Monique LaPerriere is currently a Master’s student under Dan Binkley and
Chuck Rhoades in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology at CSU. She began her
work at Fraser Experimental Forest in the summer of 2005, and continued into
the summer of 2006. Monique’s general interest is in Forest Ecology, and
her research focuses on a unique component of Colorado’s subalpine forests,
the biogeochemistry of subalpine slope and riparian wetlands. Monique is a co-instructor
for Forest Ecology at CSU and works with the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute.
Wetlands in the subalpine zone commonly form the interface between upland groundwater
and surface water and may have a direct impact on the chemical composition of
streams draining high-elevation watersheds. Several wetland plant associations
can be identified within the experimental forest, including both herbaceous
and forested types. We assess near surface groundwater chemistry in six riparian
wetlands at Fraser Experimental Forest using a transect of groundwater monitoring
wells installed at intervals from groundwater emergence to the stream. Physical
characteristics such as hydraulic head and temperature were also monitored.
Both well and stream water samples were analyzed for dissolved cations, anions,
organic carbon and total nitrogen.
Groundwater temperatures are consistently warmer than streamwater throughout
the growing season. Hydraulic head, starting at near saturation in all wetland
types, declines steadily throughout the season but can respond dramatically
to summer rains. Wetland chemistry changes with date during the growing season
in response to seasonal runoff. Distance from groundwater emergence in the wetland
and depth of the organic horizon also affect the chemistry of near surface groundwater.
While nutrient concentrations in both stream water and groundwater remain relatively
low, wetland monitoring may become increasingly important to protect our water
quality as natural disturbances such as pine beetle outbreak and human caused
disturbances such as development encroach on our water resources.