Trace metal budgets for a forested watershed in the New Jersey pine barrens

Abstract

Deposition of Pb, Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn, and Cd on the McDonalds Branch Basin in bulk precipitation was 25.4, 5.3, 6.6, 64.6, 20.7, and <2 mg m −2 yr −1 for a 1 year period in 1978–1979. Output in streamflow was 1.7, 0.7, 1.9, 148, 12.8, and <1 mg m −2 yr −1 , respectively, and loss to deep groundwater was 1.4, 1.9, 2.3, 123, 20.4, and <1 mg m −2 yr −1 . Pb, Cu, and Ni accumulated in the basin, while there was a net loss of Fe and Mn from the ecosystem. The major mechanism for movement of Fe and Pb out of the basin was interpreted to be complexation with and transport by mobile organic matter.