H2Ohio Wetland Monitoring Program Surface Water and Soil Nutrient Content from Wetlands across Ohio, USA (2021–2022).

This data package contains surface water and soil nutrient concentration datasets from wetland projects across Ohio, USA monitored by the H2Ohio Wetland Monitoring Program. Monitoring began in May 2021 and is ongoing. This data package will be updated yearly.

In general, surface water samples are collected to measure concentrations of major nutrients, including inorganic nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, total nitrogen, dissolved reactive phosphorus, and total phosphorus. Sampling from major inflows and outflows is prioritized at flow-through wetland projects to support the calculation of nutrient filtration estimates using mass balance approaches. Surface water samples may also be collected from representative zones or hydrologic features with sufficient standing water (i.e., vernal pools, vegetated areas, interconnected smaller pond-like areas, etc.) to assess nutrient conditions and processes within the wetland system. The majority of surface water sampling (~monthly) occurs from March through December, with opportunistic sampling in January and February. Every effort is made to collect samples during hydrologic events (i.e., storms) as well as baseflow conditions. Concurrent with surface water sampling, hand-held multiparameter sensors are used to measure snapshots of physicochemical characteristics including dissolved oxygen, temperature, specific conductance, turbidity, and pH.

Soil samples (0-5 cm) are collected in saturated and unsaturated zones at each identified soil "patch" determined from expert opinion, soil maps (Natural Resources Conservation Service), and/or hydrogeophysical assessment. Additionally, soil samples may be collected along major visible hydrologic or elevation gradients. Soil sampling occurs 1-3 times a year in select wetland projects.