Water quality monitoring of wadeable streams in the North Coast and Cascades Network: 2012-2015 results from Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve and Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Welch CA and Rawhouser AK. 2018. Water quality monitoring of wadeable streams in the North Coast and Cascades Network: 2012-2015 results from Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve and Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/NCCN/NRDS—2018/1182. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The North Coast and Cascades Network Water Quality Monitoring Program and protocol focuses on monitoring wadeable streams in the North Coast and Cascades Network most at risk of water quality impairment. This report summarizes the monitoring results from 2012 to 2015 for four streams located in Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve (EBLA) and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park (LEWI) located in Washington and Oregon States. In 2012, the North Coast and Cascades Network established a referenced sample reach and permanent continuous water temperature monitoring station within each of these streams and conducts a single annual survey to download water temperature data; measure dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, and turbidity; measure stream and riparian habitat conditions; collect benthic invertebrate samples; and survey for invasive plant and animal species. Results from these monitoring activities have found the following. Ebey’s Watercourse; EBLA: o Is dewatered for up to 26% of the year and exceeded Clean Water Act standards for temperature in 2015; o Meets Clean Water Act standards for pH and dissolved oxygen when flow is present; o Has been colonized by four species of invasive plants, although in 2015 surveys found these plants were all dead; o Supports a depauperate benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage consisting of non-insects and midge taxa; o Contained the non-native fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). The Skipanon River; LEWI: o Exceeded Clean Water Act standards for water temperature and has not met the minimum threshold for dissolved oxygen concentration since monitoring was initiated in 2012; o Has been colonized by five species of invasive plants; o Has been colonized by the invasive New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum); o Supports a depauperate benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage consisting primarily of mollusks and amphipods. Colewort Creek; LEWI: o Has met all established Clean Water Act standards since monitoring was initiated; o Had a three day exceedance in water temperatures that might influence salmon and trout spawning and incubation; o Contained small patches of two invasive plant species in 2015; o Has not shown evidence of invasive New Zealand mud snail colonization; o Supported a moderately diverse array of benthic macroinvertebrates typically dominated by non-insect, midge, and stonefly taxa. Megler Creek; LEWI: o Has met all Clean Water Act standards since monitoring was initiated; o Contained one invasive plant species in 2015; o Has not shown evidence of colonization by the invasive New Zealand mud snail, however one individual was collected in 2013 and none have been documented since; o Supports a diverse array of benthic macroinvertebrates dominated by mayflies, stoneflies, and dipteran taxa.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Welch, Carmen; Rawhouser, Ashley
- Date of Issue
- 2018-10
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- EBLA , LEWI , NRSS
- Keywords
- Amphibian, bioassessment, Clean Water Act, Climate Change, Condition, Dissolved Oxygen, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, EBLA, Fish, Habitat, Impaired, Invasive Species, Land Management, LEWI, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Monitoring, NCCN, North Coast and Cascades Network, pH, Riparian, Road, Stream, stressor, Temperature, Turbidity, wadeable river, Water Quality, Water Quality Monitoring, Watershed
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Nutrient Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Microorganisms , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Algae , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Freshwater Invertebrates , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Fishes , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Amphibians and Reptiles , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | At-risk Biota | T&E Species and Communities