Water-Quality Data and Descriptions of Biota for Selected Watersheds Of
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Water-Quality Data and Descriptions of Biota for Selected Watersheds of the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana, September 1996 through March 1997 By Roland W. Tollett and Robert B. Fendick, Jr. U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 98-163 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. ARMY JOINT READINESS TRAINING CENTER AND FORT POLK Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1998 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas J. Casadevall, Acting Director The use of trade, product, industry, or firm names in this report is for descriptive or location purposes only and does not constitute endorsement of products by the U.S. Government nor impute responsibility for any present or potential effects on the natural resources. For additional information contact: Copies of this report can be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services 3535 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 120 Box 25286 Baton Rouge, LA 70816 Federal Center E-mail: [email protected] Denver, CO 80225-0286 Telephone: (504) 389-0281 Fax: (504)389-0706 CONTENTS Abstract .................................................................................................................................... I Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose and Scope .......................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................... 3 Description of the Study Area .................................................................................................. 3 Environmental Setting .................................................................................................... 5 Climate ............................................................................................................................ 5 Data Collection and Presentation ............................................................................................. 5 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................... 9 Reaches of Louisiana Scenic Rivers ............................................................................... 9 Areal Stream Coverage ................................................................................................... 13 Description of Biota.................................................................................................................. 18 Stream ............................................................................................................................ 18 Terrestrial ........................................................................................................................ 19 Selected References ................................................................................................................. 19 Appendices: Appendix A: Periphyton analyses for samples collected from sites in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana, by Fred Bryan ....... Ill Appendix B: Analyses of freshwater mussels in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana, by Malcolm F. Vidrine.............................. 121 Appendix C: Botanical summary of the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana, by Charles M. Alien............................................... 159 FIGURES 1. Map showing Fort Polk Military Reservation and the Limited Use Area of the Kisatchie National Forest, Vernon Ranger District, Vernon Parish, Louisiana....................................................................................................................... 2 2. Map showing location of the study area, basin divides, sampling sites, and bogs within the Fort Polk Military Reservation and Limited Use Area boundaries, Vernon Parish, Louisiana........................................................................... 4 3. Map showing updip limits of hydrogeologic units of Miocene age and younger deposits in Vernon Parish and the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana ................................................ 6 4. Diagram showing stratigraphic and hydrogeologic units outcropping in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, and the study area .............................................................. 7 5. Graph showing specific conductance values and rainfall, November 5, 1996 - February 18, 1997, for the daily sampling sites in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana..................................... 10 6. Graph showing values for pH and rainfall, November 5, 1996 - February 18, 1997, for the daily sampling sites in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana............................................................................ 11 7. Graph showing temperatures and rainfall, November 5, 1996 - February 18, 1997, for the daily sampling sites in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana............................................................................ 12 8. Graph showing calcium data for the daily sampling sites in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana........................... 14 9. Graph showing magnesium data for the daily sampling sites in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana.................... 15 111 10. Piper diagram plotting major ion data for the daily sampling sites in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana, October 22, 1996......................................................................................... 16 11. Piper diagram plotting major ion data for the daily sampling sites in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana, November 5, 1996....................................................................................... 17 12-25. Stream characterization forms:.................................................................................. 21 12. Site 1 in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 22 13. Site 2 in the Limited Use Area, Vernon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 25 14. Site 3 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 28 15. Site 4 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 31 16. Site 5 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 34 17. Site 6 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 37 18. Site 7 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 40 19. Site 8 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 43 20. Site 9 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 46 21. Site 10 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 49 22. Site 11 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 52 23. Site 12 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 55 24. Site 13 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 58 25. Site 14 in the Limited Use Area, Vemon Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana....................................................................................................... 61 TABLES 1. Reference list of sampling site number, latitude and longitude, and location, Vernon Parish, Louisiana.............................................................................................. 8 2. Basin areas, lengths, elevations, and gradients for Bundick Creek, Drakes Creek,