Water quality monitoring for Rito de los Frijoles and Capulin Creek in Bandelier National Monument: 2012–2013 summary report

Dyer, Melissa; Monroe, Stephen; Stumpf, Stacy

The National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program was designed to determine the current status and monitor long-term trends in the condition of park natural resources, providing park managers with a scientific foundation for making decisions and working with other agencies and the public to protect park ecosystems. Hydrologic vital signs are the fundamental components that define overall riparian and aquatic ecosystem integrity. The Southern Colorado Plateau Network (SCPN) has identified six vital signs pertaining to riparian ecosystems: 1) stream water quality, 2) stream flow and depth to groundwater, 3) spring water quality, 4) fluvial geomorphology, 5) riparian vegetation, composition, and structure, and 6) spring ecosystems. These vital signs are closely related and are all included in the Vital Signs Monitoring Plan for the Southern Colorado Plateau Network (Thomas et al. 2006). The context and ecological significance of these vital signs are further explained in Scott et al. (2005). In this report we focus on stream water quality. Specific objectives for monitoring stream water quality in SCPN parks are ● Determine status and trends for selected core water quality parameters (water temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and discharge) at selected sites in priority streams within SCPN parks. ● Determine status and trends of selected water quality constituents, including bacteria, nutrients, major elements, and trace metals at selected sites in priority streams within SCPN parks. ● Compare water quality data against state standards for chronic exceedances. Multiple exceedances in a year typically indicate non-compliance. We targeted SCPN streams and springs with potential for water quality monitoring by reviewing (1) water quality data inventory and analysis reports prepared by the Water Resources Division (WRD) of the National Park Service (NPS); (2) a USGS summary and review of available water quality data from streams in SCPN parks (Brown 2008); (3) data collected during a Level 1 water quality inventory of streams in SCPN parks (Macy and Monroe 2006); and (4) results of water quality monitoring planning meetings with park staff. SCPN water bodies were selected for water quality monitoring based on the following criteria: ● 303(d) listed waters1 — where previous sampling indicates one or more parameters regularly approach or exceed established water quality standards or recommended levels ● waters with demonstrated threat levels—where an analysis of existing data indicate that measured conditions regularly approach or exceed standards or recommended levels, but where the frequency of exceedances or the quality of the database do not support a 303(d) listing ● pristine waters—where there is no direct impact of human activities (provides baseline data) ● ecological significance—presence of unique species or species of concern ● waters of management concern—where past sampling may not indicate constituent values of concern, but where anthropogenic activities indicate that contamination is a significant threat ● historic data—waters identified as important, for which substantial historic water quality data is available ● data gaps—waters identified as important, but where little or no water quality information exists Whenever possible, SCPN water quality monitoring sites are located where a history of water quality data collection exists, and co-located with SCPN aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring sites.

Water quality monitoring for Rito de los Frijoles and Capulin Creek in Bandelier National Monument: 2012–2013 summary report

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