| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The hydrological, thermal, and chemical characteristics of two small streams flowing through relatively undisturbed, low-elevation mountain watersheds in southwestern British Columbia were investigated. All observations and chemical analyses of ecosystems were consistent with the hypothesis that stormflow originated mainly from flow of water through soil macrochannels to groundwater and thence to streams. Water budgets indicated unmeasured groundwater losses. The streams exhibited annual chemical cycles for most parameters, with maximum values in late summer and early autumn and minimum values in winter and early spring. Nitrate concentrations displayed no consistent seasonal variation, whereas potassium and sulphate concentrations were relatively uniform throughout the year. Most chemical parameters decreased with increasing discharge, whereas dissolved oxygen concentrations increased. Potassium concentrations exhibited some increases and some decreases, and chloride, nitrate, and sulphate concentrations were generally not significantly related to discharge. Concentration-discharge relationships were used to infer the origin of stormflow water. Differences in the chemistry of the two very similar streams have important ramifications for the design of watershed nutrient studies. Nutrient budgets were very similar to those of other watersheds in humid temperate regions, with net losses of calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, chloride, and sulphur. Nitrogen and phosphorus exports in dissolved or particulate organic form were not measured. Based on dissolved inorganic measurements, nitrogen was accumulated, while any gains or losses of phosphorus were extremely small. |
