EDI Data Portal
In the Baltimore urban long-term ecological research (LTER) project, (Baltimore Ecosystem Study, BES) we use the watershed approach to evaluate integrated ecosystem function. The LTER research is centered on the Gwynns Falls watershed, a 17,150 ha catchment that traverses a gradient from the urban core of Baltimore, through older urban residential (1900 - 1950) and suburban (1950- 1980) zones, rapidly suburbanizing areas and a rural/suburban fringe. Our long-term sampling network includes four longitudinal sampling sites along the Gwynns Falls as well as several small (40 - 100 ha) watersheds located within or near to the Gwynns Falls. The longitudinal sites provide data on water and nutrient fluxes in the different land use zones of the watershed (rural/suburban, rapidly suburbanizing, old suburban, urban core) and the small watersheds provide more focused data on specific land use areas (forest, agriculture, rural/suburban, urban). Each of the gaging sites is continuously monitored for discharge and is sampled weekly for chemistry. Additional chemical sampling is carried out in a supplemental set of sites to provide a greater range of land use. Weekly analyses includes nitrate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and sulfate, turbidity, fecal coliforms, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH. Cations, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and metals are measured on selected samples.
This dataset presents stream chemistry from the Watershed 263 subwatersheds. Watershed 263 is a 364 ha urban storm drain watershed (or sewershed), with 30,000 residents with mixed industrial, institutional, and residential land uses. In March 2004, we established monitoring sites in two sub-watersheds within W263 (Baltimore Street and Lanvale Street). Both are approximately 17 ha with 50% impervious surface and 4% vegetation cover.
Analysis of stream chemistry in highly urban watersheds.
Code Site name Watershed type
BALT Baltimore Street (grab samples) Urban
BALTisco Baltimore Street (ISCO sampler) Urban
LANV Lanvale Street (grab samples) Urban
LANVisco Lanvale Street (ISCO sampler) Urban
Column Variable (units)
A Date
B Year
C Julian Date
D Site
E Cl (mg/L)
F NO3 (mg N/L)
G PO4 (ug P/L)
H SO4 (mg/L)
I TN (mg N/L)
J TP (ugP/L)
K time
L stage (ft)
M temperature (deg C)
N dox (mg/L)
O ph
P clarity
Q Turbidity (NTU)
R Ecoli (CFU/100 mL)
Samples (weekly grab and flow-weighted composite) were taken in a stormwater drainage pipe from June 2004 through June 2010. Samples were collected and stored in polyethylene bottles.
Weekly analyses included nitrate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and sulfate, turbidity, fecal coliforms, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH. Cations, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and metals were measured on selected samples.
Samples for anion and cation analysis were filtered (0.45 micron). Samples for total N, total P, turbidity, and fecal coliform analysis were not filtered.
Every six weeks, samples were shipped to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies (CIES) for anion, cation, TN, and TP analysis. Fecal coliform analysis was done from October 2001 through September 2004 in Karin Raedel's laboratory at UMBC. These analyses are described below.
One blank from the laboratory distilled water source was prepared each week and stored along with the samples. Spike analysis was done as part of the routine long-term BES stream sampling and analysis. Samples were stored at 4 degrees C.
Concentrations of nitrate, chloride and sulfate were analyzed on a Dionex LC20 series ion
