Significance of Headwater Streams and Perennial Springs in Ecological Monitoring in Shenandoah National Park.

摘要

The goal of this study was to characterize the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of headwater streams and small springs in SHEN. Expanding knowledge of these characteristics will fill a critical information gap regarding the character and importance of headwater areas in the park, and ultimately will inform managers about whether it would be useful to expand the water-resource inventory and monitoring programs in SHEN from the lower stream reaches in the park to include aquatic habitats farther upstream in the headwater portion of individual watersheds. The specific objectives were to: (1) determine the relations between landscape setting, as defined by topography and drainage area, and the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of headwater streams and springs in SHEN; and (2) determine the extent to which the current water-resources monitoring program (which is focused on larger, lower elevation stream sites with larger drainage basins) is representative of the range of aquatic-habitat conditions in the park.