Spring community monitoring at Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Williams M. Spring community monitoring at Ozark National Scenic Riverways. NPS, Heartland Network
The extensive karst topography surrounding the park is conducive to formation of springs. Over 300 springs are located in the park and six are considered first and second magnitude. The combined flows of these springs contribute heavily to the flows of the Jacks Fork and Current rivers. This makes these unique systems vulnerable to biological and chemical degradation due to the rapid recharge of groundwater and transport of contaminants through the bedrock system of caves, springs, and sinkholes. Monitoring the six largest springs at the park is directed towards maintaining their ecological integrity through assessment of periodic monitoring of aquatic vegetation, invertebrates, fish communities and their associated physical habitats.
- Type
- Geospatial Dataset
- Authors
- Williams, Mike
- Publisher
- NPS, Heartland Network
- Units
- OZAR
- Keywords
- Biota, Missouri, Monitoring, None, OZAR, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Wildlife