Hill Demonstration Forest HF1 and HF2 riparian buffer and HF2 upland soil moisture data

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Boggs, Johnny L.
Originator: Sun, Ge
Originator: McNulty, Steven G.
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:
Hill Demonstration Forest HF1 and HF2 riparian buffer and HF2 upland soil moisture data
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0067
Description:
Abstract:
This data publication contains hourly soil moisture data from three locations (defined as HF1 riparian buffer, HF2 riparian buffer, and HF2 upland) in a pair of watersheds on Hill Demonstration Forest (HF). Hourly soil moisture readings were monitored from 2010-2016 at the HF1 and HF2 riparian buffer locations at depths of 10 centimeters (cm) and 30 cm. At the HF2 upland location hourly soil mositure readings were monitored from 2015-2016 at depths of 10 cm and 60 cm.

The HF is located north of Durham, North Carolina and is owned by North Carolina State University. Upland trees were harvested in HF1 watershed from 29 November 2010 to 19 January 2011 as part of a Timber Harvest/Best Management Practices Project, leaving a 15.2-meter (m) riparian buffer on either side of the stream. HF1 is the treatment watershed, and HF2 is the reference watershed. Therefore, no logging activities occurred in HF2. Although HF1 and HF2 are paired and share a watershed boundary line, the clearcut edge in HF1 is 130 m from HF2 monitored riparian buffer trees and poses little chance to create changes in HF2 riparian buffer soil or canopy conditions that would influence their water use. The riparian buffer covers about 8% of the watershed area in both HF1 and HF2.
Purpose:
Large spatial variability in water loss from forest based on measurements and models can be due to differences in soil moisture conditions across the landscape. Decreases in tree water use can be species dependent and can also vary across soil moisture. Thus, quantifying soil moisture is essential to improve water loss estimates from forests and refine the forests role in the hydrological cycle.

This data publication is used by USDA Forest Service scientists, staff and cooperators in support of research in hydrology, watershed management, silviculture, and forest ecology in the North Carolina Piedmont Region.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20100818
Ending_Date: 20161231
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Irregular
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
Soil moisture data were collected from paired watersheds (HF1 and HF2) located in the Flat River watershed, HF, North Carolina. The catchments are characterized as 35 year-old mixed pine–hardwood stands located within the Piedmont region of North Carolina.

Coordinates for the soil moisture station in HF1 buffer are: 36°13'5.96"N, 78°52'0.41"W
Coordinates for the soil moisture station in HF2 buffer are: 36°13'7.77"N, 78°51'48.80"W
Coordinates for the soil moisture station in HF2 upland are: 36°13'17.69"N, 78°51'50.45"W

Bounding coordinates provided capture the study region at HF.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -78.8850833
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -78.8617111
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.2221361
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.2111139
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: inlandWaters
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment
Theme_Keyword: Hydrology, watersheds, sedimentation
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: best management practice
Theme_Keyword: riparian buffer
Theme_Keyword: sap flux density
Theme_Keyword: soil moisture
Theme_Keyword: transpiration
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: North Carolina
Place_Keyword: Hill Demonstration Forest
Place_Keyword: Piedmont
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research data please use the following citation:

Boggs, Johnny L.; Sun, Ge; McNulty, Steven G. 2020. Hill Demonstration Forest HF1 and HF2 riparian buffer and HF2 upland soil moisture data. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0067
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Johnny L. Boggs
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Eastern Forest Threat Assessment Center
Contact_Position: Co-lead SRS Experimental Forest Network
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 3041 East Cornwallis Street
City: Research Triangle Park
State_or_Province: NC
Postal_Code: 27709
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 919-549-4060
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 919-549-4047
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: johnny.boggs@usda.gov
Browse_Graphic:
Browse_Graphic_File_Name: \Supplements\Site_map.pdf
Browse_Graphic_File_Description:
Aerial view and descriptive information for the Hill Demonstration Forest and Umstead Research Farm.
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PDF
Data_Set_Credit:
Funding for this project provided by USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center.
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Boggs, Johnny L.
Originator: Sun, Ge
Originator: Domec, Jean-Christophe
Originator: McNulty, Steven G.
Originator: Treasure, Emrys
Publication_Date: 2015
Title:
Clearcutting upland forest alters transpiration of residual trees in the riparian buffer zone
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Hydrological Processes
Issue_Identification: 29(4): 4979-4992
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10474
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Boggs, Johnny L.
Originator: Sun, Ge
Originator: McNulty, Steven G.
Publication_Date: 2016
Title:
Effects of timber harvest on water quantity and quality in small watersheds in the Piedmont of North Carolina
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Journal of Forestry
Issue_Identification: 114(1): 27-40
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5849/jof.14-102
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
The soil moisture was measured with a Campbell Scientific CS615 Water Content Reflectometer.

Format: Sensor Name, Parameter

CS615, Soil moisture:
accuracy = ±2 percent (%)
resolution = ±10-6 volume water content (m³m⁻³)
Logical_Consistency_Report:
Due to missing soil moisture data at the beginning of the monitoring period, 15% of the riparian buffer data in HF1 2010 growing season data (June and July 2010) was supplemented with moisture readings that were measured and reported in Dreps et al. (2014).

All data in this dataset have undergone quality assurance checks. Raw data were graphed and analyzed using SAS software (JMP) and checked for outliers by looking at the histogram distribution or scatter diagram. If a data point was determined to be an outlier, it was removed from the dataset. For example, if a point fell more than 1.5 times the interquartile range above the third quartile or below the fire quartile, it was removed.

Dreps, C.; James, A. L.; Sun, G.; Boggs, Johnny L. 2014. Water balances of two Piedmont headwater catchments: implications for regional hydrologic landscape classification. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 50(4): 1063-1079. https://doi.org/10.1111/jawr.12173
Completeness_Report:
Blank cells indicate data are missing. Cells reporting a value of zero indicates a value of zero. Brief periods with missing data are present, largely the result of equipment failures or power loss. The sensors were powered with deep cycle marine batteries and a solar panel system to minimize the occurrences of power loss.

16% of the sap flux measurements were not recorded or were removed due to outliers in the HF1 riparian buffer.

18% of the sap flux measurements were not recorded or were removed due to outliers in the HF2 riparian buffer.

5% of the sap flux measurements were not recorded or were removed due to outliers in the HF2 upland.

Data gaps were not filled. We did not have a reliable model to fill in the missing values.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
STUDY LOCATION

Research and practical application advances in forest planning and management have occurred over the past 50-60 years in various regions in the southeastern United States. However, more studies that link climate to watershed hydrology and define the range of natural hydrology conditions are needed in the Piedmont region.

HF is located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina and within the Neuse River basin. The HF sites included two pairs of watersheds in the Flat River sub-basin in northern Durham County, North Carolina. Overstory species on these sites included red maple (Acer rubrum), hickory species (Carya spp.), Virginia pine (Pinus Virginia), white oak (Quercus alba), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda).

The study area included a treatment watershed with a riparian buffer (HF1) and a reference watershed (HF2). HF1 and HF2 each contained a single, first-order stream and they were both 30 acres. HF1 and HF2 were nested within a larger study watershed (HFW1, considered to be “partial treatment” as it included HF1) and it had a separate, nearby reference watershed (HFW2). HFW1 and HFW2 were 72 and 99 acre in size, respectively.

HF watersheds (HF1, HF2, HFW1 and HFW2) were located in the Carolina Slate Belt (CSB) ecoregional subsection, which is characterized by streams that are generally shallow, connected to a narrow floodplain, have a rocky substrate, and have relatively steep upland slopes.

The definition of the riparian buffer was based on field observations of sandy loam soils in the flat (i.e., < 12% slope) stream valley bottom (Dreps et al., 2014). Shallow-to-deep water tables and upland hillslope units are relatively flat slopes on deep soils that correspond to Cecil, Appling, and Georgeville soil series (Dreps et al., 2014).


FIELD MEASUREMENTS

Soil moisture was measured between 2010 and 2016 at HF as part of a Timber Harvest/Best Management Practices Project that started in March 2007 and is currently ongoing. The soil moisture percent (%) readings were taken in the riparian buffer zones (HF1 and HF2) and in the upland (HF2) in the area where trees were being monitored for sap flux density. The sensors were installed parallel to ground surface at 10 cm and 30 cm depths in the buffer and 10 cm and 60 cm in the upland. These depths were selected because that is where most of the roots occur in this watershed. The water table occurs at about 30 cm in the buffer, thus soil moisture at 60 cm was not possible in that zone. By reporting the average value between the two depths, the integrated soil moisture across space and depth is able to be captured.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Dreps, C.
Originator: James, A. L.
Originator: Sun, G.
Originator: Boggs, Johnny L.
Publication_Date: 2014
Title:
Water balances of two Piedmont headwater catchments: implications for regional hydrologic landscape classification
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Journal of the American Water Resources Association
Issue_Identification: 50(4): 1063-1079
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1111/jawr.12173
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
See methodology section for details.
Process_Date: Unknown
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: Hill Demonstration Forest
Entity_Type_Definition:
HF is an experimental forest north of Durham, North Carolina owned by North Carolina State University.
Entity_Type_Definition_Source:
USDA Forest Service
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: CS615
Entity_Type_Definition:
The soil moisture probe is located within the HF and used to measure soil moisture at root level on an hourly basis.
Entity_Type_Definition_Source:
Hill Demonstration Forest Data Manager
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Below you will find a list and description of the files available in this data publication.

DATA FILES

\Data\HF1_Riparian_Buffer_soilmoisture.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing soil moisture data from Hill Demonstration Forest HF1 riparian buffer. Variables include:

Date = Day of measurement (mm/dd/yyy, where mm=month, dd=day, and yy=year) Month = Month of measurement (mm)

Year = Year of measurement (yyyy)

Hour = Time of measurement (hh)

SoilMoisture_HF1_10cm_Buffer_m3_m3 = Average hourly soil moisture at 10 centimeters (cm) of depth measured in volumetric water content units (m³/m³) (where m = meters)

SoilMoisture_HF1_30cm_Buffer_m3_m3 = Average hourly soil moisture at 30 centimeters of depth measured in volumetric water content units (m³/m³)


\Data\HF2_Riparian_Buffer_soilmoisture.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing soil moisture data from Hill Demonstration Forest HF2 riparian buffer. Variables include:

Date = Day of measurement (mm/dd/yyy, where mm=month, dd=day, and yy=year) Month = Month of measurement (mm)

Year = Year of measurement (yyyy)

Hour = Time of measurement (hh)

SoilMoisture_HF2_10cm_Buffer_m3_m3 = Average hourly soil moisture at 10 centimeters (cm) of depth measured in volumetric water content units (m³/m³) (where m = meters)

SoilMoisture_HF2_30cm_Buffer_m3_m3 = Average hourly soil moisture at 30 centimeters of depth measured in volumetric water content units (m³/m³)


\Data\HF2_Upland_soilmoisture.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing soil moisture data from Hill Demonstration Forest HF2 upland. Variables include:

Date = Day of measurement (mm/dd/yyy, where mm=month, dd=day, and yy=year) Month = Month of measurement (mm)

Year = Year of measurement (yyyy)

Hour = Time of measurement (hh)

SoilMoisture_HF2Upland_10cm_depth_m3_m3 = Average hourly soil moisture at 10 centimeters (cm) of depth measured in volumetric water content units (m³/m³) (where m = meters)

SoilMoisture_HF2Upland_60cm_depth_m3_m3 = Average hourly soil moisture at 60 centimeters of depth measured in volumetric water content units (m³/m³)



SUPPLEMENTAL FILES

\Supplements\HF_and_UF_BasalArea_info.pdf: Portable document format file containing basal area and treatment information for Hill Demonstration Forest and Umstead Research Farm.

\Supplements\HF1_Riparian_Buffer_info.pdf: Portable document format file containing site and species information about Hill Demonstration Forest HF1 riparian buffer.

\Supplements\HF2_Riparian_Buffer_info.pdf: Portable document format file containing site and species information about Hill Demonstration Forest HF2 riparian buffer.

\Supplements\HF2_Upland_Buffer_info.pdf: Portable document format file containing site and species information about Hill Demonstration Forest HF2 upland.

\Supplements\Site_map.pdf: Portable document format file containing an aerial view and descriptive information for the Hill Demonstration Forest and Umstead Research Farm.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
none provided
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80526
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see Contact Instructions
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of October 2020. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2020-0067
Distribution_Liability:
Metadata documents have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise stated, all data and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, neither the author, the Archive, nor any part of the federal government can assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the author or the Archive of the issues.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: ASCII
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Comma-delimited ASCII text file (CSV)
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with 7-Zip 19.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0067
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: PDF
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Portable Document Format file
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with 7-Zip 19.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0067
Fees: None
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20201026
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Johnny L. Boggs
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Eastern Forest Threat Assessment Center
Contact_Position: Co-lead SRS Experimental Forest Network
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 3041 East Cornwallis Street
City: Research Triangle Park
State_or_Province: NC
Postal_Code: 27709
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 919-549-4060
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 919-549-4047
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: johnny.boggs@usda.gov
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999
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