Primary Objectives
The Appalachian Aquatic Science Research Team (AppAqua) takes a multidisciplinary approach to better understand the complex human-environmental interactions affecting water resources in the Southern Appalachian headwaters. The cluster developed a high resolution geospatial database for the Upper South Fork of the New River (USFNR) watershed as part of a long-term water quality monitoring program. AppAqua studies the long-term spatial relationships between land cover change and water quality in the USFNR watershed that integrates methods and data from physical (hydro-geomorphic), biologic, and social sciences.
Capabilities
water quality/quantity monitoring, land cover assessment, nutrient loading, population sampling, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, LiDAR and structure from motion, restoration assessment, non-monetary valuation to inform watershed management policy, watershed modeling, riparian zone mapping
Cluster Members
- Jeff Colby, Department of Geography and Planning
- Shea Tuberty, Department of Biology
- Derek Martin, Department of Geography and Planning
- Chuanhui Gu, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Sample Work Products
- Use of High-Throughput Screening Results to Prioritize Chemicals for Potential Adverse Biological Effects Within a West Virginia Watershed
- Chemistry of waters collected in the Wolf Creek and Buffalo Creek watersheds in West Virginia in 2016: U.S. Geological Survey data release
- Air-stream Temperature Correlation in Forested and Urban Headwater Streams in the Southern Appalachians
- To Restore or Not to Restore: Assessing Pre-project Conditions of a Habitat Restoration Project on the New River, North Carolina
- Flood Modeling Using a Synthesis of Multi-Platform LiDAR Data
Study Area
Keywords
water resources, stream restoration, land use change, ecosystem services, multidisciplinary research