NE1438: Hydropedology of Vernal Pool Systems
(Multistate Research Project)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
Date of Annual Report: 09/12/2016
Report Information
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2013 - 09/30/2014
Participants
Brief Summary of Minutes
Accomplishments
Publications
Impact Statements
Date of Annual Report: 10/16/2015
Report Information
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2014 - 09/01/2015
Participants
Stephanie Connelly (USFS);Mark Stolt (URI);
Bianca Peixoto (URI Graduate student on project);
Jim Thompson (WVU);
Martin Rabenhorst (UMD);
Bruce Vasilas (UD);
Mickey Spokas (UMass);
John Galbraith (Virginia Tech);
Patrick Drohan (PSU)
Brief Summary of Minutes
The meeting was held on Monday, July 20, 2015 at the Monongahela National Forest Headquarters, Elkins, WV. The meeting began at 10:00 a.m.Stephanie Connelly reviewed USFS housekeeping items.
Patrick Drohan, Jim Thompson and Mickey Spokas took the minutes.
The meeting opened with a discussion of the difficulties in participating in multistate projects due to funds meant to support projects being redirected by Experiment Station Deans. This may be due to flat funding of Hatch and past Expansion of University administrative staff.
Project Objectives
- Improve our understanding at a regional scale of how vernal pool ecosystems differ in distribution, hydrology, hydroperiod, redox chemistry, and carbon storage and flux. Along with this we will develop a better understanding of the effects of hydrology and temperature on carbon pools and sequestration in wetlands along a temperature gradient.
- Identify the need for additional hydric soil indicators for northeast vernal pools. As such, if needed we will monitor the saturation and reducing conditions in the identified soils and develop new hydric soil indicators for inclusion as part of the National Indicators of Hydric Soils for the Northeast Supplement.
- Develop morphometric indices of the hydroperiod within vernal pools.
- Estimate the current density of vernal pools within each of our subregions and develop predictions of the numbers that have been lost because of disturbance.
A record of the group’s discussions toward implementing the multistate research activities follows:
Site Selection
Descriptions of each site chosen in regard to location (landscape attributes too), size, area ponded, depth, vegetation (in general), etc.
Site Discussion:
- Bruce has 1 site in a Delmarva Bay. Wells and piezometers were put in last Fall (2014).
- Patrick has three in a ridge saddle in the Ridge and Valley Physio province.
- Marty has one in a Delmarva Bay.
- Mark has 8 sites and will likely work with 4 for the project.
- John has had trouble getting permission on USFS lands. Stephanie Connelly will help with finding sites on the Jefferson N.F.
- Jim is working with a PhD student in Wildlife and Fisheries looking for sites on the Monongahela N.F. Jim and Stephanie also spoke about interest in created wetland/vernal pool habitat using plastic liners.
- Mickey has 6 pools not instrumented yet.
Spatial Distribution and Analysis
“Using GIS technology and available imagery, estimates will be made of the size, shape, and density of vernal pools across landscapes of the region. Where possible, these data will also be used to evaluate the extent to which vernal pools may have been altered (drained or filled). These analyses may permit estimation of the number of vernal pool wetlands that have been lost or those that may potentially be restored.” Several folks are working on this from different aspects: LiDAR, field survey, literature search.
Plot Layout and Experimental Design
“Three hydrological zones will be identified: Zone 1 is seasonally ponded, and typically contains emergent, shrub or woody vegetation; Zone 2 is a wetland transitional zone marked by saturation, but not significant ponding; Zone 3 is the upland area beyond the wetland boundary.”
Do all sites have three distinct zones? What is the width of each? How long are the transects? Answers to these questions are still being determined since all participants have not identified their sites yet.
Hydrological Measurements
“The depth of ponded water or the depth to the water table (below the surface) will be recorded at each site. Depth of ponded water will be measured using a staff gauge. Monitoring ports consisting of a well screen installed to a depth of 100 cm will be placed at each plot and water tables will be measured periodically (Figure 3). Along a single transect at each site, water table recording devices will be installed and programmed to record water table levels twice each day. The detailed (daily) data set from the recording devices will be extended to the other transects based on the periodic observations in the monitoring ports. Also along a single transect, nests of piezometers will be installed to help with interpretation of hydrological flow patterns.”
Did everyone put their wells to 100 cm or deeper? Yes, some deeper (Bruce and Mark).
One transect has data loggers, correct? Yes, the other transects have manual wells.
How many is a nest of piezometers? What depth do you place the piezometers? Piezometers installed at a depth of interest and slotted 15 cm from the depth of interest upward.
How is that depth determined? To depth that can be augered.
Any further questions about calibration of loggers? Bruce is having issues. We will go over this in the field this week and then send emails around.
Soil Morphological Descriptions
Comments or Discussion? We will record what is there and then note how it differs. Patrick has noted some issues with field data not matching the Soil Survey well.
Vegetation Analysis
Comments or discussion? Bruce volunteered to do Marty’s. Bruce will find a standard vegetation method.
Climate Data
How close are the weather stations to your plots?
What approach are we going to use to determine if it is a “normal” year in regard to climate (precipitation)?
Use the EFOTG WETS table….
Are there metrics of ET that we are going to worry about?
Use Class A airports and look across the region.
What depth, and where, are we measuring soil temperature?
Hobo pendants (put in ziplock bag)
Ibuttons
For the sensor above ground, hang on north side of the tree (out of direct solar radiation) and a meter above ground. Perhaps build homemade solar shelter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkVmJRsw5vs
Quantifying Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks
Marty suggests using 50 cm cores.
You’ll need to know the inside diameter
Bevel the edge before putting into the ground.
Stick the aluminum core (3 inch or 2 inch) into the ground
Excavate around the pipe to remove from site.
Cut the core in half using electric shears.
Use geometry to get the volume, describe horizons and sample by horizon
Measure mass
We should all use the same zero and standard. The zero is a muffle-furnace fired sample.
The standard should be something with ~3-4% carbon…loamy or silty.
Soil Redox Assessment
IRIS (indication of reduction in soil) tubes will be used to assess the reducing soil conditions within each plot (Rabenhorst, 2008; Rabenhorst and Burch, 2006; Rabenhorst et al., 2008; Vasilas et al., 2013). Five replicate IRIS tubes will be inserted at each plot to a depth of 50 cm. IRIS Tubes will be installed for a one month period in the Spring when water tables are expected to be high. The installation date at each site will be within one week of the beginning of the growing season as determined by US Army Corps of Engineers guidance (USACE, 2010; USACE, 2012; USACE, 2012).
Is this just for plots along the primary transect? Yes
Are each of us making our own IRIS tubes? No.
Installation at start of growing season for a 4 week period
Start Spring 2016.
One transect with 5 tubes per plot means 15 per plot/month; total of 30 for the 2 month install. Use the push-probe 7/8 inch size….NOT one inch.
Environmental grade PVC does not have the black lettering that affects the paint. Otherwise the black color has to be removed with acetone.
Remind Marty to put his template Powerpoint presentation for the laser printer: tracking the IRIS tube paint loss.
Organic Matter Decomposition
Marty has a recommendation for diameter (3/8”)?
Marty presented his dowel/stick study to justify 3/8 inch size stick. We have gone from stakes to dowel rods.
Pilot hole made with a stainless steel rod 3/8 inch size that they bent over and sharpened the bottom on.
Marty proposes one set (5 rep sticks for each plot along all transects (9 plots)) left in the whole year. 5 sets of 5 sticks at each plot. 2nd minimum….Marty’s data put sticks in so that there were enough to pull at 3, 6, 9, and 12 month intervals.
EVERYONE SHOULD PUT IN ENOUGH DOWEL RODS FOR ONE YEAR STARTING ~Oct. 15-Nov. 15, 2015.
30 cm lengths
String them together with poly bailing twine (orange).
Aluminum tags can be bought from Ben Meadows or Granger.
Use a pair of pliers to remove the stick (and not pulling the tag to).
Marty suggest putting in not only an extra set, but also an extra stick per set.
What do the sticks represent?
Relative comparison across study sites. Less difficult than litter bags. Greater than70% cellulose. Questions on what kinds of carbon are being decomposed.
Do you measure the amount of decomposition with depth (i.e.) every 5 cm of the 30 cm stick?
Marty demonstrated his chopper mechanism for the paint sticks.
Uses special $150 software to link his balance to laptop.
Should we chop just zones 2 and 1?
Other measures of decomposition?
Bruce suggests Kohlhart screen method…see Bruce’s chapter….Some (Mark) are also placing sticks laying on the surface and leave bags
Data Collection via Proximal Sensing
GPR and EMI: Patrick will survey DE and MD…maybe VA.
Other methods not covered in the proposal that we should consider?
Root cores…measure the number of roots in the core. Gas measurements with closed chamber.
Other comments: Everyone should do a rapid assessment of disturbance.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.
Accomplishments
This represents the first year of the project. Sites are getting established, protocols worked out, and experiments and monitoring initiated. <br /> <br /> <p>Outreach: The project was discussed and major issues raised among the graduate students and US Forest Service personnel attending the Northeast Graduate Student Pedology Field Tour that followed the multistate meeting.<br />Publications
<p>Publications: One paper was presented at the Society of Wetland Scientists annual meeting in June of 2015.<br /> <br /> <p>Peixoto, B., and M.H. Stolt. 2015. Landscape Attributes, Hydrology, and Edaphic Conditions of Southern New England Vernal Pool Wetlands. Abstract- Annual Meetings of the Society of Wetland Scientists.Impact Statements
Date of Annual Report: 03/13/2017
Report Information
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2015 - 09/30/2016
Participants
Minutes are attached.Brief Summary of Minutes
Accomplishments
<p><strong>NE-1438 Accomplishments</strong></p><br /> <p><strong> </strong></p><br /> <p>The 2015-2016 year of the project was the second year of the project. Sites are now established, protocols worked out, and experiments and monitoring in progress.</p><br /> <p> </p><br /> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Outreach</span>:</p><br /> <p> </p><br /> <ol><br /> <li>The project was discussed and hydric soil issues raised at the bi-annual New England Hydric Soils Technical Committee meeting, March 25, 2016, Concord, NH.</li><br /> <li>Bruce Vasilas led a tour of Delmarva Bay vernal pools and discussed ecological services, hydrology, and protection. About 20 folks participated from the USACE, NRCS, and DE Dept. Agriculture.</li><br /> <li>Activities of this project were discussed at the Mid-Atlantic Hydric Soils Committee meetings on January 7, 2016 in Warrenton, VA. </li><br /> <li>Activities of this project were discussed at the Mid-Atlantic Hydric Soils Committee meetings on June 9, 2016 in Martinsburg, WV.</li><br /> <li>Patrick Drohan discussed the project at the Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research and The Marcellus Shale Coalition. October, 2016, Genesee Hotel, Williamsport , PA. 62 in attendance.</li><br /> </ol>Publications
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Publications:</span></p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Peixoto, B., and M.H. Stolt. 2016. Landscape Attributes, Hydrology, and Edaphic Conditions of Southern New England Vernal Pool Wetlands. Abstract- Annual Meetings of the Soil Science Society of America, Phoenix, AZ.</li><br /> <li>Rainford, S. And Drohan, P.J. Assessing the origin and development of vernal pools in Central Pennsylvania,USA. Centenary (1916-2016) of Pollen Analysis and the Legacy of Lennard von Post Symposium, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. November, 2016. Stockholm, SE.</li><br /> <li>Stolt, M.H., M.C. Rabenhorst, E.A. Ghabbour, and G. Davies, 2016. Soil Color and US Northeast Aquods. Soil Science Society of America Journal 80:1001-1007.</li><br /> <li>Rabenhorst, M. C. 2016. Manganese Oxides as an Indicator of Reduction In Soils (IRIS). Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Annual Meeting, Nov. 6-9, 2016. Phoenix, AZ. (Poster)</li><br /> <li>Persing, K. A. and M. C. Rabenhorst. 2016. Evaluation of Manganese Indicators of Reduction in Soil (IRIS). Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Annual Meeting, Nov. 6-9, 2016. Phoenix, AZ. (Poster)</li><br /> <li>Rabenhorst, M. C. and J. E. Post. 2016. Mineralogical Characteristics of a Durable Manganese Oxide Coating for Environmental Assessment. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Annual Meeting, Nov. 6-9, 2016. Phoenix, AZ. (Oral Paper)</li><br /> <li>Rabenhorst, M. C. and K. A Persing. 2016. A Synthesized Manganese Oxide for Easily Making Durable Mn-Coated IRIS Tubes. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J<em>. Accepted. </em>doi: 10.2136/sssaj2016.10.0348</li><br /> <li>Thompson, J. A., Bell, J. C. (2016). Hydric Soil Indicators in Mollisol Landscapes. Wetland Soils: Genesis, Hydrology, Landscapes, and Classification, Second Edition (pp. 311–324). CRC Press.</li><br /> <li>Drohan, P.J. and A. Ireland. 2016. Provisional, forested Ecological Sites in the Northern Appalachians and their State and Transition Models. Rangelands, 38:350-356.</li><br /> <li>Fink, C. and P.J. Drohan. 2016. High resolution hydric soil mapping using LiDAR digital terrain modeling. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 80:355-363.</li><br /> </ul>Impact Statements
Date of Annual Report: 01/20/2018
Report Information
Period the Report Covers: 11/07/2016 - 10/22/2017
Participants
Mickey Spokas, Marty Rabenhorst, Bruce Vasilas, Karen Vaughan, John Galbraith and Patrick Drohan.Brief Summary of Minutes
Full meeting report is attached.
Accomplishments
<p><strong>NE-1438 Accomplishments</strong></p><br /> <p>The 2016-2017 year of the project was the third year of the project. Sites are established, protocols worked out, and experiments and monitoring in progress.</p><br /> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Outreach</span>:</strong></p><br /> <p>Activities of this project were discussed at the Mid-Atlantic Hydric Soils Committee meetings in January in Raleigh NC and in June in Newton NJ. These meetings are attended by 20-30 people from NRCS, USACE, EPA, consulting companies, faculty and students at University of Maryland, University of Delaware, Penn State, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina State.</p><br /> <p>The Delaware site was part of the Northeast Regional Pedology Field Tour. Co-hosted by Bruce Vasilas and Joe Valentine. The tour had about 70 participants from ten universities and colleges.</p><br /> <p>The Delaware site was used for a field trip for the University of Delaware ‘Wetlands’ course.</p><br /> <p>The project was discussed and hydric soil issues raised at the bi-annual New England Hydric Soils Technical Committee meeting, March 22, 2017, Concord, NH.</p>Publications
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Publications:</span></strong></p><br /> <p>Rabenhorst, M.C., P.J. Drohan, J.M. Galbraith, B.A. Needelman, L. Spokas, M.H. Stolt, J.A. Thompson, B.L. Vasilas, K.L. Vaughan. 2017. Comparing Performance of Mn-Coated and Fe-Coated IRIS Devices. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Annual Meeting, Oct. 22-25, 2017. Tampa, FL. (Oral and Poster 1110). (347-8)</p><br /> <p>Park, C.E. and M.C. Rabenhorst. 2017. Assessing New Developments in IRIS Technology. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Annual Meeting, Oct. 22-25, 2017. Tampa, FL. (Poster 1112).</p><br /> <p>Rabenhorst, M.C. 2017. Oxide-Coated Films - an Improved IRIS Technology. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Annual Meeting, Oct. 22-25, 2017. Tampa, FL. (347-3).</p><br /> <p>Rabenhorst, M.C. and J. Post. 2017. Manganese Oxides for Environmental Assessment. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. in press.</p><br /> <p>Drohan, P.J., Plowden, Y., Zimmerman, E., Kraft, J., and D. Kingsbury. 2017. Northern Appalachian wetland ecological sites and their states of disturbance for select benchmark soils. ASA, CSSA, SSSA annual meeting, Tampa, FL. Oct. 22-25, 2017. Abstract #95-1</p><br /> <p>Ross, B.N. 2017. Assessing hydrology, carbon flux, and soil spatial variability within vernal pool wetlands. M.S. thesis, University of Rhode island, Kingston, RI.</p>Impact Statements
Date of Annual Report: 03/19/2019
Report Information
Period the Report Covers: 11/15/2017 - 01/01/2019
Participants
Mark Stolt (URI), Jim Thompson (WVU), Martin Rabenhorst (UMD), Bruce Vasilas (UD), Mickey Spokas (UMass), John Galbraith (Virginia Tech), Patrick Drohan (PSU), Karen Vaughan (UWY).Brief Summary of Minutes
see attached
Accomplishments
<p><strong>Accomplishments</strong></p><br /> <p><strong> </strong>This is the last year of the current project. The focus of the previous years work was to complete the data collection and analysis (see discussion in the annual meeting report above). </p><br /> <p> The work plan for the coming year is described in the meeting minutes.</p><br /> <p> Seven national or international presentations were made at scientific meetings including the Soil Science Society of America, Ecological Society of America, Society of Wetland Scientists, European Geoscience Union, and the National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (see presentation titles under the abstracts listed in publications). Drohan and Rainford spoke about vernal pools and soils at the S.K. Greenfield Elementary School Soil Education Event for Earth Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thompson lead a field tour for the joint-Northeast and Southeast Regional National Cooperative Soil Survey meetings that include a vernal pool stop to discuss our efforts to understand hydrology, saturation, and reducing conditions in vernal pool wetlands (over 70 scientists were on the tour including graduate students and USDA-NRCS soil scientists). We reached a wide array of stakeholders with our presentations from elementary school budding environmental scientists to international wetland scientists.</p><br /> <p> </p><br /> <p> Our work lead to the approval of national hydric soil indicator A-17 Mesic Spodic (approved 2018). Long-term projects like multistate projects allow for the extended monitoring that is needed for developing hydric soil indicators. These indicators are used nation-wide for delineation of wetlands for protection of these valuable components of the landscape.</p><br /> <p> We leveraged funds in the form of a grant from the USDA-NRCS to support our efforts to understand carbon stocks and hydrology of northeastern vernal pools (Grant # 68-3A75-17-480; $100,000).</p><br /> <p> Two students received graduate degrees working on the project: Ruth Anderson (M.S.) and Shana Rainford (Ph.D.)</p><br /> <p> Anderson, R. 2018. Soil, Hydrology, and Ecology of Geographically Isolated Wetlands in the United States: A Literature Review. Virginia Tech non-thesis master degree, Blacksburg, VA. </p><br /> <p>Rainford, S. 2018. An integrative assessment of soil organic carbon dynamics in wetland environments. PhD Thesis in Ecology. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.</p>Publications
<p><strong>Publications</strong></p><br /> <p> Vaughan, K., P. Drohan, J. Galbraith, M. Rabenhorst, L. Spokas, M. Stolt, J. Thompson, and B. Vasilas. 2019. Redoximorphic feature expression in seasonally inundated soils reveals belowground climatic influence on development. Abstract. Soil Science Society of America. San Diego, CA.</p><br /> <p> Rainford, S.D., and P.J. Drohan. 2018. Paleoecological assessment of the origin and development of vernal pools in Central Pennsylvania. Abstract. National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration, New Orleans, Louisiana.</p><br /> <p> Rainford, S.D., and P.J. Drohan. 2018. Patterns of bryophyte diversity and soil nutrient availability in vernal pools located in Central PA. Abstract. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana.</p><br /> <p> Rainford, S.D., and P.J. Drohan. 2018. Patterns of bryophyte diversity and soil nutrient availability in vernal pools located in Central PA. Abstract. Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado.</p><br /> <p> Rainford, S.D., and P.J. Drohan. 2018. Separating the Forest from the Trees: Soil and Vegetation Dynamics in Vernal Pools. Abstract. European Geoscience Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria.</p><br /> <p> Park, C.E., and M.C. Rabenhorst. 2018. Assessing New Developments in IRIS Technology. Wetland Science and Practice 35:324-327.</p><br /> <p> Rossi, A. M., and M.C. Rabenhorst. 2018. Organic Carbon Dynamics in Soils of Mid-Atlantic Barrier Island Landscapes. Geoderma. 337:1278-1290. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.028">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.028</a></p><br /> <p> Rabenhorst, Martin C., Patrick J. Drohan, John M. Galbraith, Lesley Spokas, Mark Stolt, James A. Thompson, and Bruce L. Vasilas, Vaughan, Karen L. 2018. <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__scisoc.confex.com_scisoc_2019sssa_meetingapp.cgi_Paper_114821&d=DwMFaQ&c=dWz0sRZOjEnYSN4E4J0dug&r=raF5qkfi2ejMOadCXsT7dg&m=mFEfkA0UtNDTPd7Z6ENOdDxdR5L1TyNlsEBb-mv6bcI&s=NuW0NnDdo3Tw4hSQPDYalG8aHcGaU43iD4ATiXZbuWc&e=">Biogeochemistry of Vernal Pools Assessed Using IRIS Film Technology.</a> Abstract. Annual Meeting of the Soil Science Society of America, San Diego, CA.</p><br /> <p> Rabenhorst, M.C. 2018. <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__scisoc.confex.com_scisoc_2019sssa_meetingapp.cgi_Paper_115321&d=DwMFaQ&c=dWz0sRZOjEnYSN4E4J0dug&r=raF5qkfi2ejMOadCXsT7dg&m=mFEfkA0UtNDTPd7Z6ENOdDxdR5L1TyNlsEBb-mv6bcI&s=rM6V2RoOWb6RG_4Aziv4ANwGGmbxJAdAccuzyTZX4AY&e=">How Should We Use and Interpret Mn-Coated IRIS Films?</a> Abstract. Annual Meeting of the Soil Science Society of America, San Diego, CA.</p><br /> <p> </p><br /> <p> </p>Impact Statements
- Longer range impacts involve the training of graduate students and future earth and environmental scientists. This year two graduate students that worked on our project graduated. These students are future wetland scientists and conservationists. Several undergraduates that worked on the project also graduated and were trained in wetland ecology and hydrology. These are the future of our efforts to identify the values and functions of vernal pools and other wetlands. These impacts may not seem tangible but are real.