Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Water Quality Monitoring, Fiscal Year 2024
Meiman J. 2025. Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Water Quality Monitoring, Fiscal Year 2024. National Park Service
The Cumberland Piedmont Network Inventory and Monitoring Program began long-term water-quality monitoring at Fort Donelson National Battlefield (FODO) in 2004. Water quality is measured quarterly on alternate years at five sites: Lake Barkley at the FODO overlook, Hickman and Indian Creek Embayments, Hickman Spring, and Indian Creek at Graves Battery. While the park is nearly surrounded by water (the spillway elevation of the Lake Barley Dam defines the boundary along the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operated lake), Hickman Spring and Indian Creek at Graves Battery are the only perennial waters within park boundaries. The Cumberland Piedmont Network also monitors waters outside the boundary due to their proximity and immediate aesthetic. Based upon program requirements and findings of the water quality inventory, a set of parameters was chosen for long-term monitoring. These parameters include the field measures of water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Samples were also analyzed for Escherichia coli and nitrate. This brief summarizes data collected from November 2003 through August 2024, highlighting November 13, 2023 through August 12, 2024 (Fiscal Year 2024).
- Type
- Resource Brief
- Authors
- Meiman, Joe
- Date of Issue
- 2025-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CUPN , FODO
- Keywords
- Water Quality, Water Quality Monitoring Resource Briefs
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Microorganisms