Title
Biological Water Quality Status and Trends Monitoring in the Big Blackfoot Watershed
Abstract
This poster presents preliminary findings of a basin-wide biological water quality status and trends monitoring program initiated in the Blackfoot watershed in 2004 by the Blackfoot Challenge. The purpose of the program is to evaluate and describe the status, spatial patterns, and time trends in water quality and biological health in the Blackfoot watershed, as influenced by the cumulative effects of restoration projects as well as land development activities.
The monitoring network consists of six sampling locations in three distinct segments of the mainstem Blackfoot River, and six locations on selected tributaries. Biological monitoring variables include periphyton (attached algae) community structure parameters as well as standing crops (measured as chlorophyll a concentrations), and macroinvertebrate (aquatic insect) community metrics. The biological monitoring is intended to complement water chemistry monitoring being performed at the same stations by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Biological data from summer 2004 are presented which demonstrate spatial patterns in water quality and biological integrity throughout the Blackfoot River main stem and in the selected tributaries. Causal factors and impairment sources are discussed. Following several years of monitoring, the biological data will be statistically analyzed for significant time trends.
Longer term information from this program will help the Blackfoot Challenge and its cooperators to document water quality and habitat improvements resulting from collaborative watershed restoration efforts, and as a feedback mechanism to fine-tune collaborative management approaches in the greater Blackfoot watershed area.
Start Date
1-4-2005 1:00 PM
End Date
1-4-2005 3:00 PM
Document Type
Poster
Biological Water Quality Status and Trends Monitoring in the Big Blackfoot Watershed
This poster presents preliminary findings of a basin-wide biological water quality status and trends monitoring program initiated in the Blackfoot watershed in 2004 by the Blackfoot Challenge. The purpose of the program is to evaluate and describe the status, spatial patterns, and time trends in water quality and biological health in the Blackfoot watershed, as influenced by the cumulative effects of restoration projects as well as land development activities.
The monitoring network consists of six sampling locations in three distinct segments of the mainstem Blackfoot River, and six locations on selected tributaries. Biological monitoring variables include periphyton (attached algae) community structure parameters as well as standing crops (measured as chlorophyll a concentrations), and macroinvertebrate (aquatic insect) community metrics. The biological monitoring is intended to complement water chemistry monitoring being performed at the same stations by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Biological data from summer 2004 are presented which demonstrate spatial patterns in water quality and biological integrity throughout the Blackfoot River main stem and in the selected tributaries. Causal factors and impairment sources are discussed. Following several years of monitoring, the biological data will be statistically analyzed for significant time trends.
Longer term information from this program will help the Blackfoot Challenge and its cooperators to document water quality and habitat improvements resulting from collaborative watershed restoration efforts, and as a feedback mechanism to fine-tune collaborative management approaches in the greater Blackfoot watershed area.