Hydrologic, Water-Quality, and Ecological Monitoring and Analysis to Support Stream Restoration Research in Reston, Virginia
Snakeden Branch
Science Center Objects
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Resource Protection Group, Inc. is partnering with Reston Association to monitor the hydrology, water-quality, and ecology of two restored urban streams in Reston, Virginia – Snakeden Branch and The Glade. A combination of continuous and discrete hydrologic and water-quality data are collected to evaluate stream conditions and estimate sediment and nutrient loads. Ecological surveys are conducted to assess fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities and physical habitat. Meteorological data including precipitation accumulation and air temperature are collected to better understand the watershed hydrology. The complete data set to be collected will provide the necessary information to understand respective responses to research activities conducted within these watersheds. The overall objective of this monitoring is to provide the foundational data needed to understand the current hydrology, water chemistry, and ecological conditions, and to evaluate changes in these conditions over time as experimental restoration practices are employed.