Project/Activity
- Version 1 of 1
Title: The River Eden Demonstration Test Catchment (DTC) Data
Related Party - Individual (Project Scientist): Doctor Nick Barber (Durham University) Email address: n.j.barber@durham.ac.uk
Related Party - Organisation (Deliverer): Eden DTC
Abstract:
The River Eden Demonstration Test Catchment (EdenDTC) is a Defra funded research project. The aim of the project is to assess if it is possible to cost effectively mitigate diffuse pollution from agriculture whilst maintaining agricultural productivity. EdenDTC is part of a wider research platform including similar projects in the Hampshire Avon and the River Wensum. The project is working in three focus catchments within the River Eden catchment, selected to represent a range of land uses, physical characteristics and weather. The focus areas are in the Thackthwaite, Newby and Pow catchments. Each catchment has an area of approximately 10km2. We are monitoring the stream water quality and biology and looking at how the catchment responds to storm events. This work includes measuring many properties of the water including the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and total amount of water leaving the catchment. We are working closely with farmers in the catchment to test a range of mitigation measures in real catchment situations. The experimental approach used for assessing mitigation was the 'Before-After Control-Impact' (BACI) approach which uses pre-mitigation instream data to provide a baseline against which to compare post-mitigation instream conditions, and which also compares a 'manipulated' (mitigated) sub-catchment with a 'non-manipulated' (control) sub-catchment. Focus catchment outlets at Newby Beck and Pow are both equipped with in situ analysers and sondes (Hach Lange Sigmatax, Phosphax, Nitratax and ammonium sondes; and a YSI sonde) to monitor the following parameters: total phosphorus , total reactive phosphorus, nitrate , ammonium, pH, conductivity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), chlorophyll-a, turbidity and water level. The catchment outlet at Thackthwaite is equipped with a YSI sonde only, and measures the same parameters except for nutrients. Nested within all focus catchments, smaller sub-catchments are monitored for turbidity (Analite sonde) and water level. At every monitoring location, an ISCO auto-sampler allows water samples to be collected during selected storm events. These samples are routinely analysed in the laboratory, which enables the in situ water quality analysis to be checked against standard methods. Each focus catchment also has its own automated weather station (AWS) including a tipping bucket rain gauge, plus two additional tipping bucket rain gauges. At each monitoring site, where water level is recorded, the stream has been gauged and rating curves have been developed, which are used to convert water level into flow. This archive contains quality assured data generated by field monitoring and laboratory analysis by EdenDTC. Sample collection, analysis and quality assurance protocols were implemented, details of which can be found in the relevant supplementary document.
Subject Keywords: Water Framework Directive; Water quality; Water quality measurements; Nutrients; Pollution; Suspended solids; Phosphorus; Nitrate-nitrogen; Ecology; Diffuse pollution
Geographic Keywords: Eden (river, Cumbria); Cumbria; England
Time Window - Start: 2011-01-01 00:00:00 End: 2015-12-31 23:59:00
Publication Date: 2016-07-19
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