Water quality monitoring for Agate Fossil Beds National Monument: 2014 data report
Ashton I, Rockwood S, Mills J, Thornbrugh DJ. 2020. Water quality monitoring for Agate Fossil Beds National Monument: 2014 data report. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/AGFO/NRDS—2020/1295. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (NGPN) began monitoring water quality in the Niobrara River at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (AGFO) in 2014 with the assistance of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This report summarizes the data collected during the 2014 ice-free season (February 18 through November 17) for streamflow, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, and pH. A summary of our 2014 results can be found in Descriptive Statistics Summary tables for the ice-free season (Table 3) and for each month (Table 4). All water quality parameters in the Niobrara River showed seasonal variability, correlating with precipitation and temperature patterns recorded at AGFO. Of note, water temperatures, pH, and dissolved oxygen concentrations all exceeded Nebraska state thresholds for cold water fisheries. NGPN’s collaboration with USGS supported real-time and archived access to this data through the USGS National Water Information System Website, where it remains available to the public.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Ashton, Isabel; Rockwood, Stephanie; Mills, Justin; Thornbrugh, Darren
- Date of Issue
- 2020-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- AGFO , NGPN , NRSS
- Keywords
- monitoring report, water quality monitor