Evaluating the hydrology, water-quality, and ecological communities of two restored urban-suburban streams in Northern Virginia
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Resource Protection Group, Inc., is conducting an intensive stream monitoring program of two restored, small (< 1.3 mi2), urban-suburban streams in Reston, Virginia. In 2010, both stream channels were restored to stabilize the banks, preventing channel incision, mass wasting of the banks, and the attendant deleterious sediment effects. Restoration efforts will continue with the introduction of multiple species of unionid mussels, planned for 2023. The monitoring program assesses the hydrology, water-quality, benthic macroinvertebrate communities, fish assemblages, and physical habitat throughout the two streams to evaluate changes over time. The monitoring program has completed two years of data collection and will continue to collect these data through 2027. In collaboration with Virginia Tech, this program will evaluate whether mussel introductions could be used as an effective BMP for nutrient and sediment reductions and if they provide other water-quality or ecological benefits.
Author Bio
Brendan is a hydrologist at the USGS Virginia & West Virginia Water Science Center. His background is in hydrology and fish passage engineering. He's worked on many complex, multi-disciplinary studies, most involving flow-biota relations, sediment and nutrient transport, and applying advanced and novel statistical and monitoring approaches. Brendan also enjoys programming applications and creating advanced data visualizations. When he's not thinking about water science you can find him exploring Virginia's beauty with his dog, Daisy.
