Implementation monitoring for water resources in National Capital Region Parks

Hilderbrand, Robert; Raesly, Richard

This report summarizes the results of sampling six streams in National Capital Region parks during 2006. The purpose of the sampling was to implement the water resources monitoring protocols in national parks within the National Capital Region. The streams sampled in 2006 were: 1) Sharpsburg Creek in Antietam National Battlefield (ANTI); 2) Hunting Creek in Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO); 3) Pimmit Run in the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP); 4) Oxon Run in the National Capital Parks East (NACE); 5) the North Branch of Chapawapisic Creek in Prince William Forest Park (PRWI); and 6) Wolf Trap Creek in Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (WOTR). Four of these sites had been sampled previously in 2004, whereas Oxon Run and Hunting Creek were sampled for the first time. Hunting Creek (CATO) and the North Branch of Chapawapisic Creek (PRWI) both rated in good condition in general based on water chemistry, physical habitat, fish, and benthic invertebrates. Sharpsburg Creek, and Wolf Trap Creek showed mixed results with both sites scoring low when rated by benthic invertebrates and physical habitat, but scoring good when rated with fish. Assessments involving fish improved dramatically between 2004 and 2006 for Wolf Trap Creek (WOTR) and N. Br. Chapawapisic (PRWI), possibly the result of the dry conditions in 2004. Finally, Oxon Run and Pimmit Run clearly showed signs of degradation in terms of physical habitat and low scores for fish and benthic invertebrates. We attribute the low condition of the latter two streams to their highly urban setting and proximity to impervious surfaces.

Implementation monitoring for water resources in National Capital Region Parks

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