HR: 09:00h
AN: NB31B-03 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: The Then and Now of Reference Conditions in Streams of the Central Plains
AU: * Huggins, D
EM: dhuggins@ku.edu
AF: Central Plains Center for BioAssessment, 2101 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047 United States
AU: Angelo, R
EM: Bangelo@kdhe.state.ks.us
AF: Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 420, Topeka, KS 66612 United States
AU: Baker, D S
EM: dbaker@ku.edu
AF: Central Plains Center for BioAssessment, 2101 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047 United States
AU: Welker, G
EM: welker.gary@epa.gov
AF: US EPA, Region 7, 901 North Fifth Street, Kansas City, KS 66101 United States
AB: Models of contemporary and pre-settlement reference conditions were constructed for streams that once drained the tallgrass prairies of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri (e.g. Western Corn Belt Plains ecoregion), and for streams within the heart of the mixed grass prairie (e.g. Southwestern Tablelands ecoregion). Data on watershed, habitat, chemistry and biology compiled for existing reference streams (least or minimally impacted systems) were used to characterize contemporary reference conditions. Contemporary reference conditions within these two prairie regions are contrasted against hypothetical pre-settlement conditions using information from the best streams (upper 25%) of the current reference population, historical accounts, museum records, natural heritage programs, Public Land Survey and current remote sensing data. Similar comparisons were made between historical and current reference conditions for the Southwestern Tablelands located in central Kansas and Oklahoma. Much of this region remains in mixed grass prairie; has limited hydrological alterations (e.g. impoundments, dewatering) and low human and livestock densities. Within the tablelands these factors have preserved reference conditions that resemble historic conditions. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons indicate that many regions within the Central Plains require caution when using "least disturbed" reference streams and conditions to identify regional biological integrity goals relative to the Clean Water Act.
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly