Geology topics

Research about Sleepers River

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Sleepers River.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2025

Rare earth element and phosphorus mobility depend on adsorption to Al-, Fe-, and Mn-oxyhydroxides in a headwater stream in Vermont, USA

We evaluated base cations, Al, Fe, Mn, REEs, DOC, anions, and P mobilization during three discharge events (E-1, E-2, E-3) at the headwater catchment W-9, Sleepers River, Vermont, USA. Peak discharge ranged from 3.696 (E-1) to 0.073 (E-3) mm h −1 . Eight samples from each event were speciated for total (unfiltered-acidified) and dissolved (0.45 µm filtered-acidified). During E-1, total Al, Fe, and Mn increased to maxima of 376 (1790X), 161 (194X), and 38 (45X) µmol L −1 , respectively. Concurrently, total La, Ce, Pr, and Nd increased to maxima of 87 (590X), 114 (671X), 15 (375X), and 53 (408X) nmol L −1 , respectively, greatly exceeding the dissolved fraction. Totals for Er > Yb > Tm > Lu reached comparable enrichments near or at maximum discharge. Discharge ranged from 0.41 to 0.94 mm h −1 during E-2, a snowmelt event. Total Al was comparatively stable; total Fe and Mn increased 15X and 79X, remaining less than total Al. Total La, Ce, Pr, and Nd peaked with total Fe and Mn. E-3, a late summer rain, resembled E-1 but had much lower maxima for all REEs, P, Al, Fe, and Mn. Particulate, total, and dissolved REEs and P correlated with DOC and with total Al, Fe, and Mn over all discharges, with molar Al > Fe > Mn (most samples) for E-1 and E-3. Maximum total and dissolved P declined from 15.4 and 0.89 (E-1) to 0.98 and 0.27 µmol L −1 (E-3), respectively. Particulate REEs correlated strongly (R 2 = 0.95–0.96) with Al, Fe, and Mn particulates eroded from the stream bed and continuously precipitated during and after high discharge of groundwater.

Vermont↗

USGS2011

Taking the pulse of snowmelt: in situ sensors reveal seasonal, event and diurnal patterns of nitrate and dissolved organic matter variability in an upland forest stream

Highly resolved time series data are useful to accurately identify the timing, rate, and magnitude of solute transport in streams during hydrologically dynamic periods such as snowmelt. We used in situ optical sensors for nitrate (NO3 - ) and chromophoric dissolved organic matter fluorescence (FDOM) to measure surface water concentrations at 30 min intervals over the snowmelt period (March 21–May 13, 2009) at a 40.5 hectare forested watershed at Sleepers River, Vermont. We also collected discrete samples for laboratory absorbance and fluorescence as well as δ 18 O–NO3 - isotopes to help interpret the drivers of variable NO3 - and FDOM concentrations measured in situ. In situ data revealed seasonal, event and diurnal patterns associated with hydrological and biogeochemical processes regulating stream NO3 - and FDOM concentrations. An observed decrease in NO3 - concentrations after peak snowmelt runoff and muted response to spring rainfall was consistent with the flushing of a limited supply of NO3 - (mainly from nitrification) from source areas in surficial soils. Stream FDOM concentrations were coupled with flow throughout the study period, suggesting a strong hydrologic control on DOM concentrations in the stream. However, higher FDOM concentrations per unit streamflow after snowmelt likely reflected a greater hydraulic connectivity of the stream to leachable DOM sources in upland soils. We also observed diurnal NO3 - variability of 1–2 μmol l -1 after snowpack ablation, presumably due to in-stream uptake prior to leafout. A comparison of NO3 - and dissolved organic carbon yields (DOC, measured by FDOM proxy) calculated from weekly discrete samples and in situ data sub-sampled daily resulted in small to moderate differences over the entire study period (-4 to 1% for NO3 - and -3 to -14% for DOC), but resulted in much larger differences for daily yields (-66 to +27% for NO3 - and -88 to +47% for DOC, respectively). Despite challenges inherent in in situ sensor deployments in harsh seasonal conditions, these data provide important insights into processes controlling NO3 - and FDOM in streams, and will be critical for evaluating the effects of climate change on snowmelt delivery to downstream ecosystems.

Vermont↗

USGS2009

Responses of stream nitrate and dissolved organic carbon loadings to hydrological forcing and climate change in an upland forest of the northeast USA

[1] In coming decades, higher annual temperatures, increased growing season length, and increased dormant season precipitation are expected across the northeastern United States in response to anthropogenic forcing of global climate. We synthesized long-term stream hydrochemical data from the Sleepers River Research Watershed in Vermont, United States, to explore the relationship of catchment wetness to stream nitrate and DOC loadings. We modeled changes in growing season length and precipitation patterns to simulate future climate scenarios and to assess how stream nutrient loadings respond to climate change. Model results for the 2070–2099 time period suggest that stream nutrient loadings during both the dormant and growing seasons will respond to climate change. During a warmer climate, growing season stream fluxes (runoff +20%, nitrate +57%, and DOC +58%) increase as more precipitation (+28%) and quick flow (+39%) occur during a longer growing season (+43 days). During the dormant season, stream water and nutrient loadings decrease. Net annual stream runoff (+8%) and DOC loading (+9%) increases are commensurate with the magnitude of the average increase of net annual precipitation (+7%). Net annual stream water and DOC loadings are primarily affected by increased dormant season precipitation. In contrast, decreased annual loading of stream nitrate (−2%) reflects a larger effect of growing season controls on stream nitrate and the effects of lengthened growing seasons in a warmer climate. Our findings suggest that leaching of nitrate and DOC from catchment soils will be affected by anthropogenic climate forcing, thereby affecting the timing and magnitude of annual stream loadings in the northeastern United States.

Vermont↗

USGS2008

Seasonal and event variations in δ 34 S values of stream sulfate in a Vermont forested catchment: Implications for sulfur sources and cycling

Stable sulfur (S) isotope ratios can be used to identify the sources of sulfate contributing to streamwater. We collected weekly and high-flow stream samples for S isotopic analysis of sulfate through the entire water year 2003 plus the snowmelt period of 2004. The study area was the 41-ha forested W-9 catchment at Sleepers River Research Watershed, Vermont, a site known to produce sulfate from weathering of sulfide minerals in the bedrock. The δ 34 S values of streamwater sulfate followed an annual sinusoidal pattern ranging from about 6.5&permil; in early spring to about 10&permil; in early fall. During high-flow events, δ 34 S values typically decreased by 1 to 3&permil; from the prevailing seasonal value. The isotopic evidence suggests that stream sulfate concentrations are controlled by: (1) an overall dominance of bedrock-derived sulfate ( δ 34 S ~ 6–14&permil;); (2) contributions of pedogenic sulfate ( δ 34 S ~ 5–6&permil;) during snowmelt and storms with progressively diminishing contributions during base flow recession; and (3) minor effects of dissimilatory bacterial sulfate reduction and subsequent reoxidation of sulfides. Bedrock should not be overlooked as a source of S in catchment sulfate budgets.

Vermont↗

USGS2000

Sleepers River, Vermont: a Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets Program site

The Sleepers River Research Watershed in northeastern Vermont was established by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1959 and is now operated jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), will collaboration from several other Federal Agencies and Universities. The USGS has contributed to the understanding of hydrological processes and added a major biogeochemical cycling research component in the last 10 years of Sleepers River's 40-year history as a field laboratory. The USGS uses hydrologic measurements and chemical and isotopic tracing techniques to determine how water moves from the hillslope to the stream, and what processes cause chemical changes, such as neutralization of acid rain. Research results provide insights on how pollutants move through ecosystems, and how ecosystems may respond to climatic change.

Vermont↗

USGS1997

Level II scour analysis for Bridge 27 (STJOTH00080027) on Town Highway 8, crossing the Sleepers River, St. Johnsbury, Vermont

This report provides the results of a detailed Level II analysis of scour potential at structure STJOTH00080027 on Town Highway 8 crossing the Sleepers River, St. Johnsbury, Vermont (figures 1–8). A Level II study is a basic engineering analysis of the site, including a quantitative analysis of stream stability and scour (U.S. Department of Transportation, 1993). Results of a Level I scour investigation also are included in Appendix E of this report. A Level I investigation provides a qualitative geomorphic characterization of the study site. Information on the bridge, gleaned from Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTAOT) files, was compiled prior to conducting Level I and Level II analyses and is found in Appendix D. The site is in the New England Upland section of the New England physiographic province in northeastern Vermont. The 40.4-mi 2 drainage area is in a predominantly rural and forested basin. In the vicinity of the study site, the surface cover is forest on the upstream right bank with some pasture on the upstream left bank. The downstream right overbank cover is comprised of cut grass, trees and shrubs while the immediate banks have dense woody vegetation. The downstream left bank is forested with some pasture. In the study area, the Sleepers River has an incised, sinuous channel with a slope of approximately 0.007 ft/ft, an average channel top width of 72 ft and an average bank height of 5 ft. The channel bed material ranges from gravel to cobble with a median grain size (D 50 ) of 48.5 mm (0.159 ft). The geomorphic assessment at the time of the Level I and Level II site visit on August 10, 1995, indicated that the reach was stable. The Town Highway 8 crossing of the Sleepers River is a 74-ft-long, two-lane bridge consisting of one 71-foot steel-beam span (Vermont Agency of Transportation, written communication, March 28, 1995). The opening length of the structure parallel to the bridge face is 68 ft. The bridge is supported by vertical, concrete abutments with wingwalls. The channel is skewed approximately 50 degrees to the opening while the computed openingskew-to-roadway is 45 degrees. The VTAOT database states the opening-skew-to-roadway as 30 degrees. A scour hole 2.5 ft deeper than the mean thalweg depth was observed along the right abutment during the Level I assessment. There is also a three to four foot deep scour hole in the channel adjacent to the upstream right wingwall. The scour protection at the site included type-3 stone fill (less than 48 inches diameter) at the upstream end of the upstream left wingwall, at the downstream end of the downstream right wingwall, and along the downstream left bank. There was also type-2 stone fill (less than 36 inches diameter) at the downstream end of the downstream left wingwall, along the upstream left bank, and along the downstream right bank. Additional details describing conditions at the site are included in the Level II Summary and Appendices D and E. Scour depths and recommended rock rip-rap sizes were computed using the general guidelines described in Hydraulic Engineering Circular 18 (Richardson and others, 1995) for the 100- and 500-year discharges. In addition, the incipient roadway-overtopping discharge is determined and analyzed as another potential worst-case scour scenario. Total scour at a highway crossing is comprised of three components: 1) long-term streambed degradation; 2) contraction scour (due to accelerated flow caused by a reduction in flow area at a bridge) and; 3) local scour (caused by accelerated flow around piers and abutments). Total scour is the sum of the three components. Equations are available to compute depths for contraction and local scour and a summary of the results of these computations follows. Contraction scour computed for all modelled flows was zero ft. Abutment scour ranged from 6.2 to 9.7 ft. The worst-case abutment scour occurred at the 100-year discharge at the right abutment and at the 500-year discharge at the left abutment. Additional information on scour depths and depths to armoring are included in the section titled “Scour Results”. Scoured-streambed elevations, based on the calculated scour depths, are presented in tables 1 and 2. A cross-section of the scour computed at the bridge is presented in figure 8. Scour depths were calculated assuming an infinite depth of erosive material and a homogeneous particle-size distribution. It is generally accepted that the Froehlich equation (abutment scour) gives “excessively conservative estimates of scour depths” (Richardson and others, 1995, p. 47). Usually, computed scour depths are evaluated in combination with other information including (but not limited to) historical performance during flood events, the geomorphic stability assessment, existing scour protection measures, and the results of the hydraulic analyses. Therefore, scour depths adopted by VTAOT may differ from the computed values documented herein.

Vermont↗