From source to sink: Investigating the linkages between sources of sediment and downstream water quality in Canadian watersheds

水土资源的保护与泥沙动力学的性质有着内在的联系。土壤侵蚀可通过重新分配或清除有机和营养丰富的表土而导致土壤健康下降。此外，沉积物向地表水道的输送可能会通过增加浑浊度和营养物负荷而导致水质下降。因此，良好的水土资源保护和管理需要对泥沙动力学有扎实的了解。然而，沉积物污染往往具有弥漫性，因此很难获得关于流域内沉积物和营养物主要来源的可靠资料。此外，影响沉积物从源头向汇转移的过程了解甚少，难以量化。为了应对这些挑战，我将通过结合野外和流域规模的项目，继续并扩展我目前的研究。我的研究计划的目的是调查流域过程对整个景观中土壤和沉积物特性的影响，这将导致流域管理的改进指南。我的项目将研究不同景观尺度下土壤和沉积物的物理、地球化学和生物特性变化的原因和后果，这些变化与一般土地利用以及大小地貌景观特征（海狸坝到悬崖峭壁）有关。除了对土壤和水质有直接影响外，土壤和沉积物性质的这种可变性还可以在一种称为沉积物指纹的技术中用作示踪剂。这种管理工具用于确定流域内沉积物的来源。然而，这项技术的效用取决于我们对沉积物过程的理解。我提出的研究计划将导致沉积物指纹图谱的不断改进，从而为水土保持和管理提供更强大的工具。拟议中的研究将在位于曼尼托巴省西部Riding Mountain国家公园东部边界的Wilson's Creek流域进行。这项研究的地点将扩大马尼托巴省监测流域的网络，更重要的是，为一个不受管理的非农业流域提供信息。将威尔逊溪与该地区的其他流域进行比较，可以更好地了解地貌特征（如马尼托巴悬崖）和农业土地利用方式（如种植）的不同影响。此外，拟议的研究将有助于为下游农业生产者提供信息，他们担心洪水和过量的沉积物产生。拟议的研究也有很强的培训成分，将为3名硕士和5名本科生提供资金。这项培训将培养在以保护为基础的流域实践方面熟练的专业人员，从而改善水和土壤质量。

3000 word limit including spaces Conservation of soil and water resources are intrinsically linked by the nature of sediment dynamics. Soil erosion can lead to a decline in soil health by redistributing or removing organic and nutrient-rich topsoil. Further, the delivery of sediment to surface waterways can result in a decline in water quality through increased turbidity and nutrient loading. Therefore, good conservation and management of soil and water resources requires a solid understanding of sediment dynamics. However, the often diffuse nature of sediment pollution makes it difficult to obtain reliable information about the dominant sources of sediment and nutrients within a watershed. Further, the processes which affect the transfer of sediment from source to sink are poorly understood and difficult to quantify. To address these challenges, I will continue with, and expand on, my current research through a combination of field- and watershed-scale projects. The aim of my research program is to investigate the effects watershed processes on the properties of soil and sediment across the landscape which will lead to improved guidelines for watershed management. My program will investigate causes and consequences of variability in physical, geochemical, and biological properties of soil and sediment at different landscape scales in relation to general land-use as well as small and large geomorphic landscape features (beaver dams to escarpments). In addition to having direct consequences on soil and water quality, this variability in properties of soils and sediments can be used as tracers in a technique known as sediment fingerprinting. This management tool is used to identify sources of sediment within a watershed. However, the utility of this technique depends on our understanding of sediment processes. My proposed research program will lead to continued refinement of sediment fingerprinting, thereby providing a more robust tool for soil and water conservation and management. The proposed research will take place in the Wilson's Creek watershed located along the eastern border of Riding Mountain National park in Western Manitoba. The location of the research will expand the network of monitored watersheds in Manitoba and, more importantly, provide information for an un-managed and non-agricultural watershed. Comparing Wilson's Creek with other watersheds in the region will allow for better understanding of the separate influences of geomorphic features (e.g., Manitoba Escarpment) and agricultural land use practices (e.g., cropping). Further, the proposed research will help inform downstream agricultural producers who have concerns over flooding and excessive sediment production. The proposed research also has a strong training component and will provide funding for 3 MSc and 5 undergraduate students. This training will develop professionals skilled in conservation-based watershed practices that result in improved water and soil quality.