Water and nutrient fluxes in natural and constructed wetlands near the inflow of the Otselic River to the Whitney Point Reservoir (New York)

The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the impact of a 2.2-meter stage drawdown in the Whitney Point Reservoir (regulated by the U.S. Corps of Engineers) on groundwater---surface water interactions in natural and constructed wetlands in close proximity to the reservoir, and (2) to determine each wetland's effectiveness in modifying the nutrient content of water they discharged to the reservoir. Hydrologic and water chemistry data indicated that groundwater and surface water elevations in the natural wetland were more sensitive to reservoir stage fluctuations and drawdown than the constructed wetland and that the natural wetland was situated in a more localized and complex groundwater flow system. Due to low sampling frequency and a low density of sampling locations in the natural and constructed wetlands it was not possible to determine detailed temporal and spatial patterns in nutrient concentrations within these wetlands. Further study is necessary to fully address the role these wetlands have on nutrient modification.