Wadeable stream suitability assessment for long-term monitoring: Horseshoe Bend National Military Park

McDonald, Jacob

doi:10.36967/2265988

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. 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. This report documents the stream suitability assessment conducted at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park to determine which streams should be chosen for long-term monitoring. On April 10, 2019, nine stream segments were assessed. 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 nine stream segments identified in GIS or in consultation with park staff, two were determined to be suitable for long-term monitoring, three were classified as potentially suitable (listed as “maybe”), and four were determined to not be suitable for long-term monitoring. Of the two streams determined to be suitable for monitoring, one was chosen for the initial round of monitoring (pH05— ‘Claybed Creek’). This stream was chosen because it was the only stream in the park classified in the high definition National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) as perennial. If additional resources are available during the next round of monitoring, it is suggested that the other suitable stream (pH01—‘Salamander Creek’) be added to the monitoring program. The following report provides an overview of the methods used to assess the suitability of each stream segment and provides a description of the assessed streams.

Wadeable stream suitability assessment for long-term monitoring: Horseshoe Bend National Military Park

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