Water quality monitoring for Agate Fossil Beds National Monument: 2017 data report

Rosse AT. 2022. Water quality monitoring for Agate Fossil Beds National Monument: 2017 data report. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/AGFO/NRDS—2022/1361. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2294071

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 2017 ice-free season (March 30 through November 1) for streamflow, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, and pH. NGPN’s collaboration with USGS supported real-time and archived access to this data through the Niobrara River at Agate, Nebr. - USGS Water Data for the Nation where it remains available to the public. A summary of our 2017 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 in 2017 exceeded Nebraska state thresholds for cold water fisheries in 7.42% of samples. This segment of the Niobrara River is now listed by the state of Nebraska as having impaired aquatic life beneficial uses due to low dissolved oxygen. While dissolved oxygen exceedances of the standard reached 18% of all samples in 2014 (Ashton, 2020).

Type
Published Report
Authors
Rosse, Anine
Date of Issue
2022-08
Publisher
National Park Service
DOI
10.36967/2294071
Units
AGFO , NGPN , NRSS
Keywords
monitor, water, water quality
Subjects
Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry

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