Soil Dynamics in Tres Rios Constructed Treatment Wetland

The integration of Urban Ecological Infrastructure (UEI) has gained attention as cities seek to address challenges posed by urbanization. Constructed treatment wetlands (CTWs), commonly used for removing pollutants from wastewater effluent and storm water runoff, have been proposed as a solution to address challenges posed by rising water challenges. CTWs serve as a unique type of UEI and provide a range of ecosystem services in urban landscapes. With current global concerns over water scarcity and sustainable resource management, wetlands emerge as key components, providing vital ecosystem services, one of which is nutrient filtration. Nitrogen pollution in water bodies poses significant environmental and public health concerns, emphasizing the need for effective mitigation strategies. CTWs present a promising solution for addressing nitrogen pollution in urban settings. However, there are gaps in understanding wetland functioning within arid environments, necessitating arid climate studies to explain nitrogen dynamics. This study, conducted in the Tres Rios Wetland in Phoenix, Arizona, aims to examine nitrogen content in soils. Soil nitrogen content trends from 2019 to 2023 were investigated, with a focus on understanding nitrogen dynamics from inflow to outflow points and comparison from water to shore. There were no trends seen in nitrogen content over time from 2019 to 2023. Additionally, nitrogen levels tended to be higher at the shorelines compared to the open water, likely due to the accumulation of organic matter and soil nitrogen absorption. However, there were no trends observed in nitrogen content from the inflow to outflow points.