
Long-Term Effectiveness of Restoration Activities on Streams in the Lititz Run Watershed
This research addresses the question of the long-term effectiveness of stream restoration activities by evaluating water quality and biotic integrity above and below several restorations on Lititz Run and its major tributary Santo Domingo as part of a linear system of stream restoration projects. The restorations are at least 10 years old and have been the subject of several citizen science data collection efforts for the past 20 years. The streams were sampled longitudinally every season during the study period to determine the effectiveness of the various types of stream restoration. The activities for examining the stream restoration were separated into floodplain reconnection or engineered stabilization. In - field data was collected on flow, geomorphology, and water quality. Our results show that the restored vegetation around the floodplain and in the main channel is helpful in reducing the levels of the analyzed chemicals. Additionally, the nutrient inputs and nutrient processing in streams varied considerably between study areas and sites in accordance with seasonal trends for some chemical concentrations. It is observed that seasonal trends are affected by numerous factors, including timing, magnitude, and source (atmospheric deposition, surface runoff, or groundwater), changes in hydrology (concentration and dilution), as well as environmental factors. In addition, the fall 2021 macroinvertebrate sampling highlights the poorer biotic integrity in urban area restorations where bank armoring was the primary technique.
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Work Title | Long-Term Effectiveness of Restoration Activities on Streams in the Lititz Run Watershed |
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License | In Copyright (Rights Reserved) |
Work Type | Masters Thesis |
Publication Date | December 2021 |
Deposited | December 16, 2021 |
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