»Water Quality and Quantity Monitoring
Parks: All MIDN parks
Vital signs:
Water chemistry
Stream and river water dynamics
Stream/river channel characteristics
Justification:
Water chemistry has ecological significance because the chemical composition (including nutrient content) of surface water is a critical attribute of aquatic habitats and an integrator of hydro-biogeochemical conditions and processes occurring throughout associated watersheds. The data obtained through water chemistry monitoring thus serve to indicate current and changing ecological conditions in both surface waters and watersheds.
Water quantity has ecological significance as a basic property of aquatic habitat. Changes in water availability that occur on both long and short time scales (e.g., multi-year, seasonal, and episodic) can directly affect aquatic communities. In addition, water chemistry varies with discharge due to differences in surface runoff, soil contact, and other factors that affect biogeochemical processes and material transport. The data obtained through water quantity monitoring thus provide a direct measure of habitat condition and support interpretation of data obtained through water chemistry monitoring.
Water chemistry and quantity have management and policy significance because the National Park Service (NPS) is legally required to protect pristine water quality and improve impaired water quality (Rosenlieb and Long 2006). Streams and rivers managed by the NPS must meet State and Federal water quality criteria as defined by the Clean Water Act (CWA). In addition, the NPS is required by the Government Performance and Reporting Act (GPRA) to establish and evaluate attainment of goals for meeting water quality criteria.
Monitoring objectives:
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Document the status of and trends in water quality as influenced by point source and non-point source pollution (including atmospheric deposition).
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Determine the natural range of variability in water chemistry (including bacterial composition).
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Detect water quality measures that exceed threshold values and determine their compliance with state and federal water quality standards.
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Document the status of and long-term trends in water flow.
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Document changes in stream channel characteristics at sampling sites.
Protocol status: Synoptic surveys and pilot testing in 2008 and 2009. Draft protocol FY2009.