Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring streams and lakes protocol: 2016 monitoring data
Wilkerson CN. 2019. Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring streams and lakes protocol: 2016 monitoring data. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/NCCN/NRDS—2019/1230. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program (MOJN I&M) is a National Park Service (NPS) program that monitors ecological vital signs in eight parks located in Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona. The MOJN I&M Streams and Lakes protocol focuses on monitoring water quality and water quantity in headwater streams and sub-alpine lakes in Great Basin National Park (GRBA), located in eastern Nevada. Pilot testing of the protocol was completed in the summer of 2009, and the protocol was formally approved in 2012. This report presents Streams and Lakes protocol data collected in the 2016 field season. The report includes water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage data for GRBA streams and water quality, water level, clarity, and ice-free period data for GRBA lakes. Stream discharge data will be published in a separate report, as the processing, analysis, and review of discharge records can delay their availability for reporting. The water quality in GRBA streams and lakes is generally excellent, with the measured water quality and chemistry parameters in compliance with regulatory limits. The benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages observed in the streams are consistent with healthy ecosystems. Annual precipitation was above average in Water Year (WY) 2016; however, the July and August precipitation was unusually low. The April 1st snowpack was below average, but double the snowpack from WY2015. Precipitation events between mid-May and early-June caused brief increases in stream discharge in Lehman Creek. Several small precipitation events in mid-June resulted in a sharp rise in specific conductance in Lower Snake Creek. Relative lake levels were within 0.15m of the previous year in all lakes except Dead Lake, which was dry in WY2015 but had water in WY2016. Summer precipitation caused brief water levels increases of less than 0.15 m in Teresa Lake and Baker Lake. The other lakes did not exhibit a response in level to precipitation events.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Wilkerson, Carissa
- Date of Issue
- 2019-07
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GRBA , MOJN , NRSS
- Keywords
- Acid Neutralizing Capacity, benthic macroinvertebrate, Discharge, Dissolved Organic Carbon, Dissolved Oxygen, GRBA, Great Basin National Park, Lake Level, Lakes, Mojave Desert Network, Monitoring, nitrate + nitrite, Nutrients, Perennial, pH, Secchi depth, specific conductance, Stream and Lake Report, Streams, Subalpine, Sulfate, surface water, Temperature, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, Water Quality, Water Quantity
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Surface Water Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Nutrient Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Algae