Water Chemistry

Importance / Issues

Water chemistry is an essential indicator to any long-term aquatic monitoring program (Gilliom et al. 1995). It is widely applicable, and critical for interpreting the biotic condition and ecological processes of all park aquatic resources. Water chemistry affects the bioavailability of contaminants, and the metabolism of aquatic species. For example, ionic conditions affect osmoregulation (Hoar and Randall 1969) and contaminant uptake (Sinley et al. 1974, Luoma 1989, Spry and Weiner 1991), dissolved oxygen and temperature affect metabolic rate (Hoar and Randall 1969). Water quality parameters are sufficiently well known that abnormal conditions and trends can be recognized or determined statistically. Information from basic water chemistry measures can be directly related to the condition of a wetland and may be correlated with other wetland vital signs. In order for causal relationships between physical and biological processes to be fully understood, it is necessary to obtain basic water chemistry measures in lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands.

Protocol Development & Status

Water chemistry is part of the Water Quality Monitoring Protocol. This protocol was implemented in 2006 at Acadia NP, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Minute Man NHP, Morristown NHP, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS, Saint-Gaudens NHS, Saratoga NHP, Saugus Iron Works NHS, and Weir Farm NHS. Water samples are taken from streams in May and August and stream samples are taken in June and August.

Potential Measures

Measures of water chemistry are critical for interpreting the biotic condition and ecological processes of a resource. Measurements will include specific conductance, pH, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen (DO). In addition, acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC), color, and water clarity will be measured.

Preliminary Monitoring Objective

The overall objective is to monitor the status and trends of NETN aquatic resources, to assess changes in ecological integrity and the impacts of key stressors, and to guide management decisions affecting those resources. The two specific objectives of this program and the questions that frame these general monitoring objectives are:

• Detect changes over time in the status of physical, chemical, or biological attributes of the freshwater resources in NETN parks that are outside the range of natural variability.
• Ensure the early detection of aquatic invasive plants in the freshwater resources of NETN parks and alert park and state environmental managers of any new incidences of aquatic invasive species to facilitate a rapid response.

Contact Information

NPS lead: Brian R. Mitchell

Email: Brian R. Mitchell

802-457-3368 ext. 37

References

Gilliom, R. J., W. M. Alley, and M. E. Gurtz. 1995. Design of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program  Occurrence and distribution of water-quality conditions. U. S. Geological Survey Circular 1112, available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1112/.

Hoar, W.S., and D. J. Randall, eds. 1969. Fish Physiology. Volume 1: Excretion, Ionic Regulation, and Metabolism. New York Academic Press. 465 pp.

Luoma, S.N. 1989. Can we determine the biological availability of a sediment bound trace element? Hydrobiologia 176/177:379-396.

Sinley, J. R., J. P. Goetti, and P. H. Davies. 1974. The effects of zinc on rainbow trout (Salmo gardneri) in hard and soft water. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 12:193-201.

Spry, D.J., and J. G. Weiner. 1991. Metal bioavailability and toxicity to fish in low alkalinity lakes  A critical review. Environmental Pollution 71:243-304.