RiverNET: Additional Diagnostics

RiverNET is in its fifth year on the Upper Yellowstone River. We are grateful for the tremendous community support and input we’ve received to make this program effective for the community. This summer we are adding several additional diagnostics to help create a more comprehensive and nuanced picture of the health of the Upper Yellowstone Watershed. Many of the additional diagnostics we will be measuring are biological indicators of watershed health. We hope that this information will translate into more effective conservation outcomes for our water resources Read up on the additional diagnostics we will be monitoring below. We cannot do these important surveys without community support - click here to donate to RiverNET.

Algae Monitoring:

Eutrophication covers the surface of a water body with slimy, green algae. Image Source: Square Space

Algae monitoring is a very important diagnostic to monitor for watershed health as algae blooms can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. This diagnostic is closely linked to our existing water quality monitoring as we measure nutrient levels in our samples. Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus occur naturally, but often enter aquatic environments in excess amounts due to human activities such as fertilizer use, discharges from wastewater, and livestock waste. When surplus amounts of nutrients accumulate in water bodies, a process known as eutrophication can occur. This is when a large algae bloom occurs, covering the water surface with a green scum. Algae blooms block sunlight from entering the water bodies, deplete the dissolved oxygen in the water, and can even release toxins, which are harmful to humans and aquatic life. We plan to monitor algae growth on the Upper Yellowstone River with protocols adopted from the Environmental Protection Agency to help ensure algae blooms don’t damage our pristine aquatic ecosystems in the GYE.

Trout Population Surveys - Redd Counts:

Spawning bull trout in Lolo NF. The gravel stream bed provides a prime location for trout to create their Redd. Image Source: https://www.hatchmag.com/articles/spawning-trout-101/7715210

One of the most exciting diagnostics we plan to add to our monitoring efforts with RiverNET are trout spawning bed surveys, also known as Redd Counts. During spawning, salmonoids, such as trout, create a nest in stream bed by excavating the gravel. These nests are known as “redds”and are where the female trout deposit their eggs to be fertilized by the males. Documenting the location and number of redds in a watershed is a popular method of data collection by conservation groups and agencies. Redd counts provide valuable data that is crucial for gaining insight into trout populations and reproductive efforts, prioritizing stream restoration projects, monitoring the effectiveness of past restoration efforts, and tracking fisheries response to climate events. Additionally, these surveys are very beneficial for the community as they help volunteers to gain a better understanding of their local watersheds and aquatic life. We plan to implement Redd Counts on the Upper Yellowstone Watershed using protocols adapted from Trout Unlimited and to engage the community with volunteer opportunities!

Streambank Characterization & Riparian Vegetation Surveys:

Diagram of riparian area and common types of vegetation observed. Image Source: https://www.tvwatershed.org/riparian-zone-information

Streambank characteristics and riparian vegetation are key factors that contribute to the health of streams. The characteristics of a stream’s banks and channel affect the natural flow of a stream, the input of sediment into the water, the floodplain, and the types of habitat available for aquatic life. Impairments to a streambanks include active downcutting, erosion, high banks, and some man-made channel modifications. A riparian area is the interface between a stream and the land it passes through. These areas are characterized by hydrophilic (water loving) plants known as riparian vegetation. Riparian vegetation provides numerous benefits for aquatic ecosystems including maintaining cool water temperatures, providing a barrier to prevent pollutants from entering the stream, contributing large woody debris to create fish habitat, and dissipating the energy from floods. Riparian areas can be threatened by livestock grazing, other agricultural activities, and human developments. We intend to monitor and document stream bank characteristics and riparian vegetation on tributaries throughout the Upper Yellowstone Watershed using stream condition survey protocols adopted from the NRCS. Additionally, we plan to use aerial drone imagery and tensor flow models to identify and map riparian vegetation remotely. We believe this will provide necessary data for future restoration efforts and document any changing conditions in the watershed.

Riverine Mammal Biodiversity Surveys:

Beaver swimming. Image Source: Square Space

We intend to begin to monitor mammal biodiversity throughout the watershed by recording signs of beavers and ungulates throughout riparian areas. Beavers are a notable important riverine mammal as they play a key part in maintaining the health of our rivers. The dams beaver build on streams slow down streamflow from snowmelt and precipitation events. This allows water to be “stored” in underground aquifers as groundwater. This stored groundwater is essential to maintain base flows in streams during late summer and fall when snowpacks are depleted. Key indicators of beaver activity in an area include beaver slides, cuttings, and dams. We plan to record any signs of beaver activity we observe in the field by utilizing our new mobile app, which will allow us to enter qualitative data, take pictures, and mark the location of observations. On the other hand, ungulates (hoofed mammals) can affect stream health and riparian areas negatively by overgrazing the vegetation in the riparian area. Decreased vegetation along streams can lead to destabilized stream banks, erosion, and increased sediment transport. We plan to monitor activity of both wild and domesticated ungulates through riparian areas by recording signs such as scat and tracks with our mobile app.

Riparian Songbirds:

YERC field tech observes songbirds in Yellowstone National Park. Image Source: YERC

Riparian areas are key habitats for songbirds such as Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, and Orchard Orioles. The hydrophilic (water loving) plants that live in riparian areas such as cottonwood trees and willows which provide nesting sites for birds and aquatic organisms provide reliable food sources, making these areas perfect habitats. Declining natural riparian areas leads to significant habitat loss for songbirds, negatively affecting bird populations. YERC has previously completed riparian songbird surveys in Yellowstone National Park and Paradise Valley. We plan to continue to conduct these surveys as part of our RiverNET and LandNET programs. We believe that our songbird monitoring data will be important for planning future riparian area restoration projects and be a strong indicator of overall ecosystem health.

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Surveys :

Stonefly nymph, a macroinvertebrate indicating high water quality. Image source: https://www.nps.gov/articles/aquatic-macroinvertebrates-introduction.htm

Macroinvertebrates are the aquatic larval stages of insects and small animals that live in the bottom of streams and are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. Common macroinvertebrates include stonefly, caddis, and mayfly larva, snails, worms, and beetles. They are often found under rocks in the streambed, attached to woody debris, and burrowed in sediments. Macroinvertebrates are often used as biological indicators of stream health as they are easy to identify and react to human disturbances in predictable ways. Some macroinvertebrates such as stonefly and mayfly nymphs are only found in very clean waters, while others such as maggots are more tolerant to pollutants. By surveying the types of macroinvertebrates living in a water body, researchers are able to determine the relative quality of the water. We plan to survey macroinvertebrates throughout the tributaries in the Upper Yellowstone River by using a method known as kick sampling. To collect macros with this method, researchers use their boots to agitate the stream bottom and a net to collect any organisms that are disturbed. Collected macroinvertebrates are then identified and released back into the water. We will also be using our mobile app to record the types of macros we identify and the locations the organisms are found.