CZNet DWCZ - CO - Coal Creek - Stream and Spring Chemistry, Radon, and Stable Water Isotopes - 2021 - Keira Johnson (DWCZ-CC-RadonArray-KJohnson)

OVERVIEW

Description/Abstract

Spring and stream sampling was conducted across the Coal Creek watershed during summer 2021 to estimate groundwater chemistry and assess locations of groundwater discharge to stream channels.

Sites were sampled approximately weekly for synoptic assessment of Coal Creek. Data include intermittent spring (IS) and surface water (SW) chemistry used to study surface water and groundwater interactions.

Associated isotope data include d2H, d18O, and 222Rn values from samples collected at stream locations along Coal Creek, groundwater springs within the watershed, and precipitation isotope samples collected by the Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) from a collector within the watershed. Stream and spring samples were collected between June and October 2021, and precipitation isotope samples were collected between November 2020 and September 2021.

These data were collected to evaluate how groundwater contributions to Coal Creek originating from fractured hillslopes and alluvial fans respond to summer monsoon rains and seasonal drying. Understanding groundwater-surface water interactions in montane systems is critical for the future of water availability in the western United States, as groundwater contributions are expected to become more important for sustaining summer streamflows.

See ESS-DIVE link for associated isotope data.

Creator/Author

Keira Johnson johnkeir@oregonstate.edu, Pamela Sullivan Pamela.Sullivan@oregonstate.edu, Kenneth Hurst Williams khwilliams@lbl.gov, Holly Barnard Holly.Barnard@colorado.edu (DWCZ current)

Funding Agency

National Science Foundation; internship under DOE-funded SFA

CZNet

DYNAMIC WATER CRITICAL ZONE

Contact

czdata@colorado.edu

SUBJECTS

Disciplines

Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Geochemistry, Watershed Science

Level

Level 1

Keywords

critical zone, Coal Creek, groundwater chemistry, stream chemistry, spring chemistry, surface water-groundwater interactions, groundwater discharge, hydrologic connectivity, radon tracer, 222Rn, d18O, d2H, stable water isotopes, intermittent springs, monsoon, seasonal drying, fractured hillslope, alluvial fan

Variables

Radon, d18O, d2H, Specific Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, ORP, pH, Stream Temperature, Fluoride, Chloride, Sulfate, Nitrate, Phosphate, Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, V, Cr, Mn, Ca, Fe, Se, Ti, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Ge, As, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, Eu, Pb, Th, U, P

TEMPORAL

Date Start

2021-06-02

Date End

2021-10-19

SPATIAL

Field Areas

Coal Creek Watershed

Location

Coal Creek, Crested Butte, Colorado

North latitude

38.8639

South latitude

38.8539

West longitude

-107.0955

East longitude

-107.0466

Elevation

2712–3668 m watershed range; 3190 m average site elevation listed in metadata

Related Resources

Referenced by: Johnson, Keira. (2025). Hydrologic Connectivity Shapes Watershed Response to Climate Variability from Local to Global Scales. ScholarsArchive@OSU, Oregon State University.

https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/catalog?f[degree_level_sim][]=Doctoral&f[file_format_sim][]=pdf&locale=en&q=Johnson,%20Stephanie%20R.&search_field=nested_ordered_creator_label_ssim

Related isotope data are available through ESS-DIVE.