Wadeable stream suitability assessment for long-term monitoring: Ocmulgee National Monument

McDonald, Jacob; Starkey, Eric

doi:10.36967/2259872

The Southeast Coast Network Monitoring Wadeable Stream Habitat Conditions in Southeast Coast Network Parks: Protocol Narrative (McDonald 2018a) was developed to provide insight into the status of, and trends in, stream and near-channel habitat conditions in wadeable streams at national parks, recreation areas, battle fields, and monuments in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina (McDonald et al. 2018a). These parks include Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CHAT), Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (KEMO), Congaree National Park (CONG), Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (HOBE), and Ocmulgee National Monument (OCMU). The number of reaches surveyed at each park is dependent on the size of the park and the number of wadeable streams within park boundaries. Reaches selected for monitoring (1) are representative of the processes influencing the streams in each park; (2) can address current and anticipated management concerns, and (3) offer the most utility for future complementary studies. The habitat assessment methods outlined in the protocol rely on standard data collection methods and standard operating procedures currently in use by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Forest Service, modified to meet the needs of National Park Service (NPS) managers. he purpose of this report is to document the stream suitability survey conducted at Ocmulgee National Monument to determine which streams should be chosen for long-term monitoring. Over the course of three days (January 17, 2017; May 22, 2017; and December 6, 2018), twelve stream segments were assessed for suitability for long-term monitoring. Stream segment suitability was based on whether the stream (1) could be safely accessed, (2) was part of a single channel, wadeable stream system, and (3) was not greatly influenced by upstream impoundments. Of the twelve stream segments identified in GIS or in consultation with park staff, three were determined to be suitable for long-term monitoring, one was classified as potentially suitable (listed as “maybe”), three were determined to not be suitable for long-term monitoring, and five did not meet the criteria used to define the stream channel sample frame outlined in the protocol (i.e., perennial, single channel, wadeable stream). The streams selected will provide comparisons between similar streams and/or be representative of similar streams within the park and/or network. The following report provides an overview of the methods used to assess the suitability of each stream segment and provides a description of the streams assessed.

Wadeable stream suitability assessment for long-term monitoring: Ocmulgee National Monument

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