Pacific Island Network Resource Brief - Water Quality Monitoring: Streams 2008-2023
Raikow D and Monello R. 2025. Pacific Island Network Resource Brief - Water Quality Monitoring: Streams 2008-2023. National Park Service
Water quality is one of 12 vital signs in Pacific Island national parks, and its protocol integrates closely with several other aquatic vital signs to maximize the value of the data we collect. This brief summarizes 2008–2023 results for chemical and physical characteristics of streams at Kalaupapa National Historic Park (KALA), Haleakalā National Park (HALE), War in the Pacific National Historical Park (WAPA), and National Park of American Samoa (NPSA). During the annual monitoring season crews hike up streams or nearby trails to locate fixed and random sampling sites where they measure the NPS core parameters temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity/conductivity. In addition, turbidity and chlorophyll are measured and water samples are collected for nutrient analysis (nitrogen and phosphorus). These latter parameters are needed to evaluate water clarity and nutrification. Crews also take photographs, record habitat information, location, date, and time. The data they collect are for baseflow conditions, which are targeted for consistency in sampling and for safety concerns. Field personnel collect and filter water samples before they are placed on ice and frozen for analysis in the lab. This protocol allows the NPS to meet its monitoring objectives: to characterize the water quality of entire watersheds and to compare changes in the parks over space and time. Resource briefs provide regular updates to park superintendents and natural resource managers. The data will be analyzed and formally published in peer-reviewed reports or journals; the briefing allows for a more rapid transmission of data observations.
- Type
- Resource Brief
- Authors
- Raikow, David; Monello, Ryan
- Date of Issue
- 2025
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- HALE , KALA , NPSA , PACN , WAPA
- Keywords
- Chlorophyll, Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, Fresh and Brackish Water Quality Monitoring Report, Monitoring, Nutrient Analysis, pH, Resource Brief, Salinity, Streams, Temperature, Turbidity, Water Quality, Water Quality Monitoring Report
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Nutrient Dynamics