Stream Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Responses to Small Dams and Dam Removal in Massachusetts
Dates
Publication Date
2022-09-28
Start Date
2015-06-10
End Date
2021-10-23
Citation
Abbott, K.A., and Roy, A.H., 2022, Stream Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Responses to Small Dams and Dam Removal in Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9L2ATHV.
Summary
Small, surface-release dams are ubiquitous across the U.S. and have the potential to alter stream flow, impede sediment and nutrient transport, and fragment biotic assemblages. To mitigate these and other ecological impacts and reduce public safety hazards, dam removal has become an increasingly prevalent method of stream restoration. However, few streams have been consistently monitored before and after dam removal, and there is a need for more information regarding how dam removals affect stream ecosystems across different dam, stream, and watershed characteristics. The presented data aimed to quantify the effects of dams and dam removals on two critical water quality parameters (stream temperature and dissolved oxygen) across 16 [...]
Summary
Small, surface-release dams are ubiquitous across the U.S. and have the potential to alter stream flow, impede sediment and nutrient transport, and fragment biotic assemblages. To mitigate these and other ecological impacts and reduce public safety hazards, dam removal has become an increasingly prevalent method of stream restoration. However, few streams have been consistently monitored before and after dam removal, and there is a need for more information regarding how dam removals affect stream ecosystems across different dam, stream, and watershed characteristics. The presented data aimed to quantify the effects of dams and dam removals on two critical water quality parameters (stream temperature and dissolved oxygen) across 16 Massachusetts streams with completed (10 sites) or upcoming dam removals. This data release provides daily temperature and dissolved oxygen data before and up to 5 years after removal in upstream, downstream, and impounded or formerly impounded reaches.
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DamRemoval_WaterQuality_LandingPage_Metadata.xml “DamRemoval_WaterQuality_Metadata” Original FGDC Metadata
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Purpose
The data outline water quality (stream temperature and dissolve oxygen) monitoring results conducted upstream, within the impoundment or former impoundment, and downstream of dam and dam removal sites in Massachusetts. This research may be used in conjunction with macroinvertebrate and fish sampling information to inform future restoration prioritization and help set expectations for recovery after dam removals. Daily temperature and dissolved oxygen data collected at each data logger may be used to calculate dam-related impacts, such as impoundment or downstream warming relative to upstream reference conditions.
