DOI: 10.5061/dryad.j6q573nqb
title: 2024 Hydrological, chemical and biological assessment of two New Mexico headwater streams

description: Headwater streams play an important role in arid and semiarid regions.
 They provide freshwater to adjacent lowlands and temporarily store water
 as snowpack and groundwater. Downstream users – both humans specifically
 and ecosystems more broadly – depend on the delayed release, particularly
 during dry seasons. Headwater streams are highly vulnerable to climate
 change through shifts in snowmelt dynamics, changes in precipitation,
 evapotranspiration, and wildfire prevalence, among other factors.
 Monitoring headwater streams in dryland areas over time is therefore of
 critical importance. Each year, graduate students enrolled in the Water
 Resources Program at the University of New Mexico monitor hydrological,
 chemical, and biological characteristics of two headwater streams in
 central New Mexico as part of a field methods class. This dataset contains
 measurements from the 2024 field campaign. At each stream site,
 measurements were repeated for two or three separate transects. Las
 Huertas Creek (LH), the first monitoring site, is the only perennial
 stream in the Sandia Mountains. The stream drains north from the
 northeastern slope of the Sandias towards the town of Placitas, running
 through a narrow and heavily forested canyon. Three transects range in
 elevation from 2190 m – 2320 m above sea level and were sampled on
 September 28, 2024. The second monitoring site is on the East Fork of the
 Jemez River (JR) within the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The stream
 runs through the montane grasslands of the caldera, a 20 km circular
 depression formed by a large volcanic eruption and subsequent land
 subsidence approximately 1.2 million years ago. Two transects are located
 at an elevation of approximately 2560 m above sea level and were sampled
 on October 19, 2024.
description: <strong>Discharge, sediment, and channel
 geometry<br></strong>Discharge at each transect was estimated
 using two methods: (1) the velocity-area method, with velocity measured
 using a Marsh-McBirney Flo-Mate Model 2000 flow meter, and (2) the salt
 dilution (or dry, or slug injection) method after Hudson and Fraser
 (2005). Electrical conductivity (EC) for the salt dilution method was
 monitored in 10-second increments using a YSI Professional Plus
 multiparameter meter, and in 1-second increments using an Arduino-based EC
 probe and datalogger built as part of the class. 
 Particle size distribution of the channel bed surface was
 characterized based on the pebble count method (Wolman, 1954) by randomly
 selecting 100 pebbles along a zig-zag pattern (Bevenger and King, 1995)
 and measuring them with a gravelometer. In addition to the pebble count,
 grab samples (approximately 500 g) of stream and bank sediment were
 collected with a trowel at each transect and subjected to sieve analysis
 based on ASTM D6913 (ASTM, 2009). Three soil samples were taken along the
 vegetation transect in the adjacent riparian area outside of the stream
 channel. The soil texture by feel method was used to determine USDA
 texture class.  One channel cross-section at each
 transect was surveyed using a Topcon AT-B3A auto level and stadia rod.
 Bankfull stage was estimated based on indicators such as change in
 vegetation and slope according to Harrelson et al. (1994). Centered on
 each cross-section, a longitudinal channel profile (20-30 m long depending
 on site conditions) was established by surveying 7-9 points along the
 channel thalweg. Bankfull discharge was then estimated based on Manning’s
 equation. <strong>Water
 chemistry</strong><br>The following water chemistry parameters
 were measured at five points (right bank, mid-right, center, mid-left,
 left bank) along a transect and averaged: temperature (°C), specific
 conductivity (µS/cm), pH, total dissolved solids (g/L), salinity (ppt),
 and dissolved oxygen (mg/L and %). The parameters were measured with a YSI
 Professional Plus multiparameter meter. Turbidity (NTU) was also measured
 at the same five locations described above using a LaMotte 2020i portable
 turbidity meter and averaged. Water samples were taken
 to measure alkalinity in a lab environment; one liter of unfiltered water
 was collected at one location per transect and placed in a HPDE collection
 bottle, which was stored under refrigeration until lab testing. Alkalinity
 was determined by using endpoint titration; the titrant was 0.02 N
 sulfuric acid, while indicator solutions used were phenolphthalein (for
 carbonate) and bromocresol green (for bicarbonate).
 Additional water samples were collected to test the anion and
 cation concentrations in a lab environment. At one central point per
 transect, approximately 1L of water was collected, filtered through a 0.45
 µm glass fiber filter, and stored in a 50 mL centrifuge tube. A few drops
 of dilute nitric acid were added to only the cation samples, while nothing
 was added to the anion samples. All samples were stored under
 refrigeration until lab analysis. Cation concentrations were analyzed
 using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
 with a PerkinElmer Optima 5300DV. Anion concentrations were analyzed using
 ion chromatography (IC) with a Dionex 1100 IC. Concentrations were then
 adjusted by subtracting positive field blank (i.e., background) values
 obtained running the same analysis on samples of deionized water left open
 to the air during each collection period.
 <strong>Vegetation, organic matter and benthic
 macroinvertebrates</strong><br>Foliar cover, basal vegetation
 cover, and bare ground were measured using a line-point intercept method
 (Herrick et al. 2020). Along a 25m transect perpendicular to the stream
 channel, observations were taken every 0.5 m (50 points in total).   At
 each point, a survey flag was placed next to the meter tape and every
 plant type was noted as well as overhead riparian cover. Taxa composition
 was estimated from LPI data. Percent canopy closure was measured at each
 transect, using a concave spherical densiometer. Measurements were
 recorded in the four cardinal directions and averaged. 
 Organic matter was qualitatively sampled from three points (right
 bank, center, left bank) at each transect. Substrate was collected with a
 trowel. In the lab, substrate samples were processed for Ash Free Dry Mass
 (AFDM) (Steinman et al., 2017). Substrate samples were dried for 24 hours
 at 60°C, weighed, ashed at 500°C for 2 hours in a muffle furnace and
 reweighed. The difference in weights was calculated as the % organic
 matter as AFDM. Aquatic macroinvertebrates were
 collected from a known area (measured in m2) at each transect using a
 D-frame net. Samples were preserved in 70% ethanol and stored in whirlpak
 bags.  In the lab, invertebrates were separated from organic/inorganic
 matter using forceps and a dissecting microscope, enumerated, and
 identified to Order (in most cases), using taxonomic references including
 Voshell (2002). Macroinvertebrate densities were calculated from raw
 counts as individuals/m<sup>2</sup>.
 <strong>References<br></strong>ASTM, 2009.
 Standard test methods for particle-size distribution (gradation) of soils
 using sieve analysis. ASTM D6913-04(2009)e1. West Conshohocken,
 PA. Bevenger, G.S. and R.M. King, 1995. A pebble count
 procedure for assessing watershed cumulative effects (Vol. 319). US
 Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range
 Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. Harrelson, C.C;
 Rawlins, C.L., and Potyondy, J.P., 1994. Stream channel reference sites:
 an illustrated guide to field technique. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-245. Fort
 Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky
 Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 61 pp.
 Herrick, J. E., Van Zee, J. W., McCord, S. E., Courtright, E. M.,
 Karl, J.W. and Burkett, L.M., 2020. Monitoring manual for grassland,
 shrubland, and savanna ecosystems Second Edition – Volume I: Core methods.
 Retrieved from Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS
 Jornada Experimental Range, 77 pp. Hudson, R. and
 Fraser, J., 2005. The mass balance (or dry injection) method. Streamline
 Watershed Management Bulletin, 9(1), pp.6-12. Steinman,
 A.D., Lamberti, G.A., Leavitt, P.R., and Uzarski, D.G., 2017. Biomass and
 pigments of benthic algae, pp. 223-241 in (Hauer, F.R. and G.A. Lamberti
 eds) Methods in Stream Ecology: Vol. 1 Ecosystem Structure, Third Edition.
 Academic Press, Cambridge, MA. Voshell, J.R., 2002. A
 Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America. University of
 Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE. 422 pp. Wolman, M.G.,
 1954. A method of sampling coarse river‐bed material. EOS, Transactions
 American Geophysical Union, 35(6), pp.
 951-956.<strong><br><br></strong>
description: # 2024 hydrological, chemical and biological assessment of two New Mexico
 headwater streams
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.j6q573nqb](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.j6q573nqb) ## Description of the data and file structure Headwater streams play a crucial role in arid and semiarid regions. They provide freshwater to adjacent lowlands and temporarily store water as snowpack and groundwater. The delayed release is particularly important during the dry season. Headwater streams are highly vulnerable to climate change, and monitoring over time is of critical importance. Each year, graduate students enrolled in the Water Resources Program at the University of New Mexico monitor hydrological, chemical, and biological characteristics of two headwater streams in central New Mexico as part of a field methods class. The two sites are Las Huertas Creek (LH) and East Fork Jemez River (JR). This dataset contains measurements from the 2024 field campaign. ### Files and variables **Description of the data and file structure** The dataset consists of 19 .csv files. Each file contains 7 columns of data: Column 1: Parameter description Column 2: Units Column 3: LH1 (Las Huertas transect 1) Column 4: LH2 (Las Huertas transect 2) Column 5: LH3 (Las Huertas transect 3) Column 6: JR1 (Jemez River transect 1) Column 7: JR2 (Jemez River transect 2) **Description of the content for individual files** *AFDM* AFDM.csv lists ash free dry mass (AFDM) of the substrate in % determined form samples collected at 5 transects (left and right bank are defined looking upstream).  *Alkalinity* Alkalinity.csv contains alkalinity in mg/L as CaCO3 determined from water samples collected at 5 transects. *Anions* Anions.csv contains concentration in mg/L for 7 anions based on water samples collected at 5 transects. *Canopy closure* Canopy_closure.csv contains tree canopy closure in % measured with a spherical densiometer at 5 transects. *Cations* Cations.csv includes concentration in mg/L for 29 cations based on water samples collected at 5 transects. Missing values for individual constituents are indicated by "n/a".  *Cross-sections* Cross_sections.csv contains station-elevation values for channel cross-sections at 5 transects. Each transect contains up to 20 station-elevation pairs depending on terrain complexity. Transects with less than 20 station-elevation values contain "n/a" for the remaining values.  Cross-sections are represented from left bank to right bank looking upstream. Station-elevation values are comma-separated. Elevation values are relative with respect to the lowest point in the cross-section. *Discharge* Discharge.csv lists measured discharge for 5 transects in L/s using the velocity-area method and the salt dilution method, along with estimated bankfull discharge. *Longitudinal survey – channel* Longitudinal_survey_channel.csv contains station-elevation values of a 20–30-meter channel segment approximately centered on each channel cross-section. Each transect contains up to 10 station-elevation pairs. Transects with less than 10 station-elevation values contain "n/a" for the remaining values. Station-elevation values are comma-separated. Elevations are relative with respect to the lowest point and represent the channel thalweg. Values are presented upstream to downstream.  *Longitudinal survey – water surface* Longitudinal_survey_WS.csv contains station-elevation values of a 20–30-meter channel segment approximately centered on each channel cross-section. Each transect contains up to 10 station-elevation pairs. Transects with less than 10 station-elevation values contain "n/a" for the remaining values. Station-elevation values are comma-separated. Elevations represent the water surface and are relative with respect to the lowest channel elevation. Values are presented upstream to downstream.  *Macroinvertebrates* Macroinvertebrates.csv lists benthic macroinvertebrate densities reported as individual/m^2; each row contains the density for each recorded taxon at 5 transects. *Multiparameter meter* Multiparameter_meter.csv contains the following parameters measured with a handheld meter at 5 transects: water temperature (°C), specific conductivity (µS/cm at 25 °C), pH, TDS (g/L), Salinity (ppt), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), and dissolved oxygen (%). *Pebble count* Pebble_count.csv contains grain size distribution (% finer) for 5 transects using the pebble count method. *Sieve analysis – channel* Sieve_analysis_channel.csv lists grain size distribution (% finer) of a grab sample retrieved from the main channel at each of 5 transects using sieve analysis. *Sieve analysis – left bank* Sieve_analysis_left_bank.csv lists grain size distribution (% finer) of a grab sample retrieved from the left bank (looking upstream) at each of 5 transects using sieve analysis. No left bank samples were analyzed for East Fork Jemez River (JR1 and JR2), and corresponding missing values are indicated with "n/a".  *Sieve analysis – right bank* Sieve_analysis_right_bank.csv lists grain size distribution (% finer) of a grab sample retrieved from the right bank (looking upstream) at each of 5 transects using sieve analysis. No right bank samples were analyzed for East Fork Jemez River (JR1 and JR2), and corresponding missing values are indicated with "n/a". *Soil texture – floodplain* Soil_texture_floodplain.csv contains USDA soil texture estimates of three samples taken in the riparian area at each of 5 transects. Left bank and right bank are defined looking upstream. Missing values are indicated with "n/a".  *Site locations* Site_locations.csv contains latitude and longitude of 5 transects in decimal degrees. *Turbidity* Turbidity.csv lists turbidity in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) determined from water samples collected at 5 transects. Missing values are indicated with "n/a".  *Vegetation survey* Vegetation_survey.csv contains vegetation parameters for 5 transects based on the line-point intercept method.