Greater Yellowstone Network Water Quality Monitoring Annual Report January 2007–December 2008

O'Ney, Susan; Arnold, Jeff; Carrithers, Suzanna; Faivre, Emily; Schmitz, Denine; Sessome, Holly

Report describes water quality in BICA, GRTE, and YELL from January 2007 through December 2008, as well as the methods used in monitoring the water in these parks. The Greater Yellowstone Network (GRYN) was established by the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program in 2000 to help enhance the scientific basis for stewardship and management of natural resources in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Teton National Park including the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, and Yellowstone National Park.Aquatic resources across the GRYN face numerous and varied threats, including atmospheric deposition, altered hydrology, mining, agriculture, pollution from boats, introduction of nonnative species, soil or streambank erosion, leaking underground storage tanks, improper sewage-plant or drain field operations, and stormwater runoff. In 2006, GRYN parks began monitoring water chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrates at fixed monitoring sites as part of the vital signs monitoring program. In 2007, water quality monitoring was further expanded to include high alpine lakes in Grand Teton due to their significance as receptors sensitive to atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen. The GRYN is using a “targeted” sampling design for monitoring water chemistry and aquatic macroinvertebrates, which reflects the need to continue collection of historical-trend data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and to meet budgetary constraints.Results of the water quality monitoring program in the GRYN are compared to federal and state standards to identify potential water quality degradation issues in network parks (appendix A). Land uses and geology within and upstream of each park present specific concerns with regard to potential water quality impacts and likely sources of contamination. Specific locations where water quality did not meet applicable standards are identified for each park.• Several water quality samples collected at sampling sites in Bighorn Canyon did not meet state and/or national standards for Escherichia coli in 2007 and 2008. Detected concentrations greater than applicable standards for E. coli may be related in part to agricultural activities upstream of the monitoring sites that may have resulted in animal waste-contaminated runoff.• Several water quality samples collected at sampling sites in Grand Teton did not meet state and/or national standards; constituents were dissolved copper (2007), and total iron and pH (2008). In general, observed metals concentrations are likely related to the site-specific geology. Field pHs greater than state and/or federal standards were identified in 2008 via multi-parameter probe at Amphitheatre, Surprise, and Delta lakes. While outside of the range recommended for natural waters of Wyoming, the pH of these water bodies is within acceptable ranges for the sensitive alpine headwater lakes.• Samples collected at 5 of 20 sites monitored in Yellowstone in 2007 did not meet state and/or federal standards. Constituents not in compliance with these standards included minimum flow, total iron and pH. In 2008, samples collected at 6 of 20 sites monitored were not in compliance with state and/or federal standards. Constituents of concern included pH, water temperature and dissolved iron. Concentrations detected in samples collected in Yellowstone can generally be attributed to the unique geology and geothermal activity occurring in the park. Minimum flow standards not met at Reese Creek in 2007 were met in 2008 due to altered irrigation demands.

Greater Yellowstone Network Water Quality Monitoring Annual Report January 2007–December 2008

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