Summary of stream flow conditions at five riverine parks in the Southeast Coast Network, 2010.

Gregory, M. Brian; Wright, Christina; Jones, Clark; Dowd, John; DeVivo, Joseph

The NPS Vital Signs Monitoring Program evaluated stream flow variability and the magnitude and timing of specific flow events at five parks within the Network during 2010. The streams and rivers of these parks ranged in size from small creeks to small- and medium-sized rivers which included significant park acreage along the Chattahoochee, Congaree, Wateree and Tallapoosa Rivers. Flow patterns were characterized and put in historical context using U.S. Geological Survey stream flow data, The Nature Conservancy’s Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration software, and program Flow (Dowd 2011). Median flows in SECN parks were typically highest during late winter and lowest during the late summer. Low flow magnitudes dipped to their lowest magnitudes during late summer at most parks except at CHAT where the lowest flows were observed during the winter months. · Minimum flow pulses occurred more often than maximum flow pulses across all parks although the average length of both event types was similar ranging 1–7 days for min flow pulse length and 2–5 days for max pulse length. The Chattahoochee had more than twice as many max and min pulse events than any of the other parks, reflecting its highly managed flow regime. At CHAT, the most commonly observed flow conditions on all sections during 2010 ranged from 1,000 to 1,500 cfs—flows generally considered optimal for wade and tube fishing, novice rafting, canoeing and other social activities. River flows along the sections of the Chattahoochee were less than ideal (below 750 cfs) 0–20% of the time; low flows were more common on section 3 than on sections 2 and 4, and may indicate a section where water withdrawals may have impacted recreational uses during the late summer and fall. High flows (greater than 2,000 cfs) which impaired fishing activities and allowed only midlevel paddling activities at CHAT occurred approximately 28% of the time on section 1 and 42% of the time on section 4. The same magnitude high flows occurred approximately 33% of the time on sections 2 and 3.

Summary of stream flow conditions at five riverine parks in the Southeast Coast Network, 2010.

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