An official website of the United States government
Understanding aquatic habitat and water resource responses to rapid and ongoing changes in both climate and land-use provide the basis for monitoring physical processes in ten streams and their watersheds in the northeastern portion of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). Streams selected for monitoring were originally based on planned development in their upstream catchments and to represent reference (undeveloped) conditions. Monitoring periods for each station (up to 12 years) vary according to adaptive management of water resources in response to broader NPR-A management planning as well as alignment with proposed and ongoing monitoring efforts in Arctic Alaska. Stream discharge and water temperature data provide basic information to characterize physical regimes and variability among drainage units with respect to flood hazards, responses to land and permafrost dynamics, and connectivity and suitability of habitat for fish and other aquatic organism. Evaluating potential impacts of petroleum development primarily in the from lake water extraction, roads, and oil drilling and transport infrastructure are also an intended use of the data and reason for maintaining these monitoring stations. These data also support basic scientific studies of several National Science Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife funded projects to characterize and understand the Arctic system. Data collection was primarily supported by the Bureau of Land Management.
more »
« less
Stream discharge and temperature records for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (2009-2022)
Understanding aquatic habitat and water resource responses to rapid and ongoing changes in both climate and land-use provide the basis for monitoring physical processes in ten streams and their watersheds in the northeastern portion of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). Streams selected for monitoring were originally based on planned development in their upstream catchments and to represent reference (undeveloped) conditions. Monitoring periods for each station (up to 15 years) vary according to adaptive management of water resources in response to broader NPR-A management planning as well as alignment with proposed and ongoing monitoring efforts in Arctic Alaska. Stream discharge and water temperature data provide basic information to characterize physical regimes and variability among drainage units with respect to flood hazards, responses to land and permafrost dynamics, and connectivity and suitability of habitat for fish and other aquatic organism. Evaluating potential impacts of petroleum development primarily in the from lake water extraction, roads, and oil drilling and transport infrastructure are also an intended use of the data and reason for maintaining these monitoring stations. These data also support basic scientific studies of several National Science Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife funded projects to characterize and understand the Arctic system. Data collection was primarily supported by the Bureau of Land Management.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1806213
- PAR ID:
- 10473689
- Publisher / Repository:
- NSF Arctic Data Center
- Date Published:
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- streams discharge water temperature Arctic Alaska hydrology
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
This set of eleven lakes located in the Fish Creek Watershed in northern Alaska have been monitored for varying periods of time starting as early as 2011 as part of the Fish Creek Watershed Observatory (http://www.fishcreekwatershed.org/) and in coordination with several NSF supported projects. Lakes were primarily selected for long-term monitoring because of interest in water supply for industrial activities and corresponding ecosystem services along with dynamics related to climate change and variability. These data include basic lake attributes of water surface elevation and water temperature at the lake bed of interest to studies of water balance, aquatic habitat, and permafrost stability. In some cases, additional data or studies have been completed on some of these lakes which are reported separately in other datasets or scientific papers or reports.more » « less
-
Linking permafrost to the abundance, biomass, and energy density of fish in Arctic headwater streamsAbstract Permafrost thaw alters groundwater flow, river hydrology, stream‐catchment interactions, and the availability of carbon and nutrients in headwater streams. The impact of permafrost on watershed hydrology and biogeochemistry of headwater streams has been demonstrated, but there is little understanding of how permafrost influences fish in these ecosystems. We examined relations among permafrost characteristics, the resulting changes in water temperature, stream hydrology (e.g., discharge flashiness), and macroinvertebrates, with the abundance, biomass, and energy density of juvenile Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) and Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) across 10 headwater streams in northwestern Alaska. Macroinvertebrate density was driven by concentrations of dissolved carbon and nutrients supporting stream food webs. Dolly Varden abundance was primarily related to water temperature with fewer fish in warmer streams, whereas Dolly Varden energy density decreased with the flashiness of the headwater streams. Dolly Varden biomass was related to both temperature and bottom‐up food web effects. The energy density of Arctic Grayling decreased with warmer temperatures and discharge flashiness. These relations demonstrate the importance of terrestrial–aquatic connections in permafrost landscapes and indicate the complexity of landscape effects on fish. Because permafrost thaw is one of the most impactful changes occurring as the Arctic warms, an improved understanding of how stream temperature, hydrology, and bottom‐up food web processes influence fish populations can aid forecasting of future conditions across the Arctic.more » « less
-
Historically characterized by pristine streams that support robust populations of Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, and chum salmon, the southern slopes of the Brooks Range provide valuable economic and subsistence resources for local communities. However, since 2019, dozens of formerly clear-running streams have turned turbid and orange with iron precipitates. Seeps have been identified in the tundra and in upland rock formations. Limited data show very low pH in seep water (less than 3.0), downslope vegetation mortality, and dramatic declines in juvenile fish abundance in affected headwaters. The causes of this rapidly spreading degradation of pristine streams remains unknown. The proliferation of turbid orange streams west of the Dalton Highway ( greater than 30 since 2019) is a threat to wilderness characteristics, drinking water, subsistence resource availability, and a growing commercial salmon fishery in northwest Alaska. With many terrestrial and aquatic species dependent upon the seasonal influx of salmon, the loss of fish habitat could induce ecosystem collapse, despite the protections afforded by a vast network of National Parks and Preserves. The degradation of formerly pristine streams is occurring at such a rapid pace that we may soon lose the opportunity to compare affected with nearby unaffected streams. This comparison is essential to develop the mechanistic, causal understanding that would allow us to predict which streams will turn next and the threats to downstream villages. The community of Kiana, for instance, sits at the confluence of the Squirrel and Kobuk Rivers. At least two streams in the Squirrel watershed have turned since 2020, while two large tributaries of the Kobuk turned in 2019. The Squirrel and large Kobuk tributaries, like the Salmon River, produce much of the fish harvested by Kiana residents. This dataset includes field measurements of pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen and turbidity, along with laboratory measurements of metal concentrations in acidified water samples from tundra seeps, tributaries and rivers in the western Brooks Range. The watersheds that were sampled include Timber Creek, Tukpahlearik Creek, Salmon River, Kallarichuk River, Kobuk River and Devil's Lake, which is the drinking water source for the village of Kotzebue, Alaska.more » « less
-
Beavers build dams that change the way water moves between streams, lakes, and the land. In Alaska, beavers are moving north from the forests into the Arctic tundra. When beavers build dams in the Arctic, they cause frozen soil, called permafrost, to thaw. Scientists are studying how beavers and the thawing of permafrost are impacting streams and rivers in Alaska’s national parks. For example, permafrost thaw from beavers can add harmful substances like mercury to streams. Mercury can be taken up by stream food webs, including fish, which then become unhealthy to eat. Permafrost thaw can also move carbon (from dead plants) to beaver ponds. When this carbon decomposes, it can be released from beaver ponds into the air as greenhouse gases, which cause Earth’s climate to warm. Scientists are trying to keep up with these busy beavers to better understand how they are changing Arctic landscapes and Earth’s climate.more » « less
