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Chris Sanchez, University of Miami Daniel L. Childers, School of Sustainability, ASU

Explore the dynamics and services of urban wetlands, focusing on Phoenix's aridland treatment wetland. Learn about wetland ecology, ecosystem services, and ongoing research in this human-dominated ecosystem. Discover how we can optimize wetlands for flood control, groundwater recharge, wildlife habitat, and more. Investigate the challenges and opportunities of wetland management in urban environments.

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Chris Sanchez, University of Miami Daniel L. Childers, School of Sustainability, ASU

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  1. Ecosystem Services & Educational Opportunities Provided by an Aridland Urban Treatment Wetland in Phoenix AZpart of theCentral Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Program (CAP LTER) Chris Sanchez, University of Miami Daniel L. Childers, School of Sustainability, ASU Laura Turnbull, Dept. Geography, Durham University Nicholas Weller, ASU

  2. The Wetland Ecosystem Ecology Lab (WEEL) @ ASU We seek to understand wetland ecosystem dynamics and services, particularly in human-dominated systems such as cities

  3. Urban Wetlands Urban wetlands occur in many types & sizes: • Constructed for stormwater or groundwater management; • Associated with urban [built] water features; • Associated with urban streams and rivers; • Sometimes natural, but more often designed, constructed, restored, or rehabilitated. Urban wetlands perform numerous ecosystem services (some by design, some serendipitous): • Flood control and stormwater management; • Groundwater recharge; • Surface water filtration; • Wildlife and bird habitat; • Biodiversity; • Recreational, cultural, aesthetic, and spiritual values;

  4. Examples of urban wetlands

  5. The Tres Rios Constructed Wetland - City of Phoenix

  6. The Tres Rios Constructed Wetland - City of Phoenix

  7. Experimental Design: 10 marsh transects located along the inflow-outflow gradient

  8. The Challenge: Evapotranspiration and evapoconcentration of solutes vs. ecosystem uptake and processingor“ecology vs. hydrology”

  9. Simplified: It is all about the whole-system water budget, particularly during the hot summer months

  10. Methods1. Plant biomass estimates2. Plant transpiration (ET) and evaporation rates3. Time-series meteorological data4. Whole-system model to estimate daily water loss5. Nutrient budgets for water, plants, and soils

  11. Methods1. Plant biomass estimates: non-destructive allometric models and measurements

  12. Methods2. Plant transpiration (ET) and evaporation rates3. Time-series meteorological data4. Whole-system model to estimate daily water loss

  13. Methods5. Nutrient budgets for water, plants, and soils

  14. Preliminary Results: Plant biomass

  15. Preliminary Results: Plant transpiration(Full annual water budget will be constructed this summer)

  16. Preliminary Results: Whole cell nutrients - Nitrogen

  17. Preliminary Results: Marsh Transects - Nitrogen

  18. Preliminary thoughts In-progress conclusions: • Marsh transpiration is concentrating solutes, particularly during hot months (May – September) • Regardless, the entire cell/system is a sink for nitrogen and… • the vegetated marsh is a major sink for nitrogen • The marsh and entire system are sometimes a source of inorganic phosphorus Questions and head-scratchers: • How can the marsh and the entire system be a sink for N and a source of P? • What processes are responsible for the N uptake? Is N being transformed or merely sequestered? • How much of the cell’s water comes in contact with marsh vegetation? What is the advection rate into the marsh and is it driven by plant transpirative water losses? • How can we help the City of Phoenix to manage this system to optimize the ecosystem services it provides (both designed and serendipitous)?

  19. Urban wetlands are excellent field laboratories for educational research experiences

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