Wadeable Stream Habitat Monitoring at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park: 2023 Change Report

Bateman McDonald, Jacob

doi:10.36967/2313926

The Southeast Coast Network (SECN) stream habitat monitoring protocol collects data to give park resource managers insight into the status of, and trends in, stream and near-channel habitat conditions. Streams chosen for assessment were specifically targeted for management interest or to provide a context for similar-sized stream(s) within the park. This report documents the 2023 resurvey of wadeable stream habitats in Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (KEMO), focusing on two third-order streams—Noses Creek (KEMO001) and John Ward Creek (KEMO002). It is the third monitoring event, following baseline data collection in 2017 and a resurvey in 2019. The Southeast Coast Network (SECN) stream habitat monitoring protocol was employed to assess geomorphic, sedimentary, and habitat characteristics, and to track changes over time at multiple spatial scales (basin, reach, and transect). Findings indicate that while both streams continue to exhibit signs of recovery from historical land-use impacts, they remain in degraded conditions. KEMO001 is classified as “poor to fair” and KEMO002 as “poor” based on habitat metrics including pebble counts, large woody debris (LWD), and the distribution of geomorphic channel units (GCUs). Both watersheds are affected by varying levels of urbanization, with KEMO002 experiencing higher impervious surface cover and upstream disturbances (e.g., beaver activity and sewer installation). Despite minor improvements in LWD volume and habitat diversity, both streams remain unstable, showing evidence of episodic bank slumping and bar mobility. Notably, KEMO001’s previously identified knickpoint has remained stable, suggesting some channel resistance. Overall, the 2023 surveys reaffirm that both stream systems are in a widening phase (Stage 3 of channel evolution) and continue to be shaped by legacy sediment, altered hydrology, and urban runoff. No urgent management interventions were identified, although access-related hazards persist due to steep banks. Continued monitoring and potential management interventions, such as LWD placement, bank stabilization, and sediment source control, may be necessary to mitigate these issues and maintain the ecological integrity of these valuable stream ecosystems. Further research on flow regime and macroinvertebrate community structure is necessary to better understand how these streams and associated habitat are changing through time.

Wadeable Stream Habitat Monitoring at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park: 2023 Change Report

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