Klamath Network Water Quality Report (Phase II)
Section 3: Past Inventory, Monitoring, and Research Activities in the Klamath Network Park Units
| Oregon Caves National Monument (ORCA) |
| Figure 7: Aquatic Resources and Watershed Boundaries of Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon, NPS Klamath Network |
General Summary of Past Activities: Oregon Caves National Monument has focused on documenting the baseline water quality of pools, springs and streams in or near the park unit cave system. The physical characteristics and magnitude of potential direct human impacts on park unit aquatic resources also have been inventoried and continue to be monitored.
Oregon Caves National Monument (Figure 7) was established on July 12, 1909, under the U.S. Forest Service, specifically to protect the cave system. It was transferred to the National Park Service on August 10, 1933. In February 1992, a large portion of the developed area in the monument was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon Caves (194 ha; 480 ac) is located in the Siskiyou/Klamath bioregion of southwestern Oregon. Although Oregon Caves is a small unit, its forest communities are a diverse representation of the larger bioregion. Old growth Douglas fir, white fir and oak forests cover the majority of the monument, providing diverse microhabitats for the monument’s nearly 500 plant species, and an estimated 5,000 animal and 2,000 fungal species; which are among the highest catalogued biota per acre for any national park unit (John Roth, ORCA, personal communication). Federally threatened and endangered species that reside in or utilize the monument include the northern spotted owl, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon. Two of the 20 federal and state species of concern in the monument are the Del Norte Salamander (Plethedon elongates) and Western Toad (Bufo boreas). The amphibian species are, respectively, a species of concern and a sensitive species in the State of Oregon. The cave pools, springs and streams of Oregon Caves are considered important water resources for wildlife.
Horizon Report
A Horizon Report (NPS-WRD 1998) for Oregon caves is available at: (http://nrdata.nps.gov/ORCA/nrdata/water/baseline_wq/docs/ORCAWQAA.pdf). Water quality data catalogued in this report were provided by the Washington Department of Ecology, US Forest Service-Region 6, US Geological Survey, National Park Service, and US Environmental Protection Agency-Region 10. Nineteen sampling stations (page 45 of the report) were located in the park unit; 11 in the cave and 8 outside of the cave. A total of 30 water quality parameters (page 46 of the report) were measured and sampled. The period of sampling was 1966 and 1992-1993.
Cave Inventory
According to Roth (1994), the first comprehensive inventory of any large federally managed cave in the US was completed at Oregon Caves by Earthwatch Institute volunteers prior to 1994. The physical characteristics and magnitude of potential direct human impacts (as indicated by the presence of “cave slime” or actinomycetes bacteria) on Oregon Caves were inventoried.
Aquatic Studies
1) ORCA sample collection, 1992-1993, baseline water quality inventory of waters in or near the cave system;
2) Within-cave water quality study of Cave Creek (ongoing by John Salinas, Rogue Valley Community College)
3) Water quality inventory (KLMN-FY05, Chris Currens, USGS WERC) Resource Management Water Quality Concerns
1) Decline in water quality due to human-caused organic enrichment, calcite solubility index, and turbidity
2) Changes in water volume and timing of cave infiltration
3) Contamination of Cave Creek (the primary water resource at ORCA), cave springs and other surface streams due to drain field pollution and pavement-derived hydrocarbon particulate input
4) Changes in the caves environment (including Cave Creek and various springs located inside the cave) due to manipulation of the primary cave’s environment (i.e., modified cave opening and lighted walkway
5) Visitor use
6) Protection, preservation, restoration and interpretation of cave and karst are of primary importance to the park unit.
See Attachment I for ORCA water quality inventory, monitoring, and research study references.
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