'^^ ^j-:

'W^~ii

M^'^I.W.STATE LIBRARY

3 0864 0015 4548 5

BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF MILL CREEK, PINE CREEK, AND TOM MINER CREEK BASED ON THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE BENTHIC ALGAE COMMUNITY

Prepared for:

State of Montana Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 200901 Helena, Montana 59620-0901

Project Officer: Patrick Newby Monitoring and Data Management Bureau

DEQ Contract No. 200012-2

3TATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION

Prepared by:

Loren L. Bahls, Ph.D. Hannaea 1032 Twelfth Avenue Helena, Montana 59601

lAY 2 8 200Z

MONTANA STATE LIBRARY

1515 E. 6th AVE. HELErJA, MONTANA 59520

November 29, 2000

Printed on lOOt Reayoled Poa t - Con« inner Pmpar

SUMMARY

In July and August 2000, composite periphyton samples were collected from Mill Creek, Pine Creek, and Tom Miner Creek in the Paradise Valley south of Livingston for the purpose of assessing whether these streams are 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.

Mill Creek had a normal algal assemblage that indicated slight nutrient enrichment. Diatom association metrics at the Mill Creek site indicated minor impairment but full support of aquatic life uses (Table 5) . Slightly elevated percent dominant species and siltation indexes and a few abnormal diatom cells resulted in an overall rating of "good" biological integrity.

The algal flora in Pine Creek was sparse, both in terms of cell numbers and taxa richness. The dominant algal species here indicated very cold and very fast flowing waters, and very small concentrations of nutrients. The moderate stress indicated by the algal assemblage here was probably the consequence of naturally austere habitat conditions.

The algal assemblages at both sites in Tom Miner Creek indicated moderate impairment and partial support of aquatic life uses. The leading cause of this impairment was siltation. Both sites also had somewhat depressed pollution indexes, indicating minor organic enrichment. A few abnormal diatom cells were also found at each site. The two sites on Tom Miner Creek had nearly 80% of their diatom assemblages in common, indicating that they were virtually identical in their chemical, physical, and biological characteristics.

INTRODUCTION

This report evaluates the biological integrity, support of aquatic life uses, and probable causes of impairment to those uses in Mill Creek, Pine Creek, and Tom Miner Creek, which are tributaries of the upper Yellowstone River between Livingston and Gardiner, Montana. The purpose of this report is to provide information that will help the State of Montana determine whether these streams are 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 four sites that were sampled in July and August 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 gi'owth 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

^ 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) .

with a slippery brown film.

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 southern Park County in southcentral Montana. Mill Creek and Pine Creek are east side tributaries of the Yellowstone River that drain the Absaroka Mountain Range (maximum elevation 11,206 feet) south of Livingston. Pine Creek is a short (ca. 8 mi . ) , high gradient second-order stream that begins at Pine Creek Lake in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area. Much of the upper watershed is unroaded. Mill Creek is a longer (ca. 22 mi.), third-order stream with a road running along most of its length.

Tom Miner Creek enters the Yellowstone River from the west about 16 miles north of Gardiner, Montana. The headwaters of Tom Miner Creek are in the Gallatin Range (max. elevation 10,992 feet) just north of Yellowstone National Park. Tom Miner Creek is a third order stream about 15 miles long with a road running parallel to the stream along most of its length.

All three creeks head in the Middle Rockies Ecoregion of North America; the very lowest reaches of these streams pass through the Montana Valley and Foothill Prairies Ecoregion (Woods et al . 1999) . The surface geology of the watersheds consists mainly of volcanic rocks of Tertiary age and undifferentiated metamorphic rocks of Precambrian age (Renfro and Feray 1972) . Vegetation is alpine tundra at the highest elevations, mixed

conifer forest at intermediate elevations, and mixed grassland at lower elevations (USDA 1976) .

Periphyton samples were collected at one site each on Mill Creek and Pine Creek in late July 2000 (Map 1, Table 1) . Both sites are located at an elevation of about 5,500 feet. Samples were collected at two sites on Tom Miner Creek in mid August 2000 (Map 2, Table 1) . The elevation of both sampling sites on Tom Miner Creek is about 5,000 feet.

Mill Creek, Pine Creek, and Tom Miner Creek are all classified B-1 in the Montana Surface Water Quality Standards.

METHODS

Periphyton samples were collected by Patrick Newby of the 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 in Bahls (1993) . Soft algae were identified using Dillard (1999), Prescott (1978), Smith (1950) , and Whit ford and Schumacher (1984) . These books also served as references on the ecology of the soft algae, along with Palmer (1977) .

After Che 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 400 and 423 diatom cells (800 to 846 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 tor the diatoms.

Tne diatom proportional counts were used to generate an 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 Mill Creek, Pine Creek, and Tom Miner Creek were compared to numeric biocriteria or threshold values developed for streams in the Rocky Mountain Ecoregions of Montana (Table 3) . 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 Table 3 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., 1994-01. The first part of this number (1994) designates the sampling site (Pine Creek Station 1) ; the second part of this number (01) designates the number of periphyton samples that have been collected at this site to date 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 Hannaea 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 4 and 5, 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

Mill Creek Station 1. In addition to vegetative cells, many zoospores of Ulothrix were also present.

i

Pine Creek Station 1. This sample was very sparse. The most abundant diatoms were species of Gomphonema .

Tom Miner Creek Station 1. The Cladophora in this sample was sparsely branched and resembled Rhizocloniwn .

Tom Miner Creek Station 2. Mosses dominated this sample. The Cladophora in this sample was sparsely branched and resembled Rhizoclonium .

NON-DIATOM ALGAE

The periphyton sample from Mill Creek was dominated by Ulothrix zonata, a filamentous green alga, and by diatoms; cyanobacteria were rare (Table 4) . Ulothrix zonata is commonly found in cold, rapidly flowing streams that are somewhat enriched with nutrients .

The sample from Pine Creek contained chrysophytes and cyanobacteria, but no green algae (Table 4) . Only two genera of non-diatom algae were observed. Algal assemblages with few taxa and a small number of cells are typical of very cold mountain streams with steep gradients and low nutrient concentrations. Hydrurus foetidus , a cold-water chrysophyte, ranked first in biovolume and diatoms ranked second; cyanobacteria {Phormidium sp.) ranked third at this station.

Samples from both sites on Tom Miner Creek contained a mix of green algae, diatoms, and cyanobacteria (Table 4) . Diatoms were the most abundant algae at both sites, followed by the green filamentous alga Cladophora. In addition, both sites contained the red alga Audouinella. Euglena, an indicator of organic enrichment, was rare at the upstream site (Station 1) . The algal assemblages in Tom Miner Creek indicate a moderate level of

8

enrichment

DIATOMS

Diatom association metrics at the Mill Creek site indicated minor impairment but full support of aquatic life uses (Table 5) . Slightly elevated percent dominant species and siltation indexes and a few abnormal diatom cells resulted in an overall rating of "good" biological integrity.

The diatom association in Mill Creek was dominated by Hannaea arcus (Table 5) . This species is common in mountain streams and large cold lakes in northern latitudes. It tolerates some nutrient enrichment but is sensitive to pollution from sewage. Because of the elevated numbers of Hannaea arcus here, the percent dominant species index sightly exceeded the threshold for minor impairment. Since this species may be found in large numbers in relatively pristine waters, its dominance in Mill Creek may not be due to cultural enrichment.

The sample from Pine Creek was dominated by Gomphonema olivaceoides (Table 5) . This is a cosmopolitan cold water species that often dominates the diatom assemblages of mountain streams. In Montana, it is particularly abundant in streams draining the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains (unpublished data) . Its dominance in Pine Creek, along with a small number of diatom taxa and a low diversity index, probably indicates natural stress due to cold water, fast currents, and low nutrients.

The siltation index at both sites on Tom Miner Creek indicated moderate impairment. and only partial support of aquatic life uses (Table 5) . Both sites supported a large number of diatoms in the genera Navicula and Nitzschia. These are motile diatoms that are adapted to living on aggrading substrates.

Both sites on Tom Miner Creek had somewhat depressed pollution indexes (Table 5), indicating minor organic enrichment A few abnormal diatom cells were also found at each site. The two sites on Tom Miner Creek had nearly 80% of their diatom assemblages in common, indicating that they were very similar chemically, physically, and biologically.

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., Bob Bukahtis, 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 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.

10

.)»

Kratnmer, 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.

Krammer, K., and H. Lange-Bertalot. 1991a. Bacillariophyceae, Part 2, Volume 3: Centrales, Fragilariaceae, Eunotiaceae. In Ettl, H., J. Gerloff, H. Heynig, and D. Mollenhauer (eds.), Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, Stuttgart.

Krammer, K., and H. Lange-Bertalot. 1991b. Bacillariophyceae, Part 2, Volume 4: Achnanthaceae, Critical Supplement to Navicula (Lineolatae) and Gomphonewa , Complete List of Literature for Volumes 1-4. In Ettl, H., G. Gartner, J. Gerloff, H. Heynig, and D. Mollenhauer (eds.). Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, Stuttgart.

Lange-Bertalot, Horst . 1979. Pollution tolerance of diatoms as a criterion for water quality estimation. Nova Hedwigia 64:285-304.

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 by mine drainage. Jour, of Freshwater Ecology 12 (1) : 141-149 .

Palmer, CM. 1977. Algae and Water Pollution: An Illustrated Manual on the Identification, Significance, and Control of Algae in Water Supplies and in Polluted Water. EPA-600/9-77-036.

Patrick, Ruth, and C.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, Epithemiaceae. Nonograph Number 13, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.

Plafkin, J.L., M.T. Barbour, K.D. Porter, S.K. Gross, and R.M. Hughes. 1989. Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Rivers and Streams: Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish. EPA 440-4-89-001.

11

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.

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

(^

5 o

o

d

II

s

1

CO II

s

CO

c «) E <i>

N O

m

(fi

m

' ..-*;.'- .-'-

r-^

x^

...''-\J;

^m,'

"-'im

-r~^ Jl^ AN

' Xy /-yi .

^•^>^v\ \ •: w ^.^-N

CO

to

Ol

tn in II

3

o>

CM

O)

o

II

o (0

LT

C

^

Table 1. Location of periphyton stations on Mill Creek, Pine Creek, and Tom Miner Creek: Station codes, sample numbers in the Montana Diatom Database, latitudes and longitudes, and sample dates. Stations are listed in order from upstream to downstream.

Location	Station	Sample	Latitude/	Sample
	Code	Number	Longitude	Date
Tom Miner Creek	Station 1	1996-01	45	11	46	08/17/00
at canyon mouth			110	55	07
Tom Miner Creek	Station 2	1997-01	45	12	01	08/17/00
at mouth			110	54	09
Mill Creek	Station 1	1995-01	45 110	20 35	10 13	07/20/00
Pine Creek	Station 1	1994-01	45 110	30 31	01 46	07/27/00

{%

^

c o

J-)

m u 0)

■H

c

OS

J-)

c o 2 -a fc

•H U 4J 0) fO

>, a c

-H 0

Cn-O QJ C

4J (0

o

o

C -H

H ~ iJ

HEX! n3 m M U 0

■H

en 4J O w

o

•H

4J

3

i-l 0)

u

(U

JJ rO

3

(0 -H >

(u w

0) O 3

4.)

c

C 0 O tn 2 O

a c o

H ^

ij a

re

m en > c

•H 4-1 CO

o m

0)

w (U s-i

u tJI u -H c c ^ n3 -H

(U o

B -4-1

0) C U 0)

o a

-H OJ

to (u a

-H 4-1 W U 0) 0) O M V-i

w w m

0

m o

u

•H

JJ 0)

E

e e

O 05

jJ (U

•H JJ 4-1

D W O

M

0

OJ

c o

0)

et;

T3 (U

jj u

0) X

w

0)

>

4-J

o

0 en C rC

0 U

0 S-i 0 4-1 0 Di

U ■H >-l JJ 0

2

XI H

0 w rO 0 ^^ U 0 Q

+ o o

LD

I

O

o

r-l

w

rH

Xi

4J ■H

n M

>

-H Q

01

0)

■H O 0) P<

CO

o 111

CO

0	0	0
w	m	M
(0	m	fO
0	0	0
5-1	u	u
U	u	u
0	C	c
Q	M	M

	+	o
O	o	.
O		o
•	o	o
ro	<y\	H
O	o	1 o
o	o	o

(U

•o

d o

•H

o

X

0)

-d

H

a o

-H 4J (0 ■U rH •H CO

CTi CTi

		M
		m
m	n	•u
CTl	en	OJ
CTi	CTl
rH	rH	3
W	w	o
iH	iH	XI
^	x:	^^
fC	m	fC
PQ	m	PQ

X 0)

-d

0)

o n)

IQ -H P

0	0	0	0	0	0
w	w	CO	to	en	CO
m	m	m	ro	ru	ro
0	0	0	0	0	0
u	^^	M	in	U	U
u	u	u	U	u	u
0	C	c	0	0	d
Q	M	M	Q	Q	M

+ o o

(Ti

CTl

CO

rH

x;

rC

0) 4J

o u

n 0)

-H

o p<

CO

o

o o

r O

m

CTl CTl CTl

ro

-u <U

U

1=1

o

X! ^^ (0 PQ

n

a)

•H

o

(U Pi CO

4J

a

■H

6 o o

■u 0)

o u a)

P4

+

o rsj

CTl

fO

4J

ro

rH

Sh ro

U 2

CQ

(U U

(d

o

4J

a

0)

o u

0)

+

o

o CO

LD CTl

Sh

0

rO jJ jJ ■H

x;

X

0)

JJ

•H

rH -H

6

-H CO

+

o

o CO

I

o

Ch

ro

0)

m

o Id

•H

4J -H P<

4J

a (1) o u (1)

04

o o

CTl

o	C
en	0
C	CO
0	C
>	ro
0	X3
JJ	0
U}	t-D

CQ 0) rH -H ,a Qa O

0) 4J

a

0)

o

0)

5h ^0

rH

rO Sh

jJ (0 C

jJ rO

x:

0 e o tn

0 en

ro 0

C 0

•H iH JJ

c

■H

en 0 en ro 0 Jh U

ro

5 Q

en

jj 0 Cn x; '-'

u

en

Sh O "^ JJ

u 0

en

"3 ,

>i

JJ

■H

en 5h 0 >

■H 73

O

c

ro

x: in

a en 0 Sh

JJ	T3
0	G
rH	rO
ro
JJ	^
U	ro
0	••H
m	^
1	O
0	CO
en	N
C	■u
rO	"J^
.J	is;

X!

T! 0

en

■H

en en ro

en 0 u

ro S-i 0

rH

O JJ

0

0

O

ro M

O

••H >

ro Sh 0

0

en

0

x: JJ

en

ro

CO

ro

•■H CO

en

■•H

■u

3

en QJ x; ■u

q res

4H

o

0 u a

ro T) C

XI

ro

a 0 u

0

04

fi0

	>,						w
1-1	i->		1	1			O (0 1
G	-H ^	<T\	O Oi	o	<T\	o	S W JJ rH QJ JJ QJ en c -H e •
JJ H-l	to QJ	a\	o cr\	o	(J\	o	O -H C 3 6 O QJ
C O ■!->	rH n	LD	^ Ln	CN	n	fS	]it/JQ)U-HiHO-HCQCn
0) u	•H a	A				V	■^-HXlQJC-HgW C
= m 0)	e M						T-iXlJJaQJQJfO II to S H w > ^ >, x:
-1 e s	-H
■rH (T5 O	O)						^ JJ iHJJa)VH<AoU
m 0) rH	rH						^ to x; QJ > QJ CT^ -^ • U JJ IJH -H > • iH
a i-l	JJ to
6 4J 0)	^ 1		1	1			niEcQfOGGJJ cr>0
-H m jc; •	0 in w	O	o o	O	en	en	n to C! tt) -H (0 II rrn ■^ QJ O o\o rH 1 fO
H (D	U O M	■	•		•
iH a -u	iH C rH	o	O rH	rH	en	en	^iH-HiHJJO0oV>Og ^jjjJOd>^iHen •
fO -H -H	(D X3 QJ a 2 U		A V			A
4J nj • en						p U) fC MH O • O - ■^ -H x^JJQJencNW
C -U w
QJ C C >i	JJ						QjuwjJWxiLn fO
e ;3 O T!	JJ C W						roEO0-HffljJ A --iH
C 0 -H id	a fO 0		1	1			Lj^fOWdSQJ 0)0
0 6 JJ J->	0) C -H	o	O (T\	O	en	en	fj M W rH rH Q) tjlrH
>-i tC W	U -rH U		.				Ij to (0 - Cn •• C iw
■H 0) -H	iH 6 (U	LD	m (Ti	o	I*	^	QJ >gjJ(Ocnro
> rH U 0)	(u o a	(N	(N 'J'	in	r-	[^	u -^ B lOtodOJXJiH
C X3 O ^	Oi Q C/3	V				A	n, jJOQ)QJ CnjJUiO
0) m w 4J							^ JJ U iH QJ -H rH '^CfOi::jJ>OKl}H-H rjo-HfOWfOJJ eg
0) w
-T) n3 >-i	in w T)
>, to o	0) (U 0)						7] TJ -a x; >, c -H
JJ S g M-l	XI 14H -H JJ		1	1			.;: QJ a Q) tj -a -h cq
■H O	E O u C	CT,	O CTl	o	en	O	^jJ!:!dg>iQJdgM ^-HQJXJfOrHWJJ -H C-MQJ(OWrHdW -T)
i-l C -U CD	3 0) 13	OJ	(N CN	H	rH	H
tn-H m c	s a 0	A				V
0) -H -H	C/3 U						S to CQ
U 4J TD •!-)							.^rH JJjJaiiHQJjJtO>, n'OQJiUXlQJXlCiHiH
G u m	0
•H O U W	u						.L^iHXlQJjJC Q)OQ)
Dj-h	c						Cj-1 U QJOUrH> ^i::>iiHCCnwiO«4H "^ O JJ QJ O rH -r-i II .H O -H a rH to TD iH
r-l OiSi .H	to X		1	1
fO d -1-1 -H	Xi Q)	O	O (Ti	O	en	en
u w c; m	U TJ	.	•	.		•
•rH Q) U	:i a	LD	in CTl	o	>*	rf	p iH tn rH to to o\o .5gfCOQJ-H>, rHO
tn QJ i2 0)	JJ M	(N	(N "*	if)	r~-	:^
0 en >	CO	V				A	rnfOrHSrHSlOa-rH • QJ-HJJMH gOJgO
.H 13 )-l O	-H
0 o	Q						.^i-lg itH- QJ-HCN rvjj-HQj-HtnwSwv
-H OJ l)-! 0)
J3 4-1 x;
•H W iJ	C						Commun: ired up ristic er of t jacent urbatio 93) . P curs be omewhat change ;
<W rH U	o		1	1
O -H W	-H X	O	O CTl	o	cn	en
U ^^ -H	JJ QJ		■	.	.
to -H iJ	to n	o	O CTv	o	a\	<Ti
M iJ (1) U	JJ c	rsi	rsi n	^	in	in
<U n3 e -H	rH M	V				A
> 3 ^1	-H						jjfCOrHT3JJenuw ■? arH rH < iH H O 0 m g 4H fO 0 II JJ ri-H g a w JJ (0
0) Wt3 j->	w
iH fO 0) 0)
■u B	c
tDX) U	o		1	1			r. C '^-^ W ■ rH ro o\o iH
c a 0) 0)	-H X	o	H O	o	o	o	a, dO WrHj3£:cn0 ^ 0 0 (0 (0 JJ • Tl '^C0^JJJJPQ OiO
-H fO r-l C	JJ QJ	in	O ID	in	o	in
4J QJ O	13 T3		•	.	.
(0 - W	rH a	(N	CM (N	H	CN	H	j,fO0jJ-H!::^>iLng
^ W >i	rH M	A				V	n ^ w Q) iH 1 ^ O tJ)MH g C 0 o ~
m en C	o
>-i Qj a m	Ch						Endex ite t he de sum o both viron commo recov ; 40. loras
O ^^ -H
M-l JJ W >-l	>, -s
W d O	JJ a		1	1
(0 14-1	-H ><; o	CTl	O CTl	O	en	o
•H H fO	M 0) c	en	O CTl	o	en	o	M JJ o a 0 t-i
sh to a CD	iH 'o c:				.		S-. 0 JJ 0 a iH tn
QJ S-i fU C	QJ a to	CN	CN CN	rH	H	H
4J d 4J -rH	> M ^	A				V	."i^'a0jJ5::iH (Oto
-rH OJ C 4-1	■H W			QJ			Liar; stu asur is ommo es o oras ment o ch imil
iH rO 0 to	Q —		4J	JJ
U C S iH			U	(0		Q)
	rH ^. iJ rH Q)		u o	5h		iH JJ
	(0 >, c to w	JJ rH	o a	QJ		Q) U	p:fC0'C)O-HrHiHCm .5 EC iH <JH -H w
•	U AJ Q) iH D	a M	c a	T)		> O
n	•H -H g d "^ JJ	0) 3 JJ	•H 3	O rH JJ	Q) a	rn 0 to W to to --H "^^u -Hjjgawo
	Cn iH S iJ W iH	rH fc ^H	s w	2	to iH	w a
<D	O Cn-H (Owe	rH\ O			•H O	\ d	(,, to -H W d o g to ^aiH0JJXlJ-l-HiHJJ EgJJJJtO-HfO Oto ■^ O 0-H^ ^-HUHrH^:^
rH	rH QJ (0 S Q) D	Q) QJ a	T) rH	U	JJ Dj	iH t/3
X!	o JJ a u Q	u c a	O rH	•H	u a	o c
to	-H C 6 iH JJ 3	X o :i	O 3	(0	to d	O 0
Eh	CQ M M O (/) W	w s w	O ClH	u,	Oj W	ft s	^ UgMjJjJT30H-lS

0^

^

«

Table 4. Relative abundance of cells and rank by biovolume of diatoms and genera of non-diatom algae in periphyton samples collected from Mill Creek, Pine Creek, and Tom Miner Creek in the summer of 2000.

■ Relative Abundance^ and (Rank) Taxa Mill Creek Pine Creek Tom Miner Creek

Station 1 Station 1 Station 1 Station 2

Chlorophyta (green algae)

Cladophora f (2) a (2)

Closterium o (6) c (3)

Ulothrix d(l) f(3) o(5)

Euglenophyta

Euglena r (7)

Chrysophyta (golden algae)

Diatoms a(2) o(2) a(l) a(l)

Hydrurus c (1)

Rhodophyta

Audouinella c (5) c (4)

Cyanophyta ( cyanobacteria) ^ Amphithrix r (3)

Anahaena r (4) o (6)

Phormidium o (3) f (4)

^ d = dominant; a = abundant; f = frequent; c = common; o = occasional; r = rare

Formerly known as blue-green algae.

Table 5. Percent abundance of major diatom species^ and values of selected diatom association metrics for periphyton samples collected from Mill Creek, Pine Creek, and Tom Miner Creek in the summer of 2000.

2

Species/Metric Percent Abundance/Metric Values

;Pollution Tolerance Class) ^

Mill Cr. Pine Cr . Tom Miner Cr.

Sta. 1 Sta. 1 Sta. 1 Sta. 2

Achnanthes minutissirna (3) 5.36 13.38 5.76 6.26

CyTnjbella silesiaca (2) 8.60 0.25 1.32 1.06

Fragilaria construens (3) 6.48 2.40 2.25

Fragilaria vaucheriae (2) 3.87 12.11 10.76

Gomphonema angustatum (2) 0.87 11.00 0.24 0.35

Gomphonema olivaceoid.es (3) 5.49 62.25 2.40 2.72

Hannaea arcus (3) 28.30 3.25 1.80 0.71

Navicula cryptotenella (2) 1.50 0.50 7.31 6.50

Nitzschia dissipata (3) 1.75 20.98 15.37

Nitzschia paleacea (2) 7.61 5.16 1.89

Cells Counted 401 400 417 423

Total Species 52 25 65 69

Species Counted 47 25 54 62

Species Diversity 4.12 2 .08 4.50 4.80

Percent Dominant Species 28 .30 62.25 20.98 15.37

Disturbance Index 5.36 13.38 5.76 6.26

Pollution Index 2.65 2.86 2 .42 2 .41

Siltation Index 22.44 2.25 54.93 50.50

Percent Abnormal Cells 0 .62 0.00 0 . 60 0 . 59

Percent Epithemiaceae 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Similarity Index 21.84 78.86

^ 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 criteria for mountain streams in Table 3 .

^ 3 = sensitive to pollution; 2 = tolerant of pollution; 1 = most tolerant of pollution.

APPENDIX A: DIATOM PROPORTIONAL COUNTS

r

r

Mill Creek Station 1

11/28/00

Sample

Q<Miug;re»p0cie$/V|i!r«ty

PoHution ToSefaitce Ctos& Count

P««em

_199501Achnanthes lanceoJata.

J99501Achnanlhes minulissima_ _1 99501. Amphora pedicuLus^

199501.Cocconeis placentula^ _1995Ql!cymbellaj:iymbifomnis

iOl|Cymbella minuta

19950JjCymbella siiesiaca

1 99501 piatoma anceps

1 99501 Diatoma hiemale

JL995Q 1 Diatoma mesodon

199501 Diatoma vulgaris

jLOaSDlpragilaria brevislriata.

199501 Fragilaria construens

,19950 IjEragil aria JeptQStauroiL 199501 Fragilaria pinnata

199501 Fragilaria vaucheriae

.29.

Al.

A&.

_6a.

.52.

JU

Jl

JL62

.^.35

jiaz

,2^4

JL12

JL25

-SLfiQ

JL12

A25

Am

JLQQ

JLfiZ

6.48

1 37

AA2

JLSZ

199501 Gomphoneis minuta

0.12

1 99501. Gomphonema angustatum

1 99501 iGomphonema clevei

DliG omphoaema kobayasii

199501 Gomphonema minutum

2.

AA.

JIM

JL12

JLI5

^.32

199501 iGomphonema olivaceoides

AA-

.5.49

199501 iGomphonema olivaceum

JLaZ

iOI ^Gomphonema parvulum

199501|Hannaea a reus

1 99501 iHantzschia amphioxys

.221.

JL25

_2a^

QJIQ

199501

Meridion circulare

1 99501 [Navicula capitatoradiata

JLjL2

199M1 bJavicula crypto cfiphala_ 1 995QltlavLcula.cryptotenella_ 199501 [Navicula gregaria 199501

JL12

Navicula menisculus

Jl2_

JL5Q

JL5Q

JLQQ

JL25

199501

Navicula minima

0.75

199501

Navicula minuscula

0.75

1995Q1

Navicula novaesiberica

_1995Q1 Navicula^ pupula_ J.9950U

Navicula reichardtiana

JL25

JLQQ

0.25

199501

Navicula tripunctata

0 12

19950HNitzschia bacillum

Ldissipata. 9.95QJlNitz£chiaionticQia_ JL995Q.1

Nitzschia hantzschiana

JL4.

0.00

JLZ5

050

0.25

199501

Nitzschia inconspicua

A&.

JZ2A

199501

Nitzschia linearis

0.12

199501 Nitzschia palea

jL99501,NitzscJiia paleacea

99501 [Nitzschia perminuta J1995Q1 JL995Q1

MlzscMa4iura_

Reimeiia^imiata,

199501 Rhoicosphenia curvata

JL995M Synedra rumpens 199501 Svnedra ulna

31

Aft.

-2Q.

.25.

JL5Q

J131

JLaZ

0-62

2.49

3.12

JL25

JL251

Page 1

Pine Creek Station 1

11/28/00

Sample	Genus/SpeciesA/arieiy	Poitution Tolefance Ctos	Count	Percent
1 99401 [Achnanthes bioretii	3	4	0.50
199401	Achnanthes lanceolata	2	2	0.25
199401	Achnanthes minutissima	3	107	13 38
199401	Amphora inariensis	3	2	0.25
199401	Amphora pedicuius	3	2	0.25
199401	Cocconeis placentula	3	9	1.13
199401	Cymbella affmis	3	3	0.38
199401	Cymbella cymbiformis	3	2	0.25
199401	Cymbella minuta	2	2	0.25
199401	Cvmbella silesiaca	2	2	0.25
199401	Diatoma hiemale	3	2	0.25
199401	Diatoma mesodon	3	8	1.00
199401	Fragilaria leptostauron	3	2	0.25
199401	Gomphonema angustatum	2	88	11.00
199401	Gomphonema kobayasii	3	6	0.75
199401	Gomphonema minutum	3	2	0.25
199401	Gomphonema olivaceoides	3	498	62.25
199401	Gomphonema parvulum	1	7	0.88
199401	Gomphonema subtile	3	4	0.50
199401	Hannaea arcus	3	26	3.25
199401	Meridion circulare	3	4	0.50
199401	Navicula cryptotenella	2	4	0.50
199401	Navicula radiosa	3	2	0.25
199401	Navicula sp.	2	2	0.25
199401	Reimeria sinuata	3	10	1.25

Page 1

Tom Miner Creek Station 1

11/28/00

Sample [ Genua/SpeclesAAariety	Pollution Tolerance CfaBS	Count	Percent
1 99601 Achnanthes lanceolata	2	25	3.00
199601 Achnanthes lapidosa	3	0	0.00
199601 [Achnanthes minutissima	3	48	5.76
199601	Amphora inariensis	3	0	0.00
199601	Aulacoseira crenulata	3	1	0.12
199601	Cocconeis pediculus	3	1	0.12
199601	Cocconeis placentula	3	15	1.80
199601	Cymbella silesiaca	2	11	1.32
199601	Diatoma mesodon	3	2	0.24
199601	Diploneis oblongeila	3	1	0.12
199601	Eunotia sp.	3	11	1.32
199601	Fragilaria capucina	2	18	2.16
199601	Fragilaria construens	3	20	2.40
199601	Fragilaria lapponica	3	1	0.12
199601	Fragilaria leptostauron	3	1	0.12
199601	Fragilaria pinnata	3	0	0.00
199601	Fragilaria vaucheriae	2	101	12.11
199601	Frustulia vulgaris	2	0	0.00
199601	Gomphoneis eriense	3	7	0.84
199601	Gomphoneis minuta	3	2	0.24
199601	Gomphonema angustatum	2	2	0.24
199601	Gomphonema minutiforme	3	6	0.72
199601	Gomphonema minutum	3	4	0.48
199601 Gomphonema olivaceoides	3	20	2.40
199601 Gomphonema olivaceum	3	0	0.00
199601	Gomphonema parvulum	1	3	0.36
199601	Hannaea arcus	3	15	1.80
199601	Melosira varians	2	17	2.04
199601	Meridion circulare	3	1	0.12
199601	Navicula acceptata	2	4	0.48
199601	Navicula capitatoradiata	2	12	1.44
199601	Navicula contenta	2	5	0.60
199601	Navicula cryptocephala	3	2	0.24
199601	Navicula cryptotenella	2	61	7.31
199601	Navicula exigua	2	2	0.24
199601	Navicula exilis	2	1	0.12
199601	Navicula gregaria	2	1	0.12
199601	Navicula lanceolata	2	4	0.48
199601	Navicula libonensis	2	0	0.00
199601	Navicula menisculus	2	5	0.60
199601	Navicula minima	1	15	1.80
199601	Navicula minuscula	1	2	0.24
199601	Navicula novaesiberica	2	0	0.00
199601	Navicula sp.	2	3	0.36
199601	Navicula tripunctata	3	12	1.44
199601	Nitzschia archibaldii	2	4	0.48
199601	Nitzschia bacillum	3	1	0.12

Page 1

Tom Miner Creek Station 1

11/28/00

Sample	Oenus/Sp6<bieafVteiiet¥	:;ll0llUti0l!fe:lGli&M^	;.::.;;eQil*li::::::	,v..:vP^ent„:„„
199601 Nitzschia dissipata	3	175	20.98
199601	Nitzschia fonticola	3	7	0.84
199601	Nitzschia frustulum	2	4	0.48
199601	Nitzschia gracilis	2	0	0.00
199601	Nitzschia heufleriana	3	0	0.00
199601	Nitzschia inconspicua	2	27	3.24
199601	Nitzschia linearis	2	26	3.12
199601	Nitzschia palea	1	22	2.64
199601	Nitzschia paleacea	2	43	5.16
199601	Nitzschia perminuta	3	5	0.60
199601	Pinnularia borealis	2	0	0.00
199601	Reimeria sinuata	3	5	0.60
199601	Rhoicosphenia curvata	3	33	3.96
199601	Rhopalodia gibba	2	0	0.00
199601	Surirelia minuta	2	10	1.20
199601	Synedra parasitica	2	2	0.24
199601	Synedra rumpens	2	4	0.48
199601	Synedra ulna	2	4	0.48

Page 2

Tom Miner Creek Station 2

11/28/00

Sample	Genus/SpeciesA/ariettf	Pollution Toierance Cktss	Count	Percetrt
1 99701 y^chnanthes lanceolata	2	32	3.78
199701 Achnanthes lapidosa	3	2	0.24
1 99701, Achnanthes minutissima	3	53	6.26
199701	Annphora pediculus	3	5	0.59
199701	Auiacoseira italica	3	5	0.59
199701	Cocconeis pediculus	3	33	3.90
199701	Cocconeis placentula	3	15	1.77
199701	Cymbella silesiaca	2	9	1.06
199701	Diatoma hiemale	3	3	0.35
199701	Diatoma mesodon	3	3	0.35
199701	Fragilaria capucina	2	22	2.60
199701	Fragilaria construens	3	19	2.25
199701	Fragilaria lapponica	3	0	0.00
199701	Fragilaria leptostauron	3	1	0.12
199701 Fragilaria pinnata	3	2	0.24
199701 Fragilaria vaucheriae	2	91	10.76
199701	Frustulia vulgaris	2	0	0.00
199701	Gomphoneis eriense	3	10	1.18
199701	Gomphoneis minuta	3	2	0.24
199701	Gomphonema angustatum	2	3	0.35
199701 Gomphonema kobayasii	3	12	1.42
199701 Gomphonema minutiforme	3	2	0.24
199701	Gomphonema minutum	3	4	0.47
199701	Gomphonema olivaceoides	3	23	2.72
199701	Gomphonema parvulum	1	3	0.35
199701	Gomphonema pumilum	3	4	0.47
199701	Hannaea arcus	3	6	0.71
199701	Melosira varians	2	25	2.96
199701	Meridion circulare	3	1	0.12
199701 Navicula accomoda	1	0	0.00
199701 Navicula capitatoradiata	2	20	2.36
199701	Navicula caterva	2	2	0.24
199701	Navicula cincta	1	0	0.00
199701	Navicula cryptocephala	3	1	0.12
199701	Navicula cryptotenella	2	55	6.50
199701	Navicula lanceolata	2	3	0.35
199701	Navicula libonensis	2	1	0.12
199701	Navicula menisculus	2	8	0.95
199701	Navicula minima	1	8	0.95
199701	Navicula minuscula	1	5	0.59
199701	Navicula mutica	2	2	0.24
199701	Navicula novaesiberica	2	2	0.24
199701	Navicula pelliculosa	1	6	0.71
199701	Navicula reichardtiana	2	2	0.24
199701	Navicula sp.	2	0	0.00
199701	Navicula tripunctata	3	13	1.54
199701	Navicula veneta	1	1	0.12

Page 1

Tom Miner Creek Station 2

11/28/00

Sample	Genus/SpeciesA/^ariety	PolCtition Tolerance Class	Count	Percent
199701 Nitzschia alpina	3	3	0.35
199701	Nitzschia archibaidii	2	1	0.12
199701	Nitzschia dissipata	3	130	15.37
199701	Nitzschia fonticola	3	7	0.83
199701	Nitzschia heufleriana	3	4	0.47
199701	Nitzschia incognita	2	0	0.00
199701	Nitzschia inconspicua	2	35	4.14
199701	Nitzschia lacuum	3	2	0.24
199701	Nitzschia linearis	2	4^	4.96
199701	Nitzschia palea	1	28	3.31
199701	Nitzschia paieacea	2	16	1.89
199701	Nitzschia perminuta	3	1	0.12
199701	Pinnularia sp.	3	1	0.12
199701	Reimeria sinuata	3	12	1.42
199701	Rhoicosphenia curvata	3	24	2.84
199701	Rhopalodia gibba	2	0	0.00
199701	Simonsenia delognei	2	1	0.12
199701	Surirella angusta	1	2	0.24
199701	Surirelia linearis	3	1	0.12
199701	Surirella minuta	2	14	1.65
199701	Synedra rumpens	2	' 2	0.24
199701	Synedra ulna	2	1	0.12

Page 2

•

\