Water Quality – 17 D. Network-Level Vital Signs Assessment

B. Indicators of stress:

1) Change in shoreline/bank erosion and concomitant change in nearshore sedimentation rates and siltation;

2) Change in shoreline/ bank soil compaction, trampling, and de-vegetation;

3) Change in the distributions and composition of aquatic macroinvertebrates;

4) Presence of and/or change in the concentrations of bacterial indicators of fecal contamination;

5) Presence of and/or change in the amounts of litter and inorganic/organic contaminants.

C. Monitoring Options:

1) Quantify shoreline/bank condition and measure, map, and photo-archive indicators of erosion and impact (e.g., (a) sedimentation/ siltation; (b) soil compaction; (c) de-vegetation);

2) Collect sediment cores to document historical and contemporary sedimentation rates;

3) Measure water clarity and turbidity;

4) Quantify macroinvertebrate species presence and composition in all aquatic habitats;

5) Measure chlorophyll-? concentration in phytoplankton and periphyton samples (as a proxy for primary productivity);

6) Determine in water samples the presence and concentrations of bacterial indicators of fecal contamination;

7) Quantify the presence and amount of litter, as well as inorganic/organic contaminants in caves, and monitor for change.

6. Atmospheric deposition of nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) and pollutants (e.g., mercury, persistent organics, flame retardants, water-repellent coatings, etc.):

A. Monitoring question: How does the atmospheric deposition of nutrients and other contaminants affect the water quality and ecosystem dynamics of Klamath Network park unit aquatic resources?

B. Indicators of stress:

1) Presence of and/or change in the concentrations of air-borne nutrients and pollutants;

2) Change in primary productivity;

3) Change in the presence and composition of aquatic macroinvertebrates, especially species negatively affected by air-borne pollutants.

C. Monitoring Options:

1) Wet/dry chemistry: (a) rain and snow precipitation samples; (b) snow core samples;

2) Analyze water samples for nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations;

3) Analyze tissue samples (highest trophic-level possible) for the presence and concentrations of pollutants of interest;

4) Determine the concentration of chlorophyll-? in phytoplankton and periphyton samples (as a proxy for primary productivity);

5) Determine the presence and composition of aquatic macroinvertebrates, and use rapid bioassessment methods to identify and quantify impact.

 

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