HR: 1330h
AN: NB33H-06 [Abstracts]
TI: A Comparison of Streamside Habitat Assessments and Water Quality Indicators in the Lower Flint River Basin: Do They Agree?
AU: * Cressman, K A
EM: kcressma@jonesctr.org
AF: J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Route 2, Box 2324, Newton, GA 39870 United States
AU: Opsahl, S P
EM: sopsahl@jonesctr.org
AF: J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Route 2, Box 2324, Newton, GA 39870 United States
AU: Muenz, T K
EM: tmuenz@jonesctr.org
AF: J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Route 2, Box 2324, Newton, GA 39870 United States
AU: Golladay, S W
EM: sgollada@jonesctr.org
AF: J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Route 2, Box 2324, Newton, GA 39870 United States
AB:
Habitat assessment protocols using factors such as bank stability, riparian land use, and riparian buffer width have been
developed by both the USFWS and the EPA. These assessments are standardized, so information about a stream system can be
shared among organizations. Both protocols are being used, in conjunction with measurements of water quality parameters such as suspended solids, phosphate, nitrate/nitrite, ammonia, fecal coliform abundance, and caffeine, at sites throughout the
Flint River Basin. In agricultural areas without a riparian buffer, increased fertilization could result in elevated
nutrient levels in streams. In areas with intact riparian zones, reduced inputs of agricultural runoff are expected.
Because the EPA habitat assessment results in a numerical score for each site, this study provides an opportunity to
determine whether physical habitat scores correlate with water quality indicators over a gradient of disturbance.
Preliminary results do not indicate a relationship between habitat scores and water quality parameters. One possible
explanation is that groundwater transport represents a mechanism by which excess nitrogen can bypass the riparian buffer.
Therefore, effects of land use on water quality in Coastal Plain streams may not be apparent from streamside assessments.
DE: 1871 Surface water quality
DE: 4845 Nutrients and nutrient cycling
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly