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Flow path studies in forested watersheds of headwater tributaries of Brush Brook, Vermont
Author(s) -
Ross Donald S.,
Bartlett Richmond J.,
Magdoff Frederick R.,
Walsh Gregory J.
Publication year - 1994
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 - 10.1029/94wr01490
Subject(s) - tributary , watershed , hydrology (agriculture) , bedrock , geology , streams , drainage basin , environmental science , soil water , geomorphology , geography , soil science , computer network , cartography , geotechnical engineering , machine learning , computer science
An investigation was undertaken into how headwater tributaries of Brush Brook, Vermont, could have average p H differences of almost two units (4.75 and 6.7). Sampling along four tributaries revealed that most of one tributary, below an area of seeps, had consistently higher p H, Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , and K + , and lower Al than other sites. Bedrock mapping showed numerous fractures in vicinity of the seeps. A portion of this tributary's watershed and a portion of an acid tributary's watershed were intensively mapped for soil depth. Sampling showed the widespread existence of dense basal till in the watershed of the acid tributary but none in that of the near‐neutral stream. Lateral flow, found above the dense till, was chemically similar to that of the acid tributary and to solutions sampled from soil B horizons. There were no differences in the average p H of nonseep soils sampled from either watershed. Flow paths are hypothesized to be through the B horizons in the acid tributaries and from below the soil profile in the near‐neutral tributary. The acid catchment should be more sensitive to environmental change.