Stream chemistry for Cub Hill sites: concentration of Cl, NO3, PO4, total N and P, SO4, dissolved oxygen, E. coli, plus temperature, pH, clarity and turbidity

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 "Cub Hill" stream sites. The Cub Hill site is 14 km from the Baltimore city center (39 degrees 24'30.20"N, 76 degrees 30'50.62"W) and is the location of the first permanent urban carbon flux tower in an urban/suburban environment, established in 2001 by the U.S. Forest Service. Three stream monitoring sites were established in the residential area in the footprint of the tower; Jennifer Branch at North Wind Rd. (JBNW) and two headwater tributaries to Jennifer Branch: Harford Hills (JBHH) and Ontario (JBON). These sites were sampled weekly from August 2003 through June 2010. Methods: Samples were collected weekly at an established sampling location at each station. Sampling locations were chosen based on adequate concentration of flow, proximity to weir and staff gage, and low vulnerability to disturbance. 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. - Code - Site name - Watershed type - Records begin - Records end 1 - JBHH - Jennifer Branch at Hartford Hills - Suburban - 12-Aug-03 - 5/11/2010 2 - JBNW - Jennifer Branch at Northwind - Suburban - 12-Aug-03 - 6/8/2010 3 - JBON - Jennifer Branch at Ontario - Suburban - 12-Aug-03 - 6/8/2010