Monitoring Rivers and Streams

The Yukon River winds through the uplands of Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.

Streams and rivers are fundamental components of nearly every mountain park, and their ecology is both intimately linked to and reflective of the watersheds they drain. A defining feature of streams and rivers is their dependence on the landscape for inputs of energy and nutrients; streams integrate all systems within a landscape.

Streams also support a broad spectrum of ecological services, including wildlife habitat, nutrient processing, hydrologic cycling, and multiple socioeconomic functions for humans (e.g., water sources, fisheries, recreation). Since streams are typically sensitive to stressors at both local and landscape scales, they are one of the most useful types of ecosystems for long-term ecological monitoring.

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  Sierra Nevada Network

  Rivers

  Sierra Nevada snowmelt flows down rivers and streams to serve as the primary source of water for domestic, commercial, and agricultural use.

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  Central Alaska Network

  Streams and Rivers

  At each stream, network scientists collect data on species composition and abundance of aquatic insects, diatom, and fish communities.

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  Rocky Mountain Network

  Stream Ecological Integrity

  Streams and rivers are dependent on the landscape for inputs of energy and nutrients; they integrate all systems within a landscape.

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  Greater Yellowstone Network

  Water Resources

  The Yellowstone and Snake rivers disproportionately contribute to the rich variety of life in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

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  Arctic Network

  Stream Communities and Ecosystems

  Arctic streams exist in natural free-flowing conditions, unimpacted by impoundments, though are sensitive to climate and landscape change.

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  North Coast and Cascades Network

  Water Quality

  Ninety-four percent of Network area is designated wilderness and has some of the highest quality aquatic habitat in the Pacific Northwest