Field sample collection
At each sampling site in each reservoir, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, pH, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were collected at discrete, approximately 1 m increments from the water surface to the deepest portion of the reservoir depending on whether a YSI (Yellow Springs Inc.) ProPlus with Quattro cable (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ORP, conductivity) or YSI ProODO optical dissolved oxygen meter (dissolved oxygen, temperature) was used. Dissolved oxygen was calibrated approximately weekly using the water-saturated air technique. In FCR and BVR, conductivity was measured from 2015-2020, pH was measured from 2014-2017, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) was measured from 2016-2017. Additionally, pH was measured in GWR from 2014-2015. The pH sensor was calibrated approximately weekly using a series of three standardized pH solutions (pH 4, 7, 10) and the ORP sensor was calibrated approximately weekly using Zobell solution.
Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was collected at discrete, approximately 1 m increments from the water surface to the depth of light extinction (~ 0 micromole m-2 s-1) using a LiCor LI-192
underwater quantum sensor. PAR was also measured in air approximately 0.1 m above the water surface andis denoted as -0.1 in the Depth_m column.
Secchi disk depth was measured using a standard 20 cm diameter circular Secchi disk attached to a calibrated rope. Secchi depth measurements were made without the aid of a plexiglass viewer. The disk was lowered from the shaded side of the boat or dock, and the water depths at which the disk disappeared while being lowered and reappeared while being raised were averaged to determine Secchi depth.
YSI and PAR profiles and Secchi depths were collected approximately fortnightly in the spring months (March - May), weekly in the summer and early autumn (June - September), and monthly in the late autumn and winter (October - February). Most sampling occurred between the hours of 9:00 and 15:00, and are denoted in the DateTime as 12:00. Some sampling occurred outside of these hours, including some overnight sampling; these instances are noted by the actual sampling time within the DateTime column. For more information about nighttime sampling, see Doubek et. al. 2018. During 2013-2018, data are reported during the summer months in Eastern Daylight Savings Time; in 2019-2020, data are reported in Eastern Standard Time without observing daylight savings.
The YSI and PAR depth profiles and Secchi depths were measured at the deepest site of each reservoir adjacent to the dam (Site 50). YSI measurements were taken at inflow sites at Falling Creek Reservoir, Beaverdam Reservoir, and Carvins Cove Reservoir (site 99, 100, 101, 102, 200, 300, 400), as well as outflow sites at Falling Creek Reservoir and Beaverdam Reservoir (site 01). Profiles were also measured at other in-reservoir transects in Falling Creek Reservoir and Beaverdam Reservoir (Site 45, 30, 20, 10). For a map of the transects in Falling Creek Reservoir, see Chen et al. 2016.
From 2013 to 2020, multiple whole-ecosystem manipulations were conducted at Falling Creek Reservoir. These manipulations include intermittent operation of hypolimnetic oxygenation (HOx) and pulsed epilimnetic mixing engineering systems. For a detailed description of the (HOx) engineered system, see Gerling et al. (2014) and for a detailed description of the epilimnetic mixing engineered system, see Chen et al. (2017). These systems were operated over time following Table 1 in Gerling et al. (2016), Table 1 in Munger et al. (2016), and Table 2 in McClure et al. (2018). In 2019, the HOx was activated during the following time periods: 29 June to 11 September, 25 September to 02 December. In 2020, the HOx was activated during the following time periods: 29 June to 11 September, 25 September to 02 December.
Chen, S., C. Lei, C.C. Carey, and J.C. Little. 2016. Modelling the effect of artificial mixing on thermal stability and substance transport in a drinking-water reservoir using a 3D hydrodynamic model. Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference. Perth, Australia, 5-8 December 2016.
Chen, S., C. Lei, C.C. Carey, P.A. Gantzer, and J.C. Little. 2017. Predicting hypolimnetic oxygenation and epilimnetic mixing in a shallow eutrophic reservoir using a coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. Water Resources Research. 53: 470-484. DOI: 10.1002/2016WR019279
Gerling, A.B., Browne, R.G., Gantzer, P.A., Mobley, M.H., Little, J.C., and C.C. Carey. 2014. First report of the successful operation of a side stream supersaturation hypolimnetic oxygenation system in a eutrophic, shallow reservoir. Water Research. 67: 129-143. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.09.002
Gerling, A.B., Z.W. Munger, J.P. Doubek, K.D. Hamre, P.A. Gantzer, J.C. Little, and C.C. Carey. 2016. Whole-catchment manipulations of internal and external loading reveal the sensitivity of a century-old reservoir to hypoxia. Ecosystems. 19:555-571. DOI: 10.1007/s10021-015-9951-0
McClure, R.P., K.D. Hamre, B.R. Niederlehner, Z.W. Munger, S. Chen, M.E. Lofton, M.E. Schreiber, and C.C. Carey. 2018 Metalimnetic oxygen minima alter the vertical profiles of carbon dioxide and methane in a managed freshwater reservoir. Science of the Total Environment 636: 610-620. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.255
Munger, Z.W., C.C. Carey, A.B. Gerling, K.D. Hamre, J.P. Doubek, S.D. Klepatzki, R.P. McClure, and M.E. Schreiber. 2016. Effectiveness of hypolimnetic oxygenation for preventing accumulation of Fe and Mn in a drinking water reservoir. Water Research. 106: 1-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.09.038.