Effects of catastrophic flooding on stream biogeochemistry in a headwater stream in Shenandoah National Park, USA

Abstract

AbstractThis study examined the stream chemistry changes in Staunton River (a second‐order headwater stream with an average annual discharge 704 m3 ha−1 yr−1, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia) resulting from a catastrophic flood in June 1995. This flood, which followed after 800 mm of rain in a 4‐day period, caused large‐scale debris flows and complete scouring of riparian soils down to bedrock in the lower 2 km of the stream, and has been estimated to be a 1000‐year flood. The flood affected stream chemistry on both short‐ and long‐term time scales. The primary short‐term response was elevations in stream concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ by 59%, 87%, and 49%, respectively, for 6 months immediately following the flood. The long‐term impact of decreased concentration of all base cations and SiO2 during summer months (8% average) lasted about 2 years. At the episodic time scale, Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ flushed from soil sources during pre‐flood storms while Na+ and SiO2 diluted; these trends generally reversed during post‐flood storms for 2 years. Short‐term effects are attributed to the leaching of unconsolidated soil and upturned organic matter that clogged the streambed after the flood. The long‐term and superimposed episodic impacts may have resulted from the loss of riparian soils and vegetation in the flood. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.