A Multi-Faceted Approach To The Monitoring And Assessment Of Southern Appalachian Wetlands

Southern Appalachian wetlands have come under increased pressure from the escalation in human activity, specifically residential development. These regional changes in land use/cover are having huge influences on water quality. This study was conducted on high-elevation, riparian wetlands of the New River watershed in North Carolina. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare characteristics of disturbed and reference wetlands to determine the effects of physical disturbance on wetland function, hydrology, soil characteristics, water chemistry, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities.