National Capital Region Network FY 2010 water resources monitoring data report:: water chemistry, nutrient dynamics, and surface water dynamics vital signs
Pieper JM, Norris ME, Watts T. 2012. National Capital Region Network FY 2010 water resources monitoring data report:: water chemistry, nutrient dynamics, and surface water dynamics vital signs. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/NCRN/NRDS—2012/381. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Water chemistry is important to maintaining a healthy habitat for many aquatic organisms, wildlife, and humans. Changes in water quality can change system productivity, shift species abundances and distributions, and alter nutrient cycles. Water quality parameters such as pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and temperature are good measurements that provide an overview of water quality. Water quality monitoring is required to comply with relevant environmental legislation and NPS mandates and to evaluate potential stressors in NCRN waters. In 2005, the National Capital Region Inventory and Monitoring Network (NCRN) initiated a long-term water quality and quantity monitoring program, funded in part by the Water Resources Division. The program is carried out through monthly sampling at 38 sites within 10 of the NCRN parks. This report focuses on data collected under the Water Chemistry Monitoring Protocol and Surface Water Dynamics Protocol of the NCRN Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program (Norris et al. 2011). Parks monitored for this report include Antietam National Battlefield (ANTI), Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO), Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (HAFE), George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP), Manassas National Battlefield Park (MANA), Monocacy National Battlefield (MONO), National Capital Parks – East (NACE), Prince William Forest Park (PRWI), Rock Creek Park (ROCR), and Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (WOTR). The streams monitored are all part of the Potomac River Watershed. The Potomac is the second largest drainage of the nine major river basins that form the 64,000 square mile Chesapeake Bay watershed.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Pieper, James; Norris, Marion; Watts, Tonya
- Date of Issue
- 2012-10
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ANTI , CATO , GWMP , HAFE , MANA , MONO , NACE , NCRN , NRSS , PRWI , ROCR , WOTR
- Keywords
- Nutrients, pH, Salinity, specific conductance, Temperature, Water Quality Monitor