Aquatic invertebrate monitoring at Pipestone National Monument, 1989–2016

Bowles, David; Cribbs, J.; Hinsey, Janice

Pipestone Creek, a tributary of the Big Sioux River, flows through Pipestone National Monument. The city of Pipestone, Minnesota lies on the south side of the creek and borders the park on the south end resulting in some anthropogenic impacts to water quality and aquatic life. A natural waterfall occurs within the park, and upstream of the waterfall, the creek is channelized, essentially without meanders, and with a largely bedrock substrate. To assess the various anthropogenic disturbances occurring in the creek, the NPS monitors aquatic invertebrates as a surrogate of the long-term water quality condition. Benthic invertebrate samples were collected from 1989 to 2016 using a Surber stream bottom sampler, and associated habitat parameters (depth, current velocity, dominant substrate, and percent embeddedness, periphyton, filamentous algae and aquatic vegetation) were recorded for each sample. Water quality parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, pH, and turbidity) were measured using a calibrated water quality data logger. Benthic invertebrate diversity and community metrics largely remained within previously defined control limits. The sole exceptions were the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT)/Chironomidae ratio, which barely surpassed the control limit for this sampling event, and the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI). These exceedances are not of concern at this time given the responses of the other metrics. Water quality measurements met state standards in most instances. A summary of habitat parameters is presented.

Aquatic invertebrate monitoring at Pipestone National Monument, 1989–2016

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