ARS | Publication request: U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Mahantango Creek Watershed, Pennsylvania, United States: long-term water quality database

Submitted to: Water Resources Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 7, 2011
Publication Date: August 20, 2011
Citation: Church, C., Veith, T.L., Folmar, G.J., Buda, A.R., Feyereisen, G.W., Bryant, R.B., Schmidt, J.P., Dell, C.J., Kleinman, P.J.A. 2011. U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Mahantango Creek Watershed, Pennsylvania, United States: long-term water quality database. Water Resources Research. 47. DOI: 10.1029/2010WR010060.

Interpretive Summary: The Mahantango Creek Watershed, monitored since 1967 by USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at the Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit at University Park, Pennsylvania, is a 420 km**2 subwatershed of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Measuring long-term water quality is critical for the studying the effects of changing land uses and climate variability, and to show improvements in water quality with the adoption of conservation practices. Nutrient stream water quality data within a subwatershed of Mahantango Creek Watershed have been quality controlled, documented, and summarized in this manuscript and the accompanying database. This work identifies the sample collection techniques and variety of analysis methods used over a 24-year period to sample and evaluate these data. This report is one in a series of four that document and describe the long-term Mahantango Creek Watershed data archived in the USDA-ARS – STEWARDS Watershed Data System (http://arsagsoftware.ars.usda.gov/stewards/) in response to the USDA Conservation Effects Assessment Project and to the desire to facilitate scientifically-sound use and interpretation of these data.

Technical Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit (PSWMRU) has developed a long-term water quality database to support water quality research within the 7.3 km**2 WE-38 experimental watershed in east-central Pennsylvania. Water quality data were collected at the outflow of WE-38, with a record length of 24 years (1983 – 2007), 23 years (1984 – 2007), and 21 years (1985 – 2007) respectively for nitrate, ammonia, and orthophosphorus. The data are available electronically on the USDA-ARS STEWARDS (Sustaining the Earth’s Watersheds – Agricultural Research Data System) website (http://arsagsoftware.ars.usda.gov/stewards/).