How Hydrologic Connectivity Regulates Water Quality in River Corridors.
Jud Harvey, Jesus Gomez-Velez, Noah Schmadel, Durelle Scott, Elizabeth Boyer, Richard Alexander, Ken Eng, Heather Golden, Albert Kettner, Chris Konrad, Richard Moore, Jim Pizzuto, Greg Schwarz, Chris Soulsby, Jay Choi
Author Information
Jud Harvey: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Jesus Gomez-Velez: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Noah Schmadel: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Durelle Scott: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Elizabeth Boyer: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Richard Alexander: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Ken Eng: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Heather Golden: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Albert Kettner: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Chris Konrad: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Richard Moore: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Jim Pizzuto: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Greg Schwarz: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Chris Soulsby: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Jay Choi: Earth Surface Processes Division (Harvey, Schmadel, Choi), and Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division (Alexander, Eng, Schwarz), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA; Civil and Environmental Engineering (Gomez-Velez), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biological Systems Engineering (Scott), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Department of Ecosystem Science and Management (Boyer), Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Office of Research and Development (Golden), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (Kettner), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA; Washington Water Science Center (Konrad), U.S. Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington, USA; New England Water Science Center (Moore), U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire, USA; College of Earth, Ocean, and the Environment (Pizzuto), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA; and School of Geosciences (Soulsby), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, GRB. ORCID
Downstream flow in rivers is repeatedly delayed by hydrologic exchange with off-channel storage zones where biogeochemical processing occurs. We present a dimensionless metric that quantifies river connectivity as the balance between downstream flow and the exchange of water with the bed, banks, and floodplains. The degree of connectivity directly influences downstream water quality - too little connectivity limits the amount of river water exchanged and leads to biogeochemically inactive water storage, while too much connectivity limits the contact time with sediments for reactions to proceed. Using a metric of reaction significance based on river connectivity, we provide evidence that intermediate levels of connectivity, rather than the highest or lowest levels, are the most efficient in removing nitrogen from Northeastern United States' rivers. Intermediate connectivity balances the frequency, residence time, and contact volume with reactive sediments, which can maximize the reactive processing of dissolved contaminants and the protection of downstream water quality. Our simulations suggest denitrification dominantly occurs in riverbed hyporheic zones of streams and small rivers, whereas vertical turbulent mixing in contact with sediments dominates in mid-size to large rivers. The metrics of connectivity and reaction significance presented here can facilitate scientifically based prioritizations of river management strategies to protect the values and functions of river corridors.
