INSPIRED Water Quality & Management Report, 2024

NHAES INSPIRED Water Quality & Management Report, Spring 2024

The Inspired water quality and management report with black outline

New Hampshire is a state powered and supported by its freshwater bodies—from hydroelectric dams that harness river currents to rivers that provide food, support regional ecosystems, and drive local recreation, tourism and economies. The Granite State has more than 800 lakes and ponds and approximately 19,000 miles of rivers and streams, adding over $200 million from recreational fishing, attracting nearly half a million visitors to enjoy the state’s freshwater swimming and surrounding communities, and providing ecosystem services that ensure a clean drinking water supply, run-off water filtration, erosion management, resilient wildlife habitats and flood mitigation.

As a changing climate, increasing urbanization and evolving policies continue to impact our state’s natural water systems, the importance of science-based, measured and forward-looking approaches to keeping our state’s waters managed for long-term sustainability is a core mission of the NH Agricultural Experiment Station. Researchers with the NHAES are helping to lead the advancement of methods to accurately assess how waters in the Granite State are affected and to develop cost-effective management and policy solutions. By testing new and emerging technologies, studying and adapting lessons from within New Hampshire and from far outside and leveraging insights from an increasing amount of and breadth of data, the discoveries from Station scientists are rapidly enhancing our understanding of how one of our state’s most prized environmental and economic resources can remain resilient even in the face of an uncertain climate and future.

Read and download a pdf version of the entire publication, or check out the individual INSPIRED Water Quality & Water Management research articles. And sign up for the NHAES newsletter to receive the latest updates on future editions of the INSPIRED research report.

Research Inside

A section of the Lamprey River Watershed in autumn, illustrating seasonal shifts in streamflow and nutrient cycling.
The Lamprey River Hydrological Observatory: Suburbanization and Changing Seasonality

Research on the Lamprey River reveals how suburban growth and climate change impact water quality. Over 20 years of data show rising nitrate levels, shorter winters, and longer springs. Using sensors and sampling, researchers highlight the challenges suburbanization poses to freshwater systems and emphasize strategies to protect the river and the Great Bay estuary.

Plant Responses to an Urbanization Contaminant

Researchers studied how urbanization and zinc pollution affect duckweed traits and plant-microbe interactions. They found that microbiomes significantly influence plant traits, often as much as genetics, while zinc disrupts these interactions.

Dense duckweed growth in an urban waterway, studied for its role in filtering contaminants and improving water quality.
Instruments installed on a research tower collect data on atmospheric deposition and climate interactions. This setup helps scientists track air quality and nutrient deposition in forest ecosystems.
Climate Change and Its Effects on Nitrogen Dynamics in Precipitation

A 17-year study reveals shifts in nitrogen deposition in New Hampshire’s precipitation, with declines in ammonium and nitrate but increases in organic nitrogen. These changes, linked to human activity and climate change, could disrupt nutrient cycles, plant growth, and water quality.

Plant-Microbiome Interactions for Freshwater Bioremediation

Researchers explored the role of duckweed and microbiomes in removing contaminants like benzotriazole from stormwater. The study found that rural genotypes and diverse microbiomes improved bioremediation, even with high salt levels.

Close-up of duckweed floating on water, highlighting its potential use in filtering pollutants from freshwater systems.
Researchers study enhanced filtration techniques in large stream ecosystems to mitigate pollutants and improve water quality.
The Enhanced Pollution Filtration Abilities of Large Watersheds

This study reveals that larger watersheds filter pollutants more efficiently through a process called superlinear scaling. Findings highlight the importance of protecting smaller watersheds, which are less equipped to handle pollutants.

Adapting an Open-source Carbon Dioxide Sensor for Streams and Rivers

Researchers adapted a CO2 sensor for use in streams, enabling accurate, high-frequency monitoring of carbon emissions in dynamic freshwater systems. Tested across 10 sites, the sensor tracks CO2 fluctuations during storms and daily cycles.

A CO₂ sensor deployed in a wetland ecosystem to track carbon dioxide flux and its impact on water quality and climate resilience.
A researcher collects water samples to monitor cyanobacteria levels and assess harmful algal blooms in a freshwater lake.
Monitoring Lake Cyanobacteria Blooms Using Unmanned Aerial Systems

Researchers developed drone-based methods to monitor toxic cyanobacteria blooms in New Hampshire lakes. Using multispectral imagery, the system achieved over 90% accuracy in detecting harmful algal blooms, reducing labor, health risks, and time compared to traditional sampling.

Assessing the Role of Streams in Methane Emissions and Oxidation

Small streams emit methane at rates comparable to lakes and wetlands, with emissions occurring mainly through diffusion. This study revealed active methane production and oxidation by microbial communities in streams, highlighting their underestimated role in the global methane cycle.

A researcher collects water samples from a forest stream to measure methane emissions and assess greenhouse gas fluxes in aquatic ecosystems. This study helps understand the role of freshwater systems in carbon cycling and climate change.
A tropical river with exposed rocky formations plays a crucial role in carbon cycling, acting as a natural carbon sink. Research led by Bill McDowell explores how river systems contribute to global carbon sequestration and climate regulation.
How Rivers Serve as Key Carbon Sinks

Rivers play a vital role in carbon sequestration by transporting organic carbon to ocean sediments, reducing atmospheric CO2. This study highlights tropical rivers, where extreme rainfall events account for over half of annual carbon export.

Examining Drivers of Carbon and Nitrogen Availability in Freshwater Ecosystems at Different Spatial Scales

This study explored how climate, soil, and watershed characteristics influence carbon and nitrogen levels in streams at different spatial scales. Findings reveal that drivers vary by scale, with localized factors like soil properties playing a greater role at smaller scales.

An aerial view of a meandering wetland river system, crucial for studying carbon and nitrogen cycling in aquatic ecosystems.
A dam impacted by a severe storm, illustrating the effects of climatic extremes on water infrastructure and ecosystem stability.
The Role of Watersheds in Mitigating Impacts of Climatic Extremes

This study examined how New England watersheds regulate nutrient transport during extreme weather. Findings reveal wetter conditions increase nutrient transfer downstream, risking eutrophication, while drier periods enhance nutrient retention.

Download the PDF version