Toward a hydrologic observatory in the Suwannee River watershed Jon Martin Geological Sciences Wendy Graham Agricultural and Biological Engineering

2 Hydrologic Observatories National Science Foundation funded initiative National Science Foundation funded initiative Coordinated through CUAHSI Coordinated through CUAHSI Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences, Inc. Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences, Inc. A consortium of 90 research universities and 1 affiliate member A consortium of 90 research universities and 1 affiliate member

3 HydroView Four mutually supportive elements: Four mutually supportive elements: Instrumentation Instrumentation Proposal about to be submitted for 3-yr pilot (Oregon State, Stanford, UNH, UVm, Tufts) Proposal about to be submitted for 3-yr pilot (Oregon State, Stanford, UNH, UVm, Tufts) Informatics Informatics $2.5M, 2-year grant (Texas, SDSC, UIUC, Drexel + 9 additional collaborators) $2.5M, 2-year grant (Texas, SDSC, UIUC, Drexel + 9 additional collaborators) Synthesis Synthesis (UNH, Utah State, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine) (UNH, Utah State, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine) Hydrologic Observatories Hydrologic Observatories

4 What is an HO? “Tool” to answer hydrologic and related questions “Tool” to answer hydrologic and related questions Watershed – loosely defined Watershed – loosely defined Sufficiently large (1 to 5 x 10 4 km 2 ) to explore all interfaces, include LS/Atm Sufficiently large (1 to 5 x 10 4 km 2 ) to explore all interfaces, include LS/Atm Community Resource Community Resource Core data available to all through common interface Core data available to all through common interface Equal access to site Equal access to site Support for remote investigators Support for remote investigators National-scale Network of 5 HO’s National-scale Network of 5 HO’s Comparable data across observatories Comparable data across observatories Test hypotheses in different hydrologic settings Test hypotheses in different hydrologic settings

5 Resource Available 5 yr renewable grant 5 yr renewable grant $3 million/year in operating expenses $3 million/year in operating expenses $10 million for infrastructure $10 million for infrastructure

6 HO & Data Collect: Collect: Core data Core data Investigator data Investigator data Curate: Curate: Core and Investigator data Core and Investigator data Available ancillary data Available ancillary data Disseminate: Disseminate: Hydrologic Information Systems Hydrologic Information Systems

7 Core Data Provides estimates of fundamental characteristics Provides estimates of fundamental characteristics Common to multiple hypotheses Common to multiple hypotheses Immediately available to community Immediately available to community

8 Neuse River Prototype Designed by committee of experts from across country Designed by committee of experts from across country Committee given specific charge Committee given specific charge

9 Cross-cutting Themes Scaling Scaling Forcing, Feedbacks, and Coupling Forcing, Feedbacks, and Coupling Predictions and Limits-to-Prediction Predictions and Limits-to-Prediction

10 Science Topics Linking Hydrologic and Biogeochemical Cycles Linking Hydrologic and Biogeochemical Cycles Hydrologic Extremes Hydrologic Extremes Sustainability of Water Resources Sustainability of Water Resources Transport of Chemical and Biological Contaminants Transport of Chemical and Biological Contaminants Hydrologic Influence on Ecosystem Functions Hydrologic Influence on Ecosystem Functions

11 Hydrologic Characterization Three fundamental properties 1.Fluxes between “stores” 2.Residence time within “stores” 3.Flowpaths among “stores” Stores include surface, subsurface and atmosphere. Fluxes include mass (water, dissolved components, sediment) and energy

12 Steps Toward the HO Aug. 2, 2004: 10-page prospectus Aug. 2, 2004: 10-page prospectus Aug , 2004: National Workshop Aug , 2004: National Workshop Strawman HO Network: Pacific Northwest, Great Salt Lake Basin, Illinois River, Potomac River, and Suwannee River Strawman HO Network: Pacific Northwest, Great Salt Lake Basin, Illinois River, Potomac River, and Suwannee River Jan, 2005: NSF Program Announcement Jan, 2005: NSF Program Announcement Apr, 2005: Proposals Due Apr, 2005: Proposals Due Sep/Oct 2005: Award 1 to 2 HO’s Sep/Oct 2005: Award 1 to 2 HO’s 2008: Competition for 3 rd HO 2008: Competition for 3 rd HO

13 Evaluation Criteria Community Resource – number of outside investigators wanting to use HO. Community Resource – number of outside investigators wanting to use HO. Hypotheses Posed Hypotheses Posed Meet at least 3 of 5 topics Meet at least 3 of 5 topics Interdisciplinary Interdisciplinary Innovative Innovative Design of Core Data Collection Design of Core Data Collection Range of scales, including largest Range of scales, including largest Nested, intensive basins with broader surveys Nested, intensive basins with broader surveys Models—benchmark, iteration between field and model Models—benchmark, iteration between field and model

14 Evaluation Criteria Leveraging of Existing Data Leveraging of Existing Data Intensive studies (LTER, USGS, ARS, USFS) Intensive studies (LTER, USGS, ARS, USFS) Monitoring data sets (Federal, state and local) Monitoring data sets (Federal, state and local) Institutional support Institutional support State/Local support State/Local support Stakeholder organizations (access, data) Stakeholder organizations (access, data) Educational/Outreach Opportunities Educational/Outreach Opportunities

15 Suwannee River HO ~25,000 km 2 An example conceptual model for middle/karst reaches Modified from White, 2002

16 Suwannee River HO Cody Scarp: Cody Scarp: Upper reaches: distinct surface and ground water Upper reaches: distinct surface and ground water Middle reaches: unconfined with extensive surface ground water interactions Middle reaches: unconfined with extensive surface ground water interactions Large deltaic estuary Large deltaic estuary

17 Suwannee River HO Climate Climate Distinct seasonality – rainy and dry seasons Distinct seasonality – rainy and dry seasons Weather extremes – hurricanes, extra-tropical storms, droughts Weather extremes – hurricanes, extra-tropical storms, droughts Biology/ecology Biology/ecology Endangered species: Manatee, mussels, sturgeon, stygobitic organisms Endangered species: Manatee, mussels, sturgeon, stygobitic organisms

18 Suwannee River HO Flow largely unregulated Flow largely unregulated Urban threats – water transfer Urban threats – water transfer Land Use Land Use Largely agricultural Largely agricultural Agrichemicals and water quality Agrichemicals and water quality Increasing population, but non-urban Increasing population, but non-urban

19 Suwannee River HO Large range of current projects/monitoring: Large range of current projects/monitoring: USDA-ARS Watershed Research Lab, Little River sub-basin USDA-ARS Watershed Research Lab, Little River sub-basin Suwannee River Water Management District Suwannee River Water Management District Florida DEP springs initiative Florida DEP springs initiative Suwannee River Partnership Suwannee River Partnership USGS Suwannee River Initiative USGS Suwannee River Initiative

20 Consortium Universities: UF, USF, FSU, UCF, UGa Universities: UF, USF, FSU, UCF, UGa Governmental agencies: USDA, SRWMD, FLDEP, USGS Governmental agencies: USDA, SRWMD, FLDEP, USGS Interested?? Interested??