Santee Experimental Forest, Watershed 77 Daily Mean Flow Data, 1964-2000

Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Amatya, Devendra M. and Trettin, Carl C.
Publication_Date: 2012
Title:
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: database

Description:

Abstract:: This data product contains daily mean flow rates (liters per second) measured at the Watershed 77 weir on the Santee Experimental Forest near Cordesville, SC from 1964 to 2000. Watershed 77 is a 155 ha first-order treatment watershed that was established in 1963 and became part of a paired watershed system (Watershed 80 was established in 1968 as the control watershed). Elevation ranges from 6 to 10 meters above sea level, and average watershed slope is 3%. The stream channel is approximately 1260 meters long, and stage is monitored at the watershed outlet using a compound v-notch weir made of metal and concrete.

The predominant forest cover types on Watershed 77 are pine and mixed hardwoods. About 11 % of the watershed is covered by wetlands, comprising bottomland hardwoods and wet pine flats. The major treatments imposed on the watershed over its history have been forest thinning and prescribed fire. Watershed 77 also suffered major damage during Hurricane Hugo in September 1989, as did the control Watershed 80.
Purpose:: The purpose of Watershed 77 when established in 1963 was to provide a site for research on understanding runoff and evapotranspiration processes and the water balance. Since then research has been conducted on the effects of management treatments such as thinning and prescribed burns (taking place since 1976) on the hydrology, water quality, soils and vegetation of low gradient, poorly drained forested watersheds in the SC Coastal Plain.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1964
Ending_Date: 2000

Currentness_Reference:

ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

The geographic area covered by the dataset is that defined by the boundary of Watershed 77 in the Santee Experimental Forest.

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -79.78153
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -79.76300
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.15007
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.13284

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Forested wetlands
Theme_Keyword: Poorly drained soils
Theme_Keyword: Outflow (runoff)

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: South Carolina
Place_Keyword: Coastal Plain
Place_Keyword: Santee Experimental Forest
Place_Keyword: Watershed 77

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

These data were collected by USDA Forest Service researchers. In order to use the data in a publication, presentation or other research product you must agree to acknowledge its source. Please use the reference below when citing this work:

(Data name) courtesy of the USDA Forest Service Center for Forested Wetlands Research.

The following statement may be added after an acknowledgement or credit:

The USDA Forest Service Center for Forested Wetlands Research homepage is http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/charleston/.

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:: Prior to September 1995, stage was measured at 15-minute intervals using an ADR device accurate to the nearest 0.01 foot. Submerged flow (if any) was measured using an FW-1 recorder. Daily mean flow values were calculated by translating the ADR tapes for 15-minute stage values, using these values with stage-discharge relationship equations for the weir in a Fortran program and then averaging these values to obtain the daily mean flow rates. A staff gauge was mounted on the face of the blockhouse to allow direct comparison of stage data to manual readings.

A Teledyne-ISCO 3210 flowmeter with an ultrasonic sensor was installed in September 1995, and it recorded stage with an accuracy of 0.01 foot. SAS software was used to calculate 15-minute and daily mean flow rates.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Visual inspection and comparison with flow data from other SEF stations (as well as daily rainfall data) were used to expose anomalous data.

Completeness_Report:

Flow monitoring was discontinued starting 11/1/81 but was resumed on 11/14/89 following the devastation caused by Hurricane Hugo on 9/21/89. Since then there have been a number of brief periods with missing data, largely the result of equipment failures or personnel vacancies.

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:: In 1963 the Forest Service constructed a compound metallic and concrete v-notch weir in a concrete wall, and an associated blockhouse (to house monitoring instruments), at the Watershed 77 outlet on Highway 41. Stage data were recorded on tapes at 15-minute intervals by analog-to-digital water level recording (ADR) equipment.

In September 1995 the ADR equipment was replaced by a Teledyne-ISCO 3210 flowmeter. 15-minute stage data was downloaded directly to a computer in the field using Flowlink 3 software.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:: Until September 1995, ADR tapes were removed and the 15-minute stage data translated (either by hand or by a photoelectric tape reader) and then converted into daily mean flow rates using these data with the stage-discharge relationship for the weir in a Fortran program.

Starting in September 1995, 15-minute stage data were downloaded from the Teledyne-ISCO 3210 flow logger to a computer in the field. Downloaded stage data were post-processed (removing spurious data, such as download artifacts) and prepared for runs with SAS software to generate 15-minute and daily mean flow rates.
Process_Date: Unknown

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:: Variables included in the dataset WS77_historical_data.xlsx:

Location = watershed name (WS77 = Watershed 77);
Instr_ID = gauging station name (Weir77 = water level recorder used in conjunction with WS77 weir);
Date_ = date associated with stage data (format MM/DD/YYYY); and
Dailyflow_ = daily mean flow rate, in L/sec.

All missing data were originally assigned the value "-9999"; during database development this code was changed to "null"
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20130222

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Forested Wetlands Research
Contact_Person: Andy Harrison

Contact_Position: Hydrology Technician

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 3734 Hwy 402
City: Cordesville
State_or_Province: SC
Postal_Code: 29434
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 843 336-5603

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999