Environmental Monitoring Commons^™

My Experiences With Obstinate Autoanalyzers While Doing Water Quality Analysis, Deborah Wilson

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

I started work at the Institute for Watershed Studies (IWS) in June of 2005. On my first day I incorrectly weighed out ammonium chloride thus making that a mistake I would never make again. Despite this hiccup, under the careful tutelage of my boss I have become proficient at a great many necessary skills. This report serves as a summary and description of what I have learned over the past year. I have experience in water quality procedures covering the processing and analyzing of samples.

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 2004/2005 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program. This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University.

The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Trends In Satellite-Observed Circumpolar Photosynthetic Activity From 1982 To 2003: The Influence Of Seasonality, Cover Type, And Vegetation Density, Andrew Godard Bunn, Scott J. Goetz

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Time series analyses of a 22-yr record of satellite observations across the northern circumpolar high latitudes were conducted, and trends in vegetation photosynthetic activity were assessed using a series of statistical tests. The results indicate that most of the northern circumpolar high latitudes (>85%) showed no significant trend in vegetation activity despite systematic climate warming during the period of analysis. Of the areas that did change, many showed the expected trends in “greening” of vegetation activity. There were, however, significant differences in the magnitude and even in the direction of trends when stratified by vegetation type and density. Tundra …

Austin Creek And Beaver Creek Sampling Project, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen

Lake Whatcom Other Reports

Beaver Creek and Austin Creek were sampled intensively on November 20, 2004 to measure temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total suspended solids, and fecal coliforms. The objective was to assess the amount of variability that can be expected for water quality measurements collected from these creeks at different times during the day and in different locations within the Austin Creek and Beaver Creek watersheds.

Satellite-Observed Photosynthetic Trends Across Boreal North America Associated With Climate And Fire Disturbance, Scott J. Goetz, Andrew Godard Bunn, Gregory J. Fiske, Richard A. Houghton

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

We analyzed trends in a time series of photosynthetic activity across boreal North America over 22 years (1981 through 2003). Nearly 15% of the region displayed significant trends, of which just over half involved temperature-related increases in growing season length and photosynthetic intensity, mostly in tundra. In contrast, forest areas unaffected by fire during the study period declined in photosynthetic activity and showed no systematic change in growing season length. Stochastic changes across the time series were predominantly associated with a frequent and increasing fire disturbance regime. These trends have implications for the direction of feedbacks to the climate system …

Observed And Predicted Responses Of Plant Growth To Climate Across Canada, Andrew Godard Bunn, Scott J. Goetz, Gergory J. Fiske

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Using satellite observations from 1981–2000, and data interpolated from surface weather stations, we examined the association between gross photosynthetic activity (Pg) and climate across the boreal forest and tundra of Canada. The response of annual and interannual Pg was tightly coupled to climate, and seasonal associations between Pg and climate varied with plant functional types. The most important variable for modeling summer growth of conifer forests was the previous spring minimum temperature, whereas tundra responded primarily to summer maximum temperature. Using general circulation model predictors to 2050, we project that tundra will continue to grow vigorously in the coming decades …

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 2003/2004 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program. This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University.

The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Relationship Between Drinking Water Treatment Chemical Usage And Lake Whatcom Water Quality And Algal Data, Robin A. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Other Reports

This assessment is based on daily Bellingham City water treatment data provided by Peg Wendling and a composite data file containing monthly averages for City water treatment chemical data and Institute for Watershed Studies water quality and algal data collected at the Intake site. The monthly averages were calculated using all available depths and dates from September 1992 through May 2004. (Note that the 2004 data only include January through May.)

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 2002/2003 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program. This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University.

The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Strawberry Sill Water Quality Analysis, Robin A. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Other Reports

The Strawberry Sill sampling program was included as part of the long-term Lake Whatcom monitoring program. Five lake sites are included in the long-term monitoring program: Sites 1–4, located at the deepest points in their respective basins, and the Intake site (Figure 1, page 12). Beginning in October 1996, three sampling sites were added along the 40-meter contour of Strawberry Sill (Sites s1–s3 on Figure 2, page 13). The sill sampling effort was limited to monthly Hydrolab measurements and biannual water quality analyses. In October 2000, the sampling effort along the sill was reduced to a single site (s2), and …

Spatial Variation In Distribution And Growth Patterns Of Old Growth Strip-Bark Pines, Andrew Godard Bunn, Rick L. Lawrence, Gabriel J. Bellante, Lindsey A. Waggoner, Lisa Graumlich

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Postindustrial rises in CO₂ have the potential to confound the interpretation of climatically sensitive tree-ring chronologies. Increased growth rates observed during the 20th century in strip-bark trees have been attributed to CO₂ fertilization. Absent in the debate of CO₂ effects on tree growth are spatially explicit analyses that examine the proximate mechanisms that lead to changes in rates of tree growth. Twenty-seven pairs of strip-bark and companion entire-bark trees were analyzed in a spatially explicit framework for abiotic environmental correlates. The strip-bark tree locations were not random but correlated to an abiotic proxy for soil moisture. The …

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 2001/2002 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program. This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University.

The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 2000/2001 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 1999/2000 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Park Place Wet Pond Monitoring Project 1994–2000 Summary Report, Robin A. Matthews, Mark R. Saunders, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen

Lake Whatcom Other Reports

The Park Place monitoring program is an on-going study of the effectiveness of storm water treatment in a small wet pond located in the northwestern portion of the Lake Whatcom watershed. Water quality in the Lake Whatcom watershed has been monitored since the 1960’s by researchers at Western Washington University. During this time it has been noted that the some of the streams and storm drains entering the lake contained contaminants associated with residential development. In 1990, a comprehensive storm water runoff monitoring project was undertaken by the Institute for Watershed Studies (IWS) at Western Washington University on behalf of …

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 1998/1999 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 1997/1998 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 1996/1997 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Conserving Coastal Wetlands Despite Sea Level Rise, W. K. (William K.) Nuttle, Mark M. Brinson, D. Cajon, J. C. Callaway, R. R. Christian, G. L. Chmura, William H. Conner, Robert H. Day, M. Ford, J. Grace, J. Lynch, Richard A. Orson, R. W. Parkinson, D. Reed, John M. Rybczyk, T. J. Smith Iii, Richard P. Stumpf, K. Williams

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Coastal wetlands provide valuable services such as flood protection and fisheries production to a global population that is increasingly concentrated near the coast and dependent on its resources. Many of the world's coastal wetlands suffered significant losses during this century, and the creation of new wetland areas is not keeping pace with recent losses. Some destruction of wetland areas can be expected as a consequence of the continual reworking of the coastal zone by dynamic geologic processes. Yet human activities also play a role, both directly by encroaching on coastal wetlands and indirectly by influencing the hydrologic and geologic processes …

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 1995/1996 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 1994/1995 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 1993/1994 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 1992/1993 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program.

This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University. The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.