Another Armstrong's wetland visit



Today we did another Armstrong wetland visit with Dr Andrew Hughes and Dr. Ellen Petticrew and Dr. Philip Owens, visiting scientists from University of Northern British Columbia.  Dr. Ellen Petticrew and Dr. Philip Owens are focussing on sediments on their study. Armstrong wetland has also considerable layer of sediments.

Armstrong's wetland is very likely the result of infilling of an ephemeral channel. Over the years since forest clearance, clay-rich soils have been transported from the steep slopes to the bottom of the gully where they have accumulated forming a wetland. Therefore shallow groundwater infiltrating though the base and sides of the wetland pass through a saturated anoxic organic sedimentary material layer with high denitrification potential. During the visit we had interesting discussions about wetland formation and how agricultural activity has potentially fastened the process. 

Andrew and Ellen trying to cross the wetland
 
Discussing about the potential erosion

 

Andrew explaining the wetland monitoring
 

 
Location: Kiwitahi, New Zealand

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