ARS | Publication request: Storm and hurricane disturbances on phosphorus storage within an in-stream wetland

Submitted to: Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: May 30, 2008
Publication Date: October 5, 2008
Citation: Szogi, A.A., Novak, J.M. 2008. Storm and hurricane disturbances on phosphorus storage within an in-stream wetland [abstract]. American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, November 5-9, Houston, Texas. 2008 CDROM

Technical Abstract: The ability of wetlands to hold phosphorus (P) makes them and important landscape feature that help to protect water quality. However, their ability to retain P can be affected through hydrologic disturbances caused by both storms and flooding. An animal waste impacted in-stream wetland (ISW) located at the Herrings Marsh Run watershed, Duplin Co., NC, was studied for four years (1996-1999) to evaluate the effects of storms and hurricanes on P storage pools. Outflow dissolved P concentrations and mass export loads were used to measure the storm effect on P release from the ISW. Although not all storm events caused significant amounts of dissolved P release from the ISW, multiple storms in close succession significantly increased DP export. Major changes in DP along with sediment total P concentrations within the ISW occurred as a result of intense storm activities during the four years of this study. Dissolved P concentrations in sediment pore water and sediment total P concentrations decreased within the ISW suggesting that the effects of extreme events, such intense storms and hurricanes in close succession may affect the long term water quality functions of in-stream wetlands.