National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Integrated Aquatic Community and Water Quality Monitoring of Wadeable Streams in the Klamath Network – Annual Report 2012 Results from Oregon Caves National Monument, Redwood National and State Parks, and Crater Lake National Park Natural Resource Report NPS/KLMN/NRR—2015/1015 ON THE COVER Munson Creek, Crater Lake National Park Photograph by: Christa Torrens, 2012 Field Crew Leader Integrated Aquatic Community and Water Quality Monitoring of Wadeable Streams in the Klamath Network – Annual Report 2012 Results from Oregon Caves National Monument, Redwood National and State Parks, and Crater Lake National Park Natural Resource Report NPS/KLMN/NRR—2015/1015 Eric C. Dinger National Park Service 1250 Siskiyou Blvd Southern Oregon University Ashland, OR 97520 September 2015 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received formal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data, and whose background and expertise put them on par technically and scientifically with the authors of the information. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Network (http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/klmn/index.cfm), and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Dinger, E. C. 2015. Integrated aquatic community and water quality monitoring of wadeable streams in the Klamath Network – Annual report: 2012 results from Oregon Caves National Monument, Redwood National and State Parks, and Crater Lake National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/KLMN/NRR—2015/1015. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 150/129614, 167/129614, 106/129614, September2015 Integrated Aquatic Community and Water Quality Monitoring in the Klamath Network: 2012 ii Contents Page Figures.................................................................................................................................................... v Tables ..................................................................................................................................................... v Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ vi Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. vii Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................. x Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Implementation Schedule ............................................................................................................... 2 Site Selection .................................................................................................................................. 2 Site Layout ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Water Chemistry and Quality ......................................................................................................... 2 Stream Habitat/Riparian Corridor Characteristics .......................................................................... 4 Aquatic Communities ..................................................................................................................... 4 Calculating Indicators of Ecological Condition ............................................................................. 5 Total Phosphorous ..................................................................................................................... 5 Total Nitrogen ........................................................................................................................... 5 Salinity ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Acid Neutralizing Capacity ....................................................................................................... 6 Streambed Stability (aka Relative Bed Stability) ...................................................................... 6 In-stream Habitat Cover ............................................................................................................ 7 Riparian Cover........................................................................................................................... 7 Riparian Disturbance ................................................................................................................. 7 Biological Indicators ................................................................................................................. 7 Establishing Thresholds of Ecological Condition .......................................................................... 9 Additional Macroinvertebrate Measures ........................................................................................ 9 Relationship of KLMN Indicators to Water Quality Standards .............................................. 10 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 11 Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve ........................................................................ 11 Integrated Aquatic Community and Water Quality Monitoring in the Klamath Network: 2012 iii Contents (continued) Page Physical Characteristics of Oregon Caves Streams ................................................................. 11 Physical Condition Metrics of Oregon Caves Streams ........................................................... 11 Chemical Characteristics and Condition Estimates of Oregon Caves Streams ....................... 14 Riparian Characteristics of Oregon Caves Streams ................................................................. 16 Vertebrate Assemblage and Condition of Oregon Caves Streams .......................................... 16 Macroinvertebrate Assemblage and Condition of Oregon Caves Streams ............................. 16 Redwood National and State Parks .............................................................................................. 18 Physical Characteristics of Redwood Parks Streams .............................................................. 18 Physical Condition Metrics of Redwood Parks Streams ......................................................... 18 Chemical Characteristics and Condition Estimates of Redwood Parks Streams .................... 24 Riparian Characteristics of Redwood Parks Streams .............................................................. 26 Vertebrate Assemblage and Condition of Redwood Parks Streams ........................................ 26 Macroinvertebrate Assemblage and Condition of Redwood Parks Streams ........................... 29 Crater Lake National Park ............................................................................................................ 31 Physical Characteristics of Crater Lake Streams ..................................................................... 31 Physical Condition Metrics of Crater Lake Streams ............................................................... 31 Chemical Characteristics and Condition Estimates of Crater Lake Streams ........................... 37 Riparian Characteristics of Crater Lake Streams ...................................................................