Stream channel monitoring for Wind Cave National Park 2021 Data report.

Rosse, Anine

doi:10.36967/2296623

The Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (NGPN) began stream channel monitoring in Highland Creek at Wind Cave National Park (WICA) in 2021. This data report summarizes the data collected during the 2021 season pertaining to watershed, reach, and physical habitat. After data are collected for at least four cycles, trends may be reported. This report covers three main areas: 1) Reporting on upland channel characteristics data that may affect habitat such as: land cover, drainage area, and total stream length; 2) Reporting of geomorphic dimensions such as: channel widths, bank angles, vegetative cover, reach slope, measures of bank stability; and 3) Determining physical habitat characteristics such as: size and distribution of bed sediment, large woody debris, and canopy cover. Indices, benchmarks, and other studies are provided in the table for informational purposes to help put Highland Creek’s measurements in context but should not be considered as a reference condition. Upland characteristics of the watershed indicate high natural land use cover (forest, grassland, and shrubland) with little development in the area. Reach characteristics include bank cover, heights, bank stability index, and vegetative cover. In addition to animal-induced erosion of the banks, bank sloughing and widening are occurring. Angles are steep, and there are some sandy banks that are unstable. When plots are revisited in three years, there will be greater understanding of the processes at play and the condition of the stream. Physical characteristics include median particle size, percentage fine substrate, geomorphic units, and canopy cover. Gravel substrate still covers much of the stream; there are wide meanders in the stream bed; and a variety of geomorphic channel units (pool, riffle, run) occur in the creek all of which are indicators of healthy habitat. While there is an absence of large woody debris and canopy cover is low, many grassland streams in good condition can have similar characteristics. More data are needed to fully assess those components and determine a suitable reference condition that can be used to later assess the status and trends of Highland Creek. The reach data contained in this report are specific to a short 150-m segment of Highland Creek and cannot be extrapolated to conditions elsewhere in the creek or to the park in general. Bank erosion and bank instability were observed along the majority of transects at site WICA SCM 001.

Stream channel monitoring for Wind Cave National Park 2021 Data report.

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