Missouri Water Science Center
By: David C. Heimann and Suzanne R. Femmer, U.S. Geological Survey
This report presents the results of a study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from December 1995 through May 1997 to describe the water quality, hydrologic, and invertebrate characteristics of three remnant wetlands. These data may be used to help develop selected water-quality standards for wetlands in Missouri. Wetlands monitored in this study include Spile Lake, Vernon County; Little Bean Marsh, Platte County; and Forker Oxbow, Linn County, Missouri.
Extremes in physicochemical properties in these wetlands were greatly affected by thermal stratification, hydrologic fluctuations, biological activity, and ice formation. The wetlands had dissolved-oxygen concentrations below the 5-milligrams-per-liter State water-quality standard from 40 to 60 percent of a selected 1-year period, corresponding to periods of thermal stratification. Hydrologic fluctuations were common as the water-surface elevation changes in these systems ranged up to 12 feet during the course of the study. Photosynthesis and respiration are likely causes of diurnal fluctuations in pH and dissolved oxygen throughout the study period, but particularly in the summer months. Periods of ice formation were short lived in the wetlands, but corresponded with maximum values of specific conductance and dissolved oxygen in all three systems.
Analyses of invertebrate results using the Jaccard Coefficient of Community Similarity indicated mixed results. Woody snag sample results showed little similarities between sites, while sweep net sample results indicated similarities existed. Most of the families detected at these sites are considered organic tolerant as indicated by the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index. Analysis of the dominant taxon indicates that one or two invertebrate families that are tolerant to organic enrichment generally dominate the wetlands.
The hydrologic, water quality, and invertebrate information analyzed in this study indicate that while there are similarities among wetlands, these are unique systems. The statistical comparisons between water-quality constituents in wetlands and streams indicate dissimilarities are common. Including the presence of thermal stratification in these wetlands, the exclusions and modifications in State standards that are applied to lakes and reservoirs also may be applicable.
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Previous Investigations
Study Site Location and Description
Acknowledgements
Methods
Water Quality
Statistical Analyses
Hydrology
Invertebrates
Hydrologic Characteristics
Water-Surface Elevation
Bathymetry, Area, and Storage
Hydraulic Residence Time
Water-Quality Characteristics
Physicochemical Properties
Specific Conductance
pH
Water Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
Turbidity
Nutrients
Statistical Comparison of Physicochemical Properties and Nutrient Concentrations Between Wetlands and Streams
Wetland Response During Hydrologic and Seasonal Extremes
Hydrologic Extremes
Seasonal Extremes
Invertebrate Community Characteristics
Summary
References Cited
1.—4. Maps showing:
1. Location of three study wetlands and natural divisions of Missouri
2. Location of sampling site in Spile Lake near Horton, Missouri, and vicinity
3. Location of sampling site in Little Bean Marsh near Bean Lake, Missouri, and vicinity
4. Location of sampling site in Forker Oxbow near Fountain Grove, Missouri, and vicinity
5. Photographs showing site characteristics of Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow in Missouri
6. Photograph showing retrieval of multi-parameter water-quality sensor and protective case at Spile Lake, January 1996
7. Graphs showing temporal variability in water-surface elevations in Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
8.—10. Maps showing:
8. Bathymetry of Spile Lake near Horton, Missouri
9. Bathymetry of Little Bean Marsh near Bean Lake, Missouri
10. Bathymetry of Forker Oxbow near Fountain Grove, Missouri
11.—30. Graphs showing:
11. Temporal variability in wetland wetted-surface area at Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
12. Temporal variability in wetland storage in Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
13. Distributions of specific conductance, pH, near-surface and near-bottom water temperatures, and dissolved oxygen in Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
14. Median daily specific conductance at Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
15. Maximum and minimum daily pH values at Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
16. Maximum daily near-surface and near-bottom water temperatures for Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
17. Maximum and minimum daily dissolved-oxygen concentrations at Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
18. Cumulative time frequency distribution of dissolved-oxygen concentrations at Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow for period of record and selected one-year period
19. Distribution of selected nutrients in Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
20. Temporal variability of physicochemical properties and stage at Spile Lake during a February 20–28, 1997, flood event from adjacent Little Osage and Marmaton Rivers
21. Temporal variability of physicochemical properties and stage at Little Bean Marsh during an April 10–15, 1997, rainfall-runoff event
22. Temporal variability of physicochemical properties and stage at Forker Oxbow during a May 25–30, 1997, flood event from adjacent Locust Creek
23. Temporal variability of physicochemical properties and stage at Spile Lake during a summer low-stage period
24. Temporal variability of physicochemical properties and stage at Spile Lake during a winter low-stage period
25. Temporal variation in normalized invertebrate abundance data for Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
26. Variability by sampling method of normalized invertebrate abundance data for Spile Lake, Little Bean Marsh, and Forker Oxbow
27. Contribution percentage by three dominant invertebrate taxon by sampling method and sample period
28. Number of families represented in invertebrate snag and sweep samples by site and sample period
29. Taxonomic distribution of invertebrate data for August 1996 snag samples
30. Taxonomic distribution of invertebrate data for August 1996 sweep samples
| Conversion Factors and Datum | ||
|---|---|---|
| Multiply | By | To obtain |
| Length | ||
| inch (in.) | 2.54 |
centimeter |
| inch (in) | 25.4 | millimeter |
| foot (ft) | 0.3048 | meter |
| mile (mi) | 1.609 | kilometer |
| Area | ||
| acre | 4,047 | square meter (m2) |
| acre | 0.4047 | hectare |
| acre | 0.4047 | square hectometer |
| acre | 0.004047 | square kilometer |
| square foot (ft2) | 0.09290 | square meter |
| square mile (mi2) | 259.0 | hectare |
| Volume | ||
| cubic foot (ft3) | 28.32 | cubic liter |
| cubic foot (ft3) | 0.02832 | cubic meter |
| acre-foot (acre-ft) | 1,233 | cubic meter |
| acre-foot (acre-ft) | 0.001233 | cubic hectometer |
| gallon (gal) | 4.20 | liters |
| Flow rate | ||
| cubic foot per second (ft3/s) | 0.02832 | cubic meter per second |
| Mass | ||
| ounce, avoirdupois (oz) | 28.35 | gram |
| pound, avoirdupois (lb) | 0.4356 | kilogram |
| Density | ||
| pound per cubic foot (lb/ft3) | 16.02 | kilogram per cubic meter |
| pound per cubic foot (lb/ft3) | 0.01602 | gram per cubic centimeter |
Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit
(°F) as follows:
°
F = (1.8 x °C) + 32
Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius
(°C) as follows:
°
C = (°F - 32) / 1.8
Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929)—a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929.
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For more information about USGS activities in Missouri contact:
Director
U.S. Geological Survey
Missouri Water Science Center
1400 Independence Road
Rolla, Missouri 65401
Telephone: (573) 308-3667
Fax: (573) 308-3645
or access the USGS Missouri Water Science Center home page at: http://mo.water.usgs.gov/.
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