Cumberland Piedmont Network Water Quality Monitoring

Wells, Brenda; Meiman, Joe

The CUPN WQMP adapts the core structure of proven national and state standards of the US Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Assessment. Park waters are not equally important across all parks, and each park has specific concerns about threats, associated biota, and relative resource value of their waters. For purposes of developing the WQMP, park waters were classified into three categories, which were then used to determine the primary distribution of sampling effort. These categories are as follows: Category One – Water resources are central to park establishment or mission; High amount of recreational use activities; Contains Federally or State Listed Threatened, Endangered or Rare aquatic or dependent species; Known exceedences of key water quality standards or 303d listed waters; High probability of water resource damage with little or no information of fundamental elements of hydrogeology or water quality. These parks are sampled synoptically on a monthly nonconditional basis (on a fixed monthly date without regard for flow condition). Parks are sampled on this monthly schedule for two years followed by five years of no sampling. Parks in this category: CHCH, CUGA, MACA, LIRI, RUCA SHIL, and STRI. Category Two – Water resources, although important with respect to general interpretation or aesthetics, not central to park establishment or mission, with limited or no contact recreational use; Contains no Federally or State Listed Threatened, Endangered or Rare aquatic or dependent species. These parks are sampled every other month (6 times per year) on alternate years. Park in this category: ABLI, and KIMO. Category Three – Water resources not central or perhaps even mentioned in park establishment or mission; No contact recreational use; Contains no federally or State Listed Threatened, Endangered or Rare aquatic or dependent species. In general, water resources are ancillary in nature and management. These parks are sampled quarterly on alternate years. Parks in this category: CARL, COWP, FODA, GUCO, and NISI.

Cumberland Piedmont Network Water Quality Monitoring

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