SCPN Water Quality Monitoring
Stumpf S. SCPN Water Quality Monitoring. 2007. National Park Service
Perennial streams are rare on the Colorado Plateau, and most streams in the region are intermittent or ephemeral. Water quality data are used to characterize the condition of stream and spring waters, detect trends over time, and identify existing or emerging problems. The Southern Colorado Plateau Network (SCPN) monitors water quality in network parks as an indicator of aquatic ecosystem integrity and as a component of watershed condition. Data gathered in this process documents water quality conditions in relation to state and federal regulations. Information on water quality status and trends helps to guide the development of resource management plans designed to maintain or restore surface water quality. Physical and biological factors, such as geology and vegetation, can affect water quality. So can natural disturbance events such as catastrophic fire, flooding or climatic drought. Human activities, such as grazing and agriculture, can degrade water quality. Contaminated surface waters can harm aquatic life, and may pose health risks to people who come in contact with them, through recreation or other activities. SCPN's water quality monitoring program complements ongoing state, tribal, and other NPS monitoring programs. Together, these activities contribute to a broader regional understanding of water quality.
- Type
- Project
- Authors
- Stumpf, Stacy
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- BAND , CACH , GLCA , GRCA , MEVE
- Keywords
- Monitoring, SCPN, Water Quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Surface Water Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Nutrient Dynamics
Program
Products
- Water quality monitoring protocol for streams and springs in the Southern Colorado Plateau Network
- Water quality monitoring for Bright Angel, Garden, Pipe, and Hermit Creeks in Grand Canyon National Park: 2011–2013 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for Bright Angel, Garden, Pipe, and Hermit Creeks in Grand Canyon National Park: 2014 Summary report
- Water quality monitoring for Rito de los Frijoles and Capulin Creek in Bandelier National Monument: 2012–2013 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for Rito de los Frijoles and Capulin Creek in Bandelier National Monument: 2012–2013 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for Rito de los Frijoles and Capulin Creek in Bandelier National Monument: 2014 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the Chinle Wash and Tsaile Creek in Canyon de Chelly National Monument: 2014 Summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the Escalante River and Coyote Gulch in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: 2011–2013 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the Escalante River and Coyote Gulch in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: 2014 Summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the Mancos River in Mesa Verde National Park: 2010 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the Mancos River in Mesa Verde National Park: 2011 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the Mancos River in Mesa Verde National Park: 2012–2013 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the Mancos River in Mesa Verde National Park: 2014 Summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the Rito de los Frijoles and Capulin Creek in Bandelier National Monument: 2011 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the the Rito de los Frijoles and Capulin Creek in Bandelier National Monument: 2010 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for the Tsaile Creek and Chinle Wash in Canyon de Chelly National Monument: 2010 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for Tsaile Creek and Chinle Wash in Canyon de Chelly National Monument: 2011 summary report
- Water quality monitoring for Tsaile Creek and Chinle Wash in Canyon de Chelly National Monument: 2012–2013 summary report