Abstract
Mountain bogs in the Southern Appalachians are rare and delicate habitats, greatly influenced by the hydrology of the area. Riverbend, located in Henderson County, NC, is one such bog containing endangered and threatened species and has undergone multiple management approaches to try to maintain the site. Not much is known about the hydrology of the two ponds located within the site and how they might affect the quality of the bog. This study monitored the water levels of seven installed wells within the bog site over a period of four months to better understand the hydrology of the two ponds. An infra-red imaging camera was used to confirm the presence of groundwater seepage into both ponds from the south and southwestern boundaries of the site. Stormwater runoff was shown to have a profound effect on one of the ponds, but did not greatly impact the other. Surface runoff from agricultural land upslope of the site may have a detrimental effect on the bog, but water quality analysis suggests that the runoff is not far reaching. Further research needs to be done to determine the effects of stormwater runoff from the southwest pond into the site.
How to Cite
Dinsmore, S., (2013) “Delineating the Water Source of Two Ponds Flowing into a Mountain Bog in the Southern Appalachians”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 26(1).
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