Inventory project as-delivered dataset

The Cameron Peak Fire and East Troublesome Fire of 2020 were the two largest wildfires in Colorado history. They burned approximately 9% of the Rocky Mountain National Park, raising a concern for trout populations that currently support recreational fishing and success of on-going and future efforts to conserve native trout populations. In this study, we surveyed habitat characteristics and biological communities at 19 sites in summer of 2021 and a subset of 11 sites in summer of 2022 to characterize wildfire impacts on aquatic resources. We were primarily interested in trout population structure and abundance, which were compared to available pre-fire data. In addition, we collected information on physical habitat, water quality, algae and benthic macroinvertebrates because wildfire effects are complex and this array of data helps assist identifying ecological mechanisms that affect aquatic top predators (i.e., trout). The greenback cutthroat trout is listed as state and federally threatened and is the Colorado State Fish. The Colorado River cutthroat trout is a state species of concern and two distinct lineages occur in the burned areas of ROMO. Quantifying wildfire effects on stream ecosystems and trout populations is needed for ROMO to decide whether (1) ongoing conservation actions should continue including the Poudre Headwaters Project, (2) recreational fishing should be regulated, and (3) waters should require trout stocking or will naturally recover via trout immigration from connected populations. For more information see the report here: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2304877

The Cameron Peak Fire and East Troublesome Fire of 2020 were the two largest wildfires in Colorado history. They burned approximately 9% of the Rocky Mountain National Park, raising a concern for trout populations that currently support recreational fishing and success of on-going and future efforts to conserve native trout populations. In this study, we surveyed habitat characteristics and biological communities at 19 sites in summer of 2021 and a subset of 11 sites in summer of 2022 to characterize wildfire impacts on aquatic resources. We were primarily interested in trout population structure and abundance, which were compared to available pre-fire data. In addition, we collected information on physical habitat, water quality, algae and benthic macroinvertebrates because wildfire effects are complex and this array of data helps assist identifying ecological mechanisms that affect aquatic top predators (i.e., trout). The greenback cutthroat trout is listed as state and federally threatened and is the Colorado State Fish. The Colorado River cutthroat trout is a state species of concern and two distinct lineages occur in the burned areas of ROMO. Quantifying wildfire effects on stream ecosystems and trout populations is needed for ROMO to decide whether (1) ongoing conservation actions should continue including the Poudre Headwaters Project, (2) recreational fishing should be regulated, and (3) waters should require trout stocking or will naturally recover via trout immigration from connected populations. For more information see the report here: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2304877

Inventory project as-delivered dataset

Inventory project as-delivered dataset

The Cameron Peak Fire and East Troublesome Fire of 2020 were the two largest wildfires in Colorado history. They burned approximately 9% of the Rocky Mountain National Park, raising a concern for trout populations that currently support recreational fishing and success of on-going and future efforts to conserve native trout populations. In this study, we surveyed habitat characteristics and biological communities at 19 sites in summer of 2021 and a subset of 11 sites in summer of 2022 to characterize wildfire impacts on aquatic resources. We were primarily interested in trout population structure and abundance, which were compared to available pre-fire data. In addition, we collected information on physical habitat, water quality, algae and benthic macroinvertebrates because wildfire effects are complex and this array of data helps assist identifying ecological mechanisms that affect aquatic top predators (i.e., trout). The greenback cutthroat trout is listed as state and federally threatened and is the Colorado State Fish. The Colorado River cutthroat trout is a state species of concern and two distinct lineages occur in the burned areas of ROMO. Quantifying wildfire effects on stream ecosystems and trout populations is needed for ROMO to decide whether (1) ongoing conservation actions should continue including the Poudre Headwaters Project, (2) recreational fishing should be regulated, and (3) waters should require trout stocking or will naturally recover via trout immigration from connected populations.For more information see the report here: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2304877

These data were used for an analysis as part of a long-term project monitoring the biological communities, habitat, and water quality of the Fountain Creek Basin. Biology, habitat, and water quality data have been collected at 10 sites starting in 2003. These data include annual samples of aquatic invertebrate communities, fish communities, water quality, and quantitative riverine habitat collected from 2003-2016. These data will provide insight into trends in biological communities from 2003-2016 and relationships between biological communities and abiotic variables (antecedent streamflow, physical habitat, and water quality). This USGS data release contains all the input and output data and files necessary to reproduce results of the report describing an analysis of ecological trends from 2003-2016 in the Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado, USA (https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175162). Data preparation of these data files is fully described in the report mentioned previously. These data are used for a two-step analysis of trends in biological communities and the abiotic drivers of these trends. All files with a _1 suffix are used for the analysis of streamflow drivers of trends in these biological communities. All files with a _2 suffix contain data from unexplained trends after the first analysis and are used for an analysis exploring if these trends are explained by water quality or habitat characteristics.

These data were used for an analysis as part of a long-term project monitoring the biological communities, habitat, and water quality of the Fountain Creek Basin. Biology, habitat, and water quality data have been collected at 10 sites starting in 2003. These data include annual samples of aquatic invertebrate communities, fish communities, water quality, and quantitative riverine habitat collected from 2003-2016. These data will provide insight into trends in biological communities from 2003-2016 and relationships between biological communities and abiotic variables (antecedent streamflow, physical habitat, and water quality). This USGS data release contains all the input and output data and files necessary to reproduce results of the report describing an analysis of ecological trends from 2003-2016 in the Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado, USA (https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175162). Data preparation of these data files is fully described in the report mentioned previously. These data are used for a two-step analysis of trends in biological communities and the abiotic drivers of these trends. All files with a _1 suffix are used for the analysis of streamflow drivers of trends in these biological communities. All files with a _2 suffix contain data from unexplained trends after the first analysis and are used for an analysis exploring if these trends are explained by water quality or habitat characteristics.

These data were used for an analysis as part of a long-term project monitoring the biological communities, habitat, and water quality of the Fountain Creek Basin. Biology, habitat, and water quality data have been collected at 10 sites starting in 2003. These data include annual samples of aquatic invertebrate communities, fish communities, water quality, and quantitative riverine habitat collected from 2003-2016. These data will provide insight into trends in biological communities from 2003-2016 and relationships between biological communities and abiotic variables (antecedent streamflow, physical habitat, and water quality).

Inventory project as-delivered dataset