Stream Chemistry Across the Fall Zone Data
The Urban Critical Zone project examines how geology, urbanization, and human activities influence water quality in metropolitan streams along the Eastern Seaboard. This dataset includes bi-weekly water chemistry measurements collected from February 2021 to March 2024 in four watersheds: Pennypack Creek (Philadelphia, PA), Pond Branch (northwest of Baltimore, MD), Dead Run (west Baltimore, MD), and Northwest Branch Anacostia Creek (MD/DC). Three of these watersheds were sampled at multiple nested locations to capture variations along the stream continuum.
Water samples were analyzed for various chemical constituents using standard laboratory procedures. The dataset provides insights into how land use, wastewater inputs, and natural processes affect water chemistry in urban and suburban environments, supporting efforts to improve water quality in these critical watersheds.