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Priority Water Quality Vital Signs Associated with Monitoring Questions

In October 2004 the Klamath Network began the detailed assessment and refinement (i.e., narrowing) of the general water quality monitoring questions and vital signs identified during the May 2004 workshops. The process was initiated by sending an Aquatic Resources and Water Quality Questionnaire (see Attachment II) to the Chief of Resources Management of each park unit. Park-specific information was sought in five basic categories: (1) identification of aquatic resources within park unit boundaries (i.e., marine, estuarine, lotic, lentic, palustrine, ice caves, and geothermal/hydrothermal); (2) a list of water bodies of particular importance or interest to the park unit management; (3) a list of past and current water quality monitoring efforts; (4) a list of water resource management and/or land use issues that impact resources from either within or outside each park unit; and (5) qualification of the level of knowledge and experience of park unit staff in monitoring water quality. All park units except ORCA were able to complete and return the questionnaire. Answers to the questionnaire categories were summarized into preliminary park-specific Vital Signs Tables that included columns for: (1) Aquatic Resource; (2) Potential Resource Stressors; (3) Potential Indicators of Stress; (4) Potential Monitoring Options; and (5) Stressor Priority. (The Oregon Caves Vital Signs Table was completed at the December 1, 2004 scoping session described below.)

The preliminary Vital Signs Tables were presented to representatives of each park unit at the Klamath Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Board of Directors Meeting (FY05) in Ashland, Oregon, December 1, 2004. A Water Quality Vital Signs Scoping Session was held in the afternoon at which time the Vital Signs Tables were reviewed and refined. Session participants (Table 13) were separated into three working groups: (1) Crater Lake and Lassen; (2) Lava Beds and Redwoods; (3) Oregon caves and Whiskeytown. The objectives of the small groups were, for each park unit, to: (1) identify specific water quality vital signs, ecosystem stressors associated with each vital sign, and associated monitoring options; and (2) prioritize aquatic resource vital signs. Final park specific Vital Signs Tables were then developed based on feedback from the small groups (Tables 14-20).