Glacier National Park stream ecological integrity: 2007–2019 trend synthesis report

Schweiger EW, Sherrill K, Bozek M, Witwicki D, Esser S. 2024. Glacier National Park stream ecological integrity: 2007–2019 trend synthesis report. Natural Resource Report. NPS/ROMN/NRR—2024/2631. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2302379

Streams at Glacier National Park are important because they have some of the cleanest water in the world, they offer awe-inspiring views, and these ecosystems are home to a globally significant community of animals, including imperiled species. This report summarizes trends in chemistry, habitat, and biology for Stream Ecological Integrity (SEI) monitoring at six sentinel stream and river sites in Glacier. From 2007 to 2019 we sampled four stream sentinel sites, three or four times annually. Two additional sites were added at request of Glacier in 2018 to augment information for important Wild and Scenic large rivers. Overall, the ecological integrity of sentinel stream sites in Glacier remained in a reference condition from 2007 to 2019. Our data do not suggest that the largely pristine water quality or biodiversity of these streams has changed in any profound way. Nevertheless, our data may be beginning to reveal some emergent issues. Climate directly affects water temperature, which increased 1 to 1.5 °C per decade at four of Glacier’s sentinel stream sites between 2007 and 2019. We saw the effect of warmer stream water on stream macroinvertebrates, with increasing warm water tolerant species over the period of our monitoring. Trace metals in streambed sediments increased or were higher than expected, including copper and zinc at Swiftcurrent Creek, cadmium and arsenic at Reynolds Creek, and arsenic at the North Fork of the Flathead River at the border. Glacier’s sentinel stream physical habitat was largely in good condition and stable, except a low cover of invasive, exotic plants at most sites.

Type
Published Report
Authors
Schweiger, E.; Sherrill, Kirk; Bozek, Michael; Witwicki, Dana; Esser, Scott
Date of Issue
2024-02
Publisher
National Park Service
DOI
10.36967/2302379
Units
GLAC , NRSS , ROMN
Keywords
ROMN, SEIReport, stream ecological integrity, streams, water quality
Subjects
Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Stream/River Channel Characteristics , Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Surface Water Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Nutrient Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Freshwater Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Freshwater Invertebrates

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