Integrated Water Quality Monitoring

Calibrating water quality instruments at Nez Perce National Historic Park

NPS Photo

Importance and Issues

Freshwater habitats are diverse and productive ecosystems and they support aquatic plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate species. Adjacent riparian areas provide habitat for many other species, and most upland animals rely on aquatic habitats in one way or another.

Water resources in the semi-arid West have been strongly affected by human activity, and many UCBN streams and rivers are listed by states as impaired for one or more parameters. Understanding the status of freshwater ecosystems helps guide park management and restoration efforts and provides insight into ecosystem changes. Our network focuses on aquatic macroinvertebrates and water chemistry, and has procedures in place for their long-term monitoring.

Monitoring Objectives

• Determine the status and long-term trend in key water quality parameters for selected streams within network parks.
• Determine the status and trend in aquatic macroinvertebrate abundance, assemblage composition, and functional feeding group composition in wadeable streams within the network.

Parks Where We Monitor Water Quality

• Big Hole National Battlefield
• City of Rocks National Reserve
• Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
• John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
• Nez Perce National Historic Park
• Whitman Mission National Historic Site

Water Quality Monitoring Protocols and Procedures

Source: Data Store Saved Search 736. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Water Quality Monitoring Reports

Source: Data Store Saved Search 714. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Resource Briefs
Summaries of progress and findings

Source: Data Store Saved Search 878. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.