Data deliverables for stream surveys, 2013-2019

The Southwest Alaska Network (SWAN) monitors freshwater systems in five national park units: Alagnak Wild River (ALAG), Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve (ANIA), Katmai National Park and Preserve (KATM), Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ), and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (LACL). The metadata included in this file supplement water quality data from vertical lake profiles taken between 2008 and 2023 in KATM, LACL, and KEFJ. Vertical lake profile sampling was initiated in high priority “Tier 1” lakes in LACL in 2008 and expanded to other parks and lakes in subsequent years. At present, there are 105 total sites. Of the 31 Tier 1 sites in LACL, there are ten sites in each of three basins of Lake Clark and one on Kijik Lake. Of the 41 Tier 1 sites in KATM, there are ten sites at each of four basins of Naknek Lake and one on Lake Brooks. There are 33 lower priority “Tier 2” sites: 15 in LACL, 16 in KATM, and two in KEFJ. Tier 1 lakes are sampled annually in LACL and KATM, while Tier 2 lakes are sampled less frequently on a rotating basis. Vertical lake profiles are taken during the mid-summer index period when thermal stratification is most pronounced. Profiles are conducted using a water quality meter (or “sonde”) that simultaneously records multiple parameters: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, and, beginning in 2014, turbidity. Sampling is conducted at 15 depth categories to a maximum depth of 50 m. Specifically, data are recorded at every meter from 0 to 5 m depth, and then at 5 m increments between 5 m and 50 m or the lake bottom, whichever is reached first. This method creates a vertical profile of each water quality parameter at each site. Additional measures of water clarity via Secchi disk are made in conjunction with each vertical lake profile. Other metadata include specifics about personnel, location, timing, equipment, and weather. The vertical lake profile data that accompany the metadata in this file can be accessed and downloaded from the public AQUARIUS Water Data Portal (https://irma.nps.gov/aqwebportal/).

This data release documents the data used for the associated publication "Evaluating hydrologic region assignment techniques for ungaged watersheds in Alaska, USA" (Barnhart and others, 2022) The data sets within this release are stored in 14 files: (1) Streamflow observations and sites used. (2) Statistically estimated streamflow values computed for each site. (3) Streamflow statistics computed from observed and estimated streamflow values at each site, basin characteristics for each site, and hydrologic regions (clusters) for each site. (4) A dataset describing the optimal number of hydrologic regions into which the considered sites were grouped. (5) P-values from a multiple comparisons analysis testing for statistical differences between clusters for each basin characteristic and streamflow statistic. (6) A matrix of zeros and ones describing the performance of each hydrologic region assignment technique considered in the publication associated with this release. (7) A dataset of variable importance generated by random forest modeling-based hydrologic region assignment techniques evaluated. (8-14) Daily datasets of simulated SnowModel (Liston and Elder, 2006) runoff (snowmelt + rainfall), precipitation, glacial melt, snow water equivalent, snow covered area, liquid precipitation, and air temperature for Alaska, USA at a 1 km grid cell size.

This data set is a comma-separated values (CSV) file containing continuous hourly water quality observations of the Indian River in Sitka National Historical Park for monitoring years 2010-2022. The core parameters collected are water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity, obtained from multiparameter sondes during the ice-free season. Using the Aquarius Time-Series application, data have been quality controlled, graded against formal criteria specified in the protocol (SOP 7, Data Evaluation and Grading in Aquarius), drift corrected where appropriate, and certified for publication. The data set (CSV) and associated metadata are zipped into a site-specific archive (ZIP file), identified as the FQ_Q deliverable in the water quality protocol.

This data set is a comma-separated values (CSV) file containing continuous hourly water quality observations of the Salmon River in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve for monitoring years 2010-2024. The core parameters collected are water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity, obtained from multiparameter sondes during the ice-free season. Using the Aquarius Time-Series application, data have been quality controlled, graded against formal criteria specified in the protocol (SOP 7, Data Evaluation and Grading in Aquarius), drift corrected where appropriate, and certified for publication. The data set (CSV) and associated metadata are zipped into a site-specific archive (ZIP file), identified as the FQ_Q deliverable in the water quality protocol.

The National Park Service’s Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network (ARCN) encompasses five park units in northwestern Alaska: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park (GAAR), and Noatak National Preserve. Tasked with providing scientific information for Park decision-making, ARCN identified fish as a key vital sign for ecological monitoring because fish play an essential role in these park ecosystems — they are a primary food source for Indigenous communities living in and near the region, they occupy critical positions within aquatic food webs, and they often serve as top predators in lakes and streams. Moreover, fish are highly susceptible to climate change, which poses a significant threat to Arctic ecosystems worldwide. Despite their ecological and cultural importance, limited data exist on fish populations within the Arctic Network. To address this gap, the dataset described here provides baseline information on fish in GAAR, consisting of capture data collected from the Noatak River in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve between July 15 and 26, 2005 (Bowden et al., 2005). Key words Fish, Alaska, Gates of the Arctic, Noatak,Arctic grayling,Lake trout,Nine-spine stickleback,Northern pike,Round whitefish,Spiny sculpin,Anorat Creek,Kipmik Lake,Komakak Creek,Kugrak Spring,Lake Matcharak,Nushralutak Creek,Oyukak Creek Files in this Release This data release consists of two data files: 2005 GAAR Fish Sampling.csv 2005 GAAR Fish Sampling.csv_Metadata.csv Metadata Column names, descriptions and units of measure for the data file 2005 GAAR Fish Sampling.csv appears in Table 1. Table 1. ColumnName DataType Description UnitsOfMeasure Date Date Date. Name character Formal name, if known. CommonName character Common name. TL (mm) numeric Description unknown. Probably Total Length. Millimeters Weight (g) numeric Weight Grams PERSON OR NET HOURS numeric Person or net hours. Hours Sculpin trap hours character Sculpin trap hours Hours Disposition character Disposition Fish fate. Lat numeric Latitude Decimal degrees,geographic coordinate system, WGS84. Long numeric Longitude Decimal degrees,geographic coordinate system, WGS84. Notes character Notes Site character Site Gear character Gear used to collect and observe fish. Methods NPS personnel sampled lakes and streams for fish in GAAR from July 15 and 26, 2005 using various techniques, including angling, trapping, direct observation, and nets (gill, kick, and sweep). Sampling intensity was documented in terms of person-hours or net-hours. Length (mm) and weight (g) measurements were recorded for many, though not all specimens. Sampling locations were recorded in numerous cases, but for others, no location data exists other than unofficial names. Sampling intensity was likely not sufficient to determine a complete list of fish species for any site. Study Area Fish were sampled in water bodies, mostly in the Noatak River basin in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska, U.S.A.

This data release contains measurements from continuous monitors of stream temperature, groundwater temperature, and well water levels, and discrete measurements of discharge and stream shading.

This data release includes remotely sensed lake and lake chemistry and water temperature data collected from 2011 to 2014) from a series of lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. Most of the data is from two sites within the Chipp River Basin.