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Assessment of Historical Water-Quality Data for National Park Units in the Rocky Mountain Network, Colorado and Montana, Through 2004

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Assessment of Historical Water-Quality Data for National Park Units in the Rocky Mountain Network, Colorado and Montana, Through 2004 Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service Assessment of Historical Water-Quality Data for National Park Units in the Rocky Mountain Network, Colorado and Montana, through 2004 Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5147 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, Montana, by W. Schweiger, National Park Service. Assessment of Historical Water-Quality Data for National Park Units in the Rocky Mountain Network, Colorado and Montana, through 2004 By M. Alisa Mast Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5147 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2007 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS--the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Mast, M.A., 2007, Assessment of historical water-quality data for National Park units in the Rocky Mountain Net- work, Colorado and Montana, through 2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5147, 79 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................2 Methods of Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................2 Data Sources and Compilation ...........................................................................................................2 Data-Analysis Procedures ..................................................................................................................3 Assessment of Historical Water-Quality Data .........................................................................................4 Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument ......................................................................................4 Environmental Setting .................................................................................................................4 Water Resources .........................................................................................................................6 Surface-Water Quality ................................................................................................................7 Ground-Water Quality ...............................................................................................................10 Summary and Suggestions for Vital Signs Monitoring ........................................................10 Glacier National Park .........................................................................................................................12 Environmental Setting and Geology .......................................................................................12 Water Resources .......................................................................................................................14 Surface-Water Quality ..............................................................................................................15 Ground-Water Quality ...............................................................................................................27 Summary and Suggestions for Vital Signs Monitoring ........................................................28 Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site ......................................................................................30 Environmental Setting and Land Use .....................................................................................30 Water Resources .......................................................................................................................32 Surface-Water Quality ..............................................................................................................33 Ground-Water Quality ...............................................................................................................38 Summary and Suggestions for Vital Signs Monitoring ........................................................38 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve ............................................................................41 Environmental Setting and Geology .......................................................................................41 Water Resources .......................................................................................................................41 Surface-Water Quality ..............................................................................................................43 Ground-Water Quality ...............................................................................................................50 Summary and Suggestions for Vital Signs Monitoring ........................................................51 Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument ...............................................................................53 Environmental Setting ...............................................................................................................53 Water Resources .......................................................................................................................53 Surface-Water Quality ..............................................................................................................55 Ground-Water Quality ...............................................................................................................56 Summary and Suggestions for Vital Signs Monitoring ........................................................59 Rocky Mountain National Park .........................................................................................................59 Environmental Setting and Geology .......................................................................................59 Water Resources .......................................................................................................................61 Surface-Water Quality ..............................................................................................................62 Ground-Water Quality ...............................................................................................................72 iv Summary and Suggestions for Vital Signs Monitoring ........................................................73 Summary........................................................................................................................................................75 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................76 Figures 1–2. Maps showing— 1. Location of the six National Park units in the Rocky Mountain Network, Colorado and Montana .......................................................................................................2 2. Location of water-quality sampling sites near Florissant Fossils Beds National Monument, Colorado ..........................................................................................5 3–4. Graphs showing— 3. Daily streamflow range at Fountain Creek at Green Mountain Falls (USGS streamflow-gaging station 07099990) near Florissant Fossils Beds National Monument, Colorado, 2001–2005 ......................................................................................6 4. Seasonal variation in water quality at selected sites in Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado ..............................................................................10 5. Map showing location of water-quality sampling sites in Glacier National Park, Montana .......................................................................................................................................13 6–9. Graphs showing— 6. Daily streamflow range at Swiftcurrent Creek at Many Glacier (S81) in Glacier National Park, Montana, 1986–2005 .................................................................14 7. Periodic water-level measurements at selected shallow ground-water wells in Glacier National Park, Montana .......................................................................15 8. Seasonal variation in water quality at Swiftcurrent Creek above Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier (S78) in Glacier National Park, Montana, 2001–2004 ............24 9. Spatial
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