MONTANA STATE UBRARY iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinqinniiiimiiiiiiwi' ' 3 0864 1001 6041 8 BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF SPRING CREEK, TETON COUNTY, MONTANA BASED ON THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE BENTHIC ALGAE COMMUNITY Prepared for: State of Montana Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 2 00 901 Helena, Montana 59620-0901 Project Officer: Darrin Kron DEQ Contract No. 200012-2 TI\TE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION 5 2002 MONTANA STATE LiBRARY 1515 E. 6th AVE. •HELENA, MONTANA 59620 Prepared by: Lor en L. Bahls, Ph.D. Hannaea 103 2 Twelfth Avenue Helena, Montana 59601 February 7, 2001 Printed on lOOX Recycled Pomt-Coaaumcr Paper SUMMARY On August 1, 2000, periphyton samples were collected from two stations on Spring Creek above Choteau, Montana for the purpose of assessing whether the creek is water-quality limited and in need of TMDLs . The samples were collected following DEQ standard operating procedures, processed and analyzed using standard methods for periphyton, and evaluated following modified USEPA rapid bioassessment protocols for wadeable streams. The Spring Creek watershed straddles the boundary between the Northwestern Glaciated Plains and the Montana Valley and Foothill Prairies Ecoregions and is classified B-2. For these reasons, Spring Creek metrics were compared to criteria for both mountain streams and prairie streams. Also, Spring Creek has every indication of being a spring brook of the Teton River, with which it is closely associated hydrologically . Spring Creek supported a rich non-diatom flora composed of 17 genera. Dominance by diatoms and green algae and low numbers of cyanobacteria indicate an ample supply of nutrients, including nitrogen. A decline in the number of non-diatom genera at the downstream station (S-3) may be due to competition with aquatic mosses at this site. The large number of Achnanthes minutissima at S-3 resulted in a rating of moderate impairment and partial support of aquatic life uses. The reasons for this rating were borderline values for percent dominant species and the disturbance index. The disturbance at S-3 is probably natural in origin and caused by grazing by macroinvertebrates (e.g., snails). All other diatom metrics indicated good to excellent biological integrity, little or no impairment, and full support of aquatic life uses at both sites. INTRODUCTION This report evaluates the biological integrity, support of aquatic life uses, and probable causes of impairment to those uses, in Spring Creek above Choteau, Montana. The purpose of this report is to provide information that will help the State of Montana determine whether Spring Creek is water-quality limited and in need of TMDLs . The federal Clean Water Act directs states to develop water pollution control plans (Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs) that set limits on pollution loading to water-quality limited waters. Water-quality limited waters are lakes and stream segments that do not meet water-quality standards, that is, that do not fully support their beneficial uses. The Clean Water Act and USEPA regulations require each state to (1) identify waters that are water-quality limited, (2) prioritize and target waters for TMDLs, and (3) develop TMDL plans to attain and maintain water- quality standards for all water-quality limited waters. Evaluation of use support in this report is based on the species composition and structure of the periphyton (benthic algae, phytobenthos) community at two stream sites that were sampled on August 1, 2000. The periphyton community is a basic biological component of all aquatic ecosystems. Periphyton accounts for much of the primary production and biological diversity in Montana streams (Bahls et al . 1992). Plafkin et al . (1989) and Stevenson and Bahls (1999) list several advantages of using periphyton in biological assessments: • Algae are universally present in large numbers in all streams and unimpaired periphyton assemblages typically support a large number (>30) of species; • Algae have rapid reproduction rates and short life cycles, making them useful indicators of short-term impacts; As primary producers, algae are most directly affected by physical and chemical factors, such as temperature, nutrients, dissolved salts, and toxins,- Sampling is quick, easy and inexpensive, and causes minimal damage to resident biota and their habitat; Standard methods and criteria exist for evaluating the composition, structure, and biomass of algal associations; Identification to species is straightforward for the diatoms, for which there is a large body of taxonomic and ecological literature; Excessive algae growth in streams is often correctly perceived as a problem by the public. Periphyton and other biological communities reflect the biological integrity^ of waterbodies; restoring and maintaining the biological integrity of waterbodies is a goal of the federal Clean Water Act; Periphyton and other biological communities integrate the effects of different stressors and provide a measure of their aggregate impact; and Periphyton and other biological communities may be the only practical means of evaluating impacts from non-point sources of pollution where specific ambient criteria do not exist (e.g., impacts that degrade habitat or increase nutrients). Periphyton is a diverse assortment of simple photosynthetic organisms, called algae, and other microorganisms that live attached to or in close proximity of the stream bottom. Most algae, such as the diatoms, are microscopic. Diatoms are distinguished by having a cell wall composed of opaline glass- - hydrated amorphous silica. Diatoms often carpet a stream bottom with a slippery brown film. ^ Biological integrity is defined as "the ability of an aquatic ecosystem to support and maintain a balanced, integrated, adaptive community of organisms having a species composition, diversity, and functional organization comparable to that of natural habitats within a region" (Karr and Dudley 1981) . Some algae, such as the filamentous greens, are conspicuous and their excessive growth may be aesthetically displeasing, deplete dissolved oxygen, interfere with fishing and fish spawning, clog water filters and irrigation intakes, create tastes and odors in drinking water, and cause other problems. PROJECT AREA AND SAMPLING SITES The project area is located in Teton County near the town of Choteau, Montana (pop. 1,586) . Spring Creek heads about a mile east of Eureka Reservoir at an elevation of 4,100 feet. It then flows southeast through Choteau to where it enters the Teton River near the Freezeout Lake Wildlife Management Area, about 15 miles from its source . The Spring Creek watershed is located on the boundary of the Northwestern Glaciated Plains Ecoregion and the Montana Valley and Foothill Prairies Ecoregion (Woods et al . 1999). The surface geology consists of Cretaceous, shales of the Colorado Group overlain in places by Quaternary gravel deposits (Renfro and Feray 1972) . Vegetation is mixed grassland (USDA 1976) . Periphyton samples were collected at two sites on August 1, 2000 (Map 1, Table 1) . The upper site (S-2) is at an unnamed road crossing downstream from U.S. Highway 89. The lower site (S-3) is located upstream from Choteau. The two sites bracket a three-mile reach of Spring Creek that runs east of and parallel to U.S. Highway 89. Elevation at the sampling sites is about 4,000 feet above mean sea level. Land use in the Spring Creek watershed is mostly livestock and wildlife grazing with some residential and commercial development. Spring Creek is classified B-2 in the Montana Surface Water Quality Standards. METHODS Periphyton samples were collected by Darrin Kron, Water Monitoring Section, MDEQ Monitoring and Data Management Bureau, following standard operating procedures of the MDEQ Planning, Prevention, and Assistance Division. Using appropriate tools, microalgae were scraped, brushed, or sucked from natural substrates in proportion to the rank of those substrates at the study site. Macroalgae were picked by hand in proportion to their abundance at the site. All collections of microalgae and macroalgae were pooled into a common container and preserved with Lugol ' s solution. The samples were examined to estimate the relative abundance and rank by biovolume of diatoms and genera of soft (non-diatom) algae according to the method described by Bahls (1993) . Soft algae were identified using Dillard (1999), Prescott (1978), Smith (1950) , and Whitford and Schumacher (1984) . These books also served as references on the ecology of the soft algae, along with Palmer (1977) . After the identification of soft algae, the raw periphyton samples were cleaned of organic matter using sulfuric acid, and permanent diatom slides were prepared using Naphrax, a high refractive index mounting medium, following Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (APHA 1998) . Between 434 and 439 diatom cells (868 to 878 valves) were counted at random and identified to species. The following were used as the main taxonomic and autecological references for the diatoms: Krammer and Lange-Bertalot 1986, 1988, 1991a, 1991b; Patrick and Reimer 1966, 1975. Lowe (1974) was also used as an ecological reference for the diatoms . The diatom proportional counts were used to generate an 5 array of diatom association metrics (Table 2) . A metric is a characteristic of the biota that changes in some predictable way with increased human influence (Barbour et al . 1999) . Metric values from Spring Creek were compared to numeric biocriteria or threshold values developed for streams in the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains Ecoregions of Montana (Tables 3 and 4) . These criteria are based on metric values measured in least -impaired reference streams (Bahls et al . 1992) and on metric values measured in streams that are known to be impaired by various sources and causes of pollution (Bahls 1993) . The criteria in Tables 3 and 4 distinguish among four levels of impairment and three levels of aquatic life use support: no impairment or only minor impairment (full support) ; moderate impairment (partial support) ; and severe impairment (nonsupport) . These impairment levels correspond to excellent, good, fair, and poor biological integrity, respectively. Quality Assurance. Several steps were taken to assure that the study results are accurate and reproducible. Upon receipt of the samples, station and sample information were recorded in a laboratory notebook and the samples were assigned a unique number compatible with the Montana Diatom Database, e.g., 2006-01. The first part of this number (2006) designates the sampling site (Spring Creek below Highway 89) ; the second part of this number (01) designates the number of periphyton samples that have been collected at this site for which data have been entered into the Montana Diatom Database. Sample observations and analyses of soft (non-diatom) algae were recorded in a lab notebook along with station and sample information provided by MDEQ . A portion of the raw sample was used to make duplicate diatom slides. After completing the diatom proportional count, the slide used for the count will be deposited in the University of Montana Herbarium in Missoula. The other slide will be retained by Hasinaea in Helena. On completion of the project, station information, sample information, and diatom proportional count data will be entered into the Montana Diatom Database. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Results are presented in Tables 5 and 6, which are located near the end of this report following the Literature Cited section. Spreadsheets containing completed diatom proportional counts, with species' pollution tolerance classes (PTC) and percent abundances, are attached as Appendix A. SAMPLE NOTES S-3. This sample consisted mostly of acjuatic mosses NON- DIATOM ALGAE Diatoms were the most abundant algae at both sites on Spring Creek (Table 5) . Green algae ranked second in abundance and cyanobacteria were a distant third. Audouinella, a red alga, was rare at S-3, but absent at S-2. Dominance by diatoms and green algae and low numbers of cyanobacteria usually indicate an ample supply of biologically-available nutrients, including nitrogen. Spring Creek supported a rich non-diatom flora consisting of 17 genera: 14 genera were observed at S-2 and 8 genera were observed at S-3. Green algae accounted for most of these genera. The average number of non-diatom genera observed in least impaired plains streams was 13 (range 9-19) (Bahls 1993). The most abundant non-diatom algae at' S-2 were Chaetophora I and Zygnema (Table 5) . Chaetophora prefers cold, running waters. Microspora, which ranked second in biovolume to diatoms at S-3, also prefers cool water, but is more often found in slack water habitats, like pools and ditches (Smith 1950). Competition with aquatic mosses at S-3 may help to explain the smaller number of algal genera observed here. Aquatic mosses are perennial plants that indicate a constant supply of cool water, which is consistent with the nature of a spring creek. Since Spring Creek closely parallels the Teton River for much of its length (Map 1) , it likely receives much of its flow from this parent stream. Spring Creek also receives water from Eureka Reservoir via seepage from an irrigation canal that runs parallel to and upslope from the creek (Darrin Kron, MDEQ, personal communication, February 6, 2001). DIATOMS All but one of the seven major diatom species in Spring Creek were sensitive to organic pollution (Table 6) . Dominance by sensitive diatoms is reflected in the relatively high pollution index values at both stations. These are particularly high for prairie streams and indicate little organic loading. A unique feature of the Spring Creek diatom assemblage is dominance by species of Fragilaria. Diatoms in this genus are usually unattached and tychoplanktonic, indicating relatively low turbulence and slow current velocities. Both sites on Spring Creek had excellent species richness, even for a prairie stream (Table 6) . Diatom species diversity- was excellent for a prairie stream at S-2 and good at S-3. ,:' . • "■' The large number of Achnanthes minutissima at S-3 resulted in a rating of moderate impairment and partial support of aquatic life uses. The reasons for this rating were borderline values for percent dominant species and the disturbance index. Achnanthes minutissima is an opportunistic "weed" species that is among the first to colonize recently disturbed areas (Barbour et al . 1999) . Disturbance may be caused by physical scour, chemical toxicity, or macroinvertebrate grazing. If this Spring Creek is typical of most spring creeks, it supports an abundance of grazing fauna, including snails. In the absence of fast currents and heavy metals or other toxics in Spring Creek, the disturbance indicated at S-3 is probably biological and natural in origin. Siltation index values were very low, especially for a prairie stream (Table 6) . No abnormal cells were encountered in the diatom proportional counts, indicating the probable absence of toxics or physiological stressors. The percentage of cells in the family Epithemiaceae was low to moderate, indicating low to moderate levels of inorganic nitrogen. The two sites shared only about 32 percent of their diatom assemblages. Since there is no evident tributary or surface discharge in the reach between these sites (Map 1) , their quite different floras may result from intervening springs (Agency Spring?) or zones of upwelling water originating from the Teton River. Spring Creek has all the characteristics of a spring brook of the Teton River. LITERATURE CITED ^ APHA. 1998. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th Edition. American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C. Bahls, L.L. 1979. Benthic diatom diversity as a measure of water quality. Proc . Mont. Acad. Sci. 38:1-6. Bahls, L.L. 1993. Periphyton Bioassessment Methods for Montana Streams (Revised) . Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Helena. Bahls, L.L. 1999. Effects Of An Oil Spill on The Composition and Structure of the Periphyton Community in Casino Creek and Big Spring Creek near Lewistown, Montana. Prepared for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Helena, Contract No. 200012. Bahls, L.L., Bob Bukantis, and Steve Tralles. 1992. Benchmark Biology of Montana Reference Streams . Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Helena. Barbour, M.T., J. Gerritsen, B.D. Snyder, and J.B. Stribling. 1999. Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and ^ Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates and W Fish. Second Edition. EPA/841-B-99-002 . U.S. EPA, Office of Water, Washington, D.C. Dillard, G.E. 1999. Common Freshwater Algae of the United States. J. Cramer, Berlin. Johansen, J.R. 1999. Diatoms of Aerial Habitats. Chapter 12 in Stoermer, E.F., and J. P. Smol (eds.), The Diatoms, Cambridge University Press, New York. Karr, J.R., and D.R. Dudley. 1981. Ecological perspectives on water quality goals. Environmental Management 5:55-69. Krammer, K., and H. Lange-Bertalot . 1986. Bacillariophyceae, Part 2, Volume 1: Naviculaceae . In Ettl, H., J. Gerloff, H. Heynig, and D. Mollenhauer (eds.). Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, New York. Krammer, K., and H. Lange-Bertalot. 1988. Bacillariophyceae, Part 2, Volume 2: Bacillariaceae, Epithemiaceae, Surirellaceae. In Ettl, H., J. Gerloff, H. Heynig, and D. Mollenhauer (eds.). Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, New York. 10 Krammer, K., and H . Lange-Bertalot . 1991a. Bacillariophvceae ?rEt i ^^S'""^ 'r ?^"^-^-' Fragilariaceae, EunSLeae'. fLf f 'n. 'v, Gerloff, H. Heynig, and D . MoUenhauer (eds.) Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, Stuttgart. rx^cner Krammer K and H. Lange-Bertalot. 1991b. Bacillariophyceae, Part 2 Volume 4: Achnanthaceae, Critical Supplement to Navicula (Lmeolatae) and Gomphonema, Complete List of rll^JT^'u ^S"" ^°^""^^^ 1-4- ^^ Ettl, H., G. Gartner, J. ??nr?^; M-HH?^''^^' ^""^ °- MoUenhauer (eds.), Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, Stuttgart. Lange-Bertalot, Horst. 1979. Pollution tolerance of diatoms as 64?285^30r ^°'' ''^^^'' quality estimation. Nova Hedwigia Lowe, R L. 1974. Environmental Requirements and Pollution Tolerance of Freshwater Diatoms. EPA-670/4-74-005 . McFarland, B.H., B.H. Hill, andW.T. Willingham. 1997. Abnormal Fragilaria spp . (Bacillariophyceae) in streams impacted bv mine drainage. Jour, of Freshwater Ecology 12 (i) : 141-149 Palmer, CM. 1977. Algae and Water Pollution: An Illustrated A?S^^ -^V?^ Identification, Significance, and Control of Algae m Water Supplies and in Polluted Water EPA-600/9-77-036. ^^""""^f^krlTi' ?^^.^-W- Reimer. 1966. The Diatoms of The United States Exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii. Volume 1- Fragilariaceae, Eunotiaceae, Achnanthaceae, Naviculaceae Monograph Number 13, The Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia. Patrick, Ruth, and C.W. Reimer. 1975. The Diatoms of The United States Exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii. Volume 2, Part 1 Entomoneidaceae, Cymbellaceae, Gomphonemaceae Epithemxaceae Nonograph Number 13, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. i ciLuxdi Plafkin, J.L., M.T. Barbour, K.D. Porter, S.K. Gross, and R M Hughes. 1989. Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in' EPri4 0?J 89-oor^^ Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish. Prescott G.W. 1978. How to Know the Freshwater Algae. Third Edition. Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers, Dubuque, Iowa. Renfro H^B. and D.E Feray. 1972. Geological Highway Map of the Northern Rocky Mountain Region. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, Oklahoma. 11 Smith, G.M. 1950. the Fresh-Water Algae of The United States. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Stevenson, R.J., and L.L. Bahls. 1999. Periphyton Protocols. Chapter 6 in Barbour, M.T., J. Gerritsen, B.D. Snyder, and J.B. Stribling. Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish. Second Edition. EPA/841-B-99- 002. U.S. EPA, Office of Water, Washington, D.C. USDA. 1976. Climax Vegetation of Montana (map). U. S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Cartographic Unit, Portland. Whitford, L.A., and G.J. Schumacher. 1984. A Manual of Fresh- Water Algae (Revised) . Sparks Press, Raleigh, North Carolina. Whittaker, R.H. 1952. A study of summer foliage insect communities in the Great Smoky Mountains. Ecological Monographs 22:1-44. Woods, A.J., Omernik, J.M., Nesser, J. A., Shelden, J., and Azevedo, S.H. 1999. Ecoregions of Montana (color poster with map), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. 12 :! I I :£^_[!i.«!^^r 1. _. '4-"f - — r . ..\.-— ^ J"-^-q:v ^ X \ \i^ I 3: ■■■■:o /"-■■! ri l-i "^t ; ' . -,c:^^:--:..T:;- J- :/:?? v^:....^''C•'. .-.-.. — ^■■-•-N . ^"^-^^ M:\ ri J ■ -^^ V,.. mm^-^^'-t-%:k^^ r ^ .. a. < Table 1. Location of periphyton stations on Spring Creek sampled August 1, 2000: Station codes, sample numbers in the Montana Diatom Database, and latitudes and longitudes. Stations are listed in order from upstream to downstream. • Location Station Sample Lat .itude/ Code Number Longitude S-2 2006-01 47 51 57 N 112 14 27 W S-3 2007-01 47 50 05 N 112 11 41 W Spring Creek below U.S. Highway 8 9 Spring Creek above Choteau • • d o -H m U U) ro u (1) c , a c ■u ^ ■H OJ i^ 1-1 0 DTO (U c C jj m 0 c -H -H ~ 4-) w fO ^ e X5 m m U U 0) d -H u 4J t7)4-) >-l 0 CQ QJ iH Ck 0 n3 -H C U X3 rfl ■H iJ C QJ C 0) JJ 0 t7) rO S 0 3 a rH C 0 (0 -H )-l > -C (U w iJ a; c 0 3 fU 4J .-1 m tJ) -a > c (U •H W 4-1 to :3 0 03 Q) m (U U u Cn u ■H c c ^^ m •rH jj j-i OJ 0 £ - jJ (U C u QJ 0 a cn •H (U c OJ V-l 0 m 4-1 o QJ cn m QJ u C QJ Q) 4-1 QJ Pi U Q) 2 Q) cn Q) u QJ Q cn cn fC3 •H CQ a) > •H P tn 0) •H o 0) O4 cn a o Q) QJ QJ tn cn cn m m m QJ QJ QJ u ^ w u u u QJ c c Q M M -r 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 LD 1 0 0 m (Ti rH 0 0 1 0 1 0 I 0 0 0 0 § ^ X (0 Xi 1-1 o P4 OJ a o -H 4J nJ JJ r-i -H cn CTl M m ro ro 4j CTl CTl QJ cn cn H H Vh 3 cn cn 0 nH iH XI j:^ ^ U m m m PQ CQ m X 0) T3 (1) o (d 4J Dl ■H Q QJ QJ Q) QJ QJ QJ cn cn cn cn tn cn m m m n3 m CD QJ QJ Q) Q) QJ QJ w u u S-i u u u u u u u u QJ c c QJ QJ c Q h-t M Q Q M + o o rH I O cn cn t^ cn <-H tn rH m m OJ 4J a :3 o u m 0) -H u cn o 55 o o cn • cn cn cn tCJ ■u QJ s-i O XI u m CQ n (U -H CJ a) ft cn 4J n) •H 6 O Q 4J a o P4 + o o CN I o cn 4-) QJ m [14 tj 2 CQ a OJ o + o o CO I o in cn U QJ M fC 4J 4.) •H -H u (0 rH •H 6 •H cn + o o CO cn a\ cn H C m Cl< cS G o cn Q) > QJ 4J cn iH 0) rH n> (U 0) 0 0 (d rH X •H (t) 0) a H •0 3 X! 0 H 4J Pi -rl ^ 4J 4J a OJ o o o CTl cn cn H C Q) tn C n3 x; o to 0) rH -H J3 o. o u 0) rt! 4J fl 0) o 0) u ■H 4-) m x; QJ 6 o tn tn QJ cn m QJ U V c ^o; Q) >, QJ ? x: ""^ "d o ^ 4J S.B4 cn cn QJ >, tn m QJ > ■H tn -^ i cn ^ XJ O •-i (13 4J Sh QJ CQ I (D c rt3 XI XI TD 0) c cn •H cn cn ro tn QJ u C m Vh QJ o 4J c o •rH 4J o a, x: 4J o tn QJ -H U QJ tn tn tn QJ ■H QJ c o i o u u •H >H QJ 9 u c -c; O cn N u u ■H to QJ C QJ CD Q) x; CO Co •-i tn tn •H 4J •-I tn QJ ■q 4J o QJ tJ (TJ c; 3 XI to 4J Q) U Vh QJ >, S-l u 4J 1 1 0 fC 1 o •H rt cr, O CTl O CTl o S W 4J H 0 4J 0 tn C -H e • aJ 4-1 m 0 CTl O 0 Ch -^ • U 4J 4H -H > • V^ a ^ 4J m E 4J 0 f^ ^ 1 1 (ueo:mco4j cTio n m C 0 -H m II n -r-i ■^0 0 o\o rH 1 m -H w x; ■ 0 S w o o o o CTl CTl H OJ U 0 --H • • • M d 4J ^1 C rH o O rH H CTl CJ^ S^ 5h -H Vh 4J O 0 oV O g ;fl'4J4J03*^lHCT^ • g CQ m 4H 0 • O - ^ -H j:;4J0crifN)W m -H -H 0 .Q 0 a ^ u A V A J-) m • w C ■>-> m (U C3 C >, i-> ^0um4Jwx:in m e :3 o Ti XJ C W rs,EO0-Hm4JA--S-| ^;fOwpS0 00 C 0 -H 3 c m 0 1 1 0 e 4J 4-1 0 C -H o o cr> O CT CTl fj en en rH M 0 C7)rH 1. mm- en •• c 4H u m w U -H U • •H 0) -rH ^ H 0 in m CTl O -* ^ 0 > £ J-) m en m > rH U (1) 0 O ft (N (N ■. m o 0 0 0 xJ S E M-i n 14H -H 4J 1 1 .H 0 C 0 Tl T) -rl W ■H O SOU c cr, O CTl O CTl O j-;j-JC:3£>,0:d£tn S-H0X!mrHCn4J -H ^tn0mtnrH3cn --p s-i c -u tn 3 0 =3 (N . rH 4JiJ0)-l04Jm>-, ^'O0Cx:0X!CiH^H c; ^1 m 0 ■H o u ^ u .^5HXl0iJC 000 0,-H c 1.4J U 0OUrH> ^C>,5Hi::cnenm4H J] O 4J 0 O rH -r-i II .7] u -H a rH m T) Sh m X 1 1 m 13 jj .-1 XJ 0 o o cn O CTl a\ u w c m 5-1 r) • ■ •H 0 V-l 3 c in in CTl O ^ ^ p u (a r-i m m o\o .5Emo0-H>, rHo en OJ X! 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Ad tal pert Bahls 19 that oc 9.9% = s oderate 0 CTTJ 4-) CO iH m 0 0 4-> S C Cn-o u 0 1 1 C C 0 0 •H X o ■H O o o O ■H m rH c U 0 in o m m o in 4J 0 o 3 XI • • ■ m - w rH C CN (N tN H CN H <,m0iJ-HC^>,in£ n U en 0 in i O Cn4H E c 0 o - W CO >, rH M A V w Cn C O s-i 0 c m cu [ndex ite t he de sum o both viron commo recov ; 40. loras 0 ^ -H MH 4J CQ ^ >. -~ W 3 o 4-) c 1 1 m 4-1 •H X O cn o cr\ o a\ o •H M m w 0 C CTl o a\ O CTl o en 4J o c 0 4H s-i m c tj) i-i T3 c: ■ Lmilarity a study measures nd is the common t ries or e floras in irment or no Chang ssimilar 0 w m c 0 c m (N (N CN H rH H 4J 3 4J -H > t-i x: A V -H 4J C 4J •H CO 0) i-) m o m Q — 4J JJ U G ^ u 5h m 0 rH ^-^ 4J rH 0 U O Sh Sh u m >, c m w 4J r-i o a 0 0 U U 4J 0 iH D C rH c a T! > O m •H -H P :3\4J 0 3 4J •H 13 O rH 4J 0 a rr, 0 m cn m m ~-h ■' u o •H4-)Eaen'0 tD ^H C 4J CO 5h rH [X, iH 2 CO 2 m M CO a 0 O Ul-H m w o rH\ O \-H 0 \ 3 n, m -H en 3 0 E m ^ aJH 04JX14J-H SH4J r:^£4J4Jm-rHm om ■^ 0 0-Hx: SH-H4HrHx; r-{ rH 0 m S 0 D 0 0 a TJ rH >H 4J a U CO XI o 4J a u a oca O rH •H ^ a 0 c m •nee 5h JJ p X O 3 o :3 m m 3 O 0 Eh CQ M M O CO CO W S CO O fr, tH (X CO a- 2 rt u£cn4J4J'a04HS • >, u u J-1 1 1 0 fO 1 o ■rH _ CTi O rH -d in ^ LO CN n rs MCflQJU-HVHO-HCntJ) Q) U-l W ■H C A V -H x: QJ C -H E CO c e 0 Qj e M r^XlJJaQJQJro 11 re ^ H CO > x; >, ji: U 5 -H • •H m O CO tn jJ >H JJ QJ in o\o U m e r-l H J (0 x: QJ > QJ cr> -^ • U JJ 4H -H > ■ U a m iJ tT3 E 0) (U c p 1 1 QjEcomcojJ cno ■H ^ x: ■ 0) S CO o o o O CTl Ch n rtJ C QJ -H re II ro -n QJ 0 oV" H 1 rO jj E-i 0) U O H rH W J-) Sh C H o O H rH Ol CTl S, >H -H tH JJ O QJ o\o O E fflJJjJQ^iJJiHCn • p cn (C 4H 0 ■ O - ^ -H J:;JJQJC3^cNtn tC -H QJ J3 Q) A V A ij to • en C C c/i 0) -H C >i 4-) _^QJCJCOJJCO£:in rT3 e lo 0 TD J-) C CO 1 (sjEOQJ-HrOjJA --Sh C H -H 3 C (13 OJ o o cr\ O CTl a\ L^^fCJco^SQJ QJO O ftU 4J QJ C -H • • • n^ CO to H H QJ tJlH i-( m cQ U -H U in LO cr, O 'S' -:)< iJ fC tc5 - tj) ■■ C 4H •H 0) -H >H e QJ (N (N •=3' LD r- r- QJ >EJJfacon3 > i-H U (U QJ o a, V A l.x:E rc!c03QJX:>H C X) O £ a. 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W -H U rrJ T) o o en o a\ CTl rH OJ QJ U 1-1 G IT) Lfl U5 [> OD CO 01 m E -H H M V A > 3 V. ■H j,n30HX5iJcr,uco (u crx) u CO c an H < in H O QJ m E 4-1 n3 QJ 11 JJ u -rH E a CO jJ (0 rH m 0) QJ 4-) e C 1 1 tnx) u o un u) un in in in r; C 4H to • H rO o\o Sh 5^3o coHx:x:cr«Qj ^ QJ QJ ro (0 JJ • X) C C OJ QJ ■H >< (N r- cN CN r- CN ■H m H c JJ QJ • . • iJ 0) 0 3 X) rN H CN H H H CQJXlJJJJPQ CTiG (0 - CO H C A V ■ ,(OQjjj-rH!::^>iinE 1-1 CO >, rH M n U to QJ in 1 ^ O Cn4H E C 0) o - to tn c o W 0) C fO & Index ite t he de sum o both viron commo recov ; 40. loras 0 >-l -H it-l JJ CO i-l >. — CO :3 o i-1 c 1 1 rO 4-1 ■H X O a\ O CTl O CTv O ■H rH n3 CO QJ C CTv o cn O CTl O CO JJ 0 C 0) 4H 1-1 ro C C71 Vh X! C . s_ QJ jJ Q) C Sh (D oj 1-1 m c QJ c m n m m (N (N (M i-l 3 -U -rH > H Jli A V .t:x3QJJJCiH rO(0 •H JJ C -U ■H C/3 0) HsiH GOCOJJXIH ^JJ^COE (flCU-H ■^cocn-rHEtoiHQj E i-i rt 0 fO Q — 4J iJ u c s v^ i-l ITS QJ H ^^ JJ rH QJ )H O Sh ^1 JJ .H 13 0 0 O E 0 -H m >, c m m JJ rH o a QJ Q) U prOQJXIU-HHMCtn .5 e C Sh 4H -H to • U 4J QJ IH D C H a a X) > 0 ^ •H -H E :3\ JJ QJ d JJ -H :3 O H JJ QJ a rn QJ ro to rO rC --H •"iHU -HjjEatox) tn >H C JJ CO Vh H [14 ^H S C/3 ^ <^ u CO a (U 0 tJl-rH ro CO 0 H \ O ^^-H 0 \ 3 Q,(0-Htn 30E(C3 rH rH QJ fO 2; QJ p QJ Q) a XI rH M JJ a U m ^a^HQjjJxi-u-HSHjj plEJJJJrO-HrO OrO ■^ o Qj-Hx; SH-H4HHX: XI 0 JJ a. V^ 0 u C D4 0 rH ■H vh a o c -"l ■H a E in JJ 3 X 0 3 O 3 m m 3 o o B CQ H M O CO CO W S C/3 O P^ Cn a en & "Z - cjEcojjux304hS Table 5. Relative abundance of cells and rank by biovolume of diatoms and genera of non-diatom algae in periphyton samples collected from Spring Creek near Choteau, Montana on August 1, 2 000. « Taxa Relative Abundance and (Rank! S-2 S-3 Chlorophyta (green algae) Anki s trodeswus Bulbochaete Chaetophora Closterium Cosmarium Mi crospora Mougeotia Oedogonium Pediastruin Protoderma Scenedesmus Spirogyra Zygnema Chrysophyta (golden algae) Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) occasional (13) occasional (9) abundant ( 2 ) occasional (11) rare (15) common (7) freqxient (4) occasional (12) occasional (10) occasional (14) frequent (5) abundant (3) abundant ( 1 ) common (3^ occasional (7; common (2) rare (6) occasional (9) • abundant ( 1 ) Rhodophyta (red algae) Audouinella rare ( 8 ) Cyanophyta (cyanobacteria) ^ Calothrix Meri smopedia Rivularia occasional (8) common (6! occasional (5) common (4) Formerly known as blue-green algae • Table 6 . Percent abundance of major diatom species^ and values of selected diatom association metrics for periphyton samples collected from Spring Creek near Choteau, Montana on August 1, 2000. Species /Me trie (Pollution Tolerance Class) ^ Percent Abundance/Metric Values^ Mountain Criteria Plains Criteria"* S-2 S-3 S-2 S-3 Achnanthes hiasolettiana (3) Achnanthes minutissiwa (3) Cymbella microcephala (2) Diploneis oblongella (3) Fragilaria jbrevi striata (3) Fragilaria construens (3) Fragilaria leptostauron (3) Cells Counted Total Species Species Counted Species Diversity Percent Dominant Species Disturbance Index Pollution Index Siltation Index Percent Abnormal Cells Percent Epithemiaceae Similarity Index 3.69 6 61 10.71 50 91 9.56 3 08 0.12 5 92 11.64 2 05 19.70 2 39 8.18 2 16 434 439 62 59 59 52 4.28 3 34 19.70 50 .91 10.71 50 .91 2.70 2 .85 11.87 9 .34 0.00 0 .00 0.23 2 .28 3.34 50.91 50.91 32.56 ^ A major diatom species is here considered to be one that accounts for 5% or more of the cells in one or more samples of a sample set. ^ Underlined values indicate good biological integrity, minor impairment, and full support of aquatic life uses; bold values indicate fair biological integrity, moderate impairment, and partial support of aquatic life uses; all other values indicate excellent biological integrity, no impairment, and full support of aquatic life uses when compared to diatom criteria for mountain and plains streams in Tables 3 and 4. ^ 3 = sensitive to pollution; 2 = tolerant of pollution; 1 = most tolerant of pollution. ^ Only metric values that exceed diatom biocriteria for plains streams are shown. APPENDIX A: DIATOM PROPORTIONAL COUNTS Spring Creek below Highway 89 (S-2) 2/7/01 ■■"Sini|j3lt-"f """'"" Geftu^^ : r ■ T-7-r- ' "■■■:.'.;.!.;^J;!.m.aj.!.l PoiJutioriTofefaRce CfBeSs] WmSSM i iiPiiiW-H 200601 Achnanthes biasolettiana 3 32 3.69 200601 [Achnanthes laevis 3 1 0.12 200601 (Achnanthes lanceolata 2 7 0.81 200601 Achnanthes minutissima 3 93 10.71 200601 Amphipleura peilucida 2 5 0.58 200601 Annphora inariensis 3 2 0,23 200601 Amphora libyca 3 1 0.12 200601 Amphora montana 2 2 0.23 200601 Amphora pediculus 3 36 4.15 200601 Amphora thumensis 3 2 0.23 200601 Anomoeoneis vitrea 2 2 0.23 200601 Caloneis alpestris 3 2 0.23 200601 Cocconeis pediculus 3 2 0.23 200601 Cocconeis placentula 3 5 0.58 200601 Cymbella amphicephala 3 2 0.23 200601 Cymbella brehmii 3 3 0.35 200601 Cymbella cymbiformis 3 0 0.00 200601 Cymbella microcephala 2 83 9.56 200601 Cymbella silesiaca 2 5 0.58 200601 Dentlcula kuetzingii 3 1 0.12 200601 Diatoma moniliformis 2 19 2.19 200601 Diatoma vulgaris 3 2 0.23 200601 Diploneis oblongella 3 1 0.12 200601 Fragilaria brevistriata 3 101 11.64 200601 Fragilaria capucina 2 3 0.35 200601 Fragilaria construens 3 171 19.70 200601 Fragilaria lapponica 3 8 0.92 200601 Fragilaria leptostauron 3 71 8.18 200601 Fragilaria pinnata 3 41 4.72 200601 Fragilaria vaucheriae 2 0 0.00 200601 Gomphonema acuminatum 3 2 0.23 200601 Gomphonema pumilum 3 4 0.46 200601 Navicula acceptata 2 2 0.23 200601 Navicula capitatoradiata 2 5 0.58 200601 Navicula cryptotenella 2 9 1.04 200601 Navicula difficillima 3 2 0.23 200601 Navicula exilis 2 1 0.12 200601 Navicula gregaria 2 0 0.00 200601 Navicula minima 1 6 0.69 200601 Navicula radiosa 3 6 0.69 200601 Navicula reichardtiana 2 2 0.23 200601 Navicula subrotundata 3 2 0.23 200601 Navicula trivialis 2 1 0.12 200601 Navicula viridula 2 1 0.12 200601 Neidium ampliatum 3 1 0.12 200601 Nitzschia alpina 3 2 0.23 200601 Nitzschia angustata 2 3 0.35 Page 1 Spring Creek below Highway 89 (S-2) 2/7/01 iSan^Je Genus/Species/Vaflety ' PofertJOR Tc^farjce Cfess Cottn^ Percertt 200601 Nitzschia bacillum | 3i 3 0.35 200601 Nitzschia dissipata ! 3: 10 1.15 200601, Nitzschia fonticola 3, 5i 0.58 200601, Nitzschia gracilis ! 2\ 12! 1.38 200601 iNitzschia iacuum 3 6i 0.69 200601 Nitzschia linearis 2 10! 1.15 200601 Nitzschia palea 1 14 1.61 200601 Nitzschia sociabilis 2 l! 0.12 200601 Pinnularia microstauron 2 1 0.12 200601 Rhopalodia gibba 2i 1 0.12 200601 Synedra acus 2i 27 3.11 200601 Synedra nana 3 6 0.69 200601 ;Synedra parasitica 2 6l 0.69 200601 iSynedra rumpens 2 61 0.69 200601 Synedra ulna 2 8| 0.92 Page 2 Spring Creek above Choteau (S-3) 2/7/01 Sample [ Genus/SpeciesA/ariety Pot&ttion Totefance Cfees CtHint Percent 200701 Achnanthes biasolettiana 3 58 6.61 200701 jAchnanthes flexella 3 6 0.68 200701 Achnanthes laevis 3 3 0.34 200701 Achnanthes lanceolata 2 3 0.34 200701 [Achnanthes minutissima 3 447 50.91 200701 lAnnphipleura pellucida 2 3 0.34 200701 Amphora pediculus 3 0 0.00 200701 Caloneis bacillum 2 1 0.11 200701 iCocconeis pediculus 3 0 0.00 200701 Cocconeis ptacentula 3 9 1.03 200701 Cyclotella distinguenda 2 11 1.25 200701 Cymbella affinis 3 2 0.23 200701 Cymbella amphicephala 3 7 0.80 200701 Cymbella cesatii 3 11 1.25 200701 Cymbella cistula 3 0 0.00 200701 Cymbella cymbifomnis 3 3 0.34 200701 Cymbella hebridica 3 6 0.68 200701 Cymbella microcephala 2 27 3.08 200701 Cymbella silesiaca 2 10 1.14 200701 Denticula kuetzingii 3 18 2.05 200701 Denticula tenuis 3 2 0.23 200701 Diploneis oblongella 3 52 5.92 200701 Eunotia arcus 3 6 0.68 200701 Fragilaria brevistriata 3 18 2.05 200701 Fragilaria capucina 2 0 0.00 200701 Fragilaria construens 3 21 2.39 200701 Fragilaria lapponica 3 5 0.57 200701 Fragilaria leptostauron 3 19 2.16 200701 Fragilaria pinnata 3 1 0.11 200701 Gomphonema bohemicum 3 4 0.46 200701 Gomphonema parvulum 1 3 0.34 200701 Gyrosigma spencerii 2 1 0.11 200701 Navicula capitata 2 0 0.00 200701 Navicula cincta 1 1 0.11 200701 Navicula cryptocephala 3 1 0.11 200701 Navicula cryptotenella 2 6 0.68 200701 Navicula laevissima 3 18 2.05 200701 Navicula nipponica 3 4 0.46 200701 Navicula pelliculosa 1 4 0.46 200701 Navicula pupula 2 2 0.23 200701 Navicula radiosa 3 0 0.00 200701 Navicula reichardtiana 2 2 0.23 200701 Navicula tripunctata 3 1 0.11 200701 Navicula veneta 1 1 0.11 200701 Navicula w/ildii 2 8 0.91 200701 Nitzschia bacillum 3 9 1.03 200701 Nitzschia dissipata 3 11 1.25 Page 1 Spring Creek above Choteau (S-3) 2/7/01 ^Sample Genus/SpecJes/Vajlety PofKitibntbJeraMe Class Cottnt p«-<»m 200701 Nitzschia gracilis 2 21 0.23 200701 Nitzschia heufleriana 3 Oj 0.00 200701 Nitzschia linearis 2 7 0.80 200701 Nitzschia palea 1 1 0.11 200701 Nitzschia perminuta 3 1 0.11 200701 Nitzschia pura 2 2 0.23 200701 Nitzschia recta 3 1 0.11 200701 Reimeria sinuata 3 2 0.23 200701 Stauroneis smithii 2 1 0.11 200701 Synedra famelica 2 3 0.34 200701 Synedra rumpens 2 12 1.37 200701 Synedra tenera 2 10 1.14 « Page 2