SC . PP SC comprised the majority of PP concentration, except during high‐discharge events when PP sand concentration was dominant. Areal PP loading, specifically PP sand , appears to originate primarily from the lower eastern branch of Incline Creek during the spring snowmelt season. Possible sources include a ski resort/parking lot and a golf course. DOP and SRP areal loads were greatest from the undeveloped upper subwatershed, suggesting that natural factors such as slope are influencing loading of small‐sized P fractions.