Poster Details
USING AN URBAN REFERENCE TO DEFINE AQUATIC HABITAT EXPECTATIONS IN STORMWATER-AFFECTED STREAMS OF THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA IN MISSOURI
Urban waterways have been subject to modification and often do not meet aquatic life standards. We studied macroinvertebrate indicators across habitat-quality gradients in 10 watersheds within a stormwater management region of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Line Creek, an urban site with an unmodified riparian corridor that has consistently met aquatic life standards, was used to develop expectations for in-stream habitat characteristics. Overall habitat scores were significantly correlated with macroinvertebrate scores (r = 0.54, p = 0.04). Compared to other urban sites with similar land use and stormwater inputs, Line Creek obtained 20-30% higher habitat scores, with greatest differences observed in riparian characteristics and riffle substrate parameters. Line Creek was within 7-12% of reference and non-urban control sites for most macroinvertebrate indicators and had significantly better total species richness (p = 0.001-0.04), EPT (Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera) richness (p = 0.001-0.007), and non-chironomid Diptera abundance (p = 0.011-0.026). Results indicate that regional urban streams have the capability to meet aquatic life expectations when riparian habitat corridors remain intact and the integrity of riffle substrates is maintained.
Barry Poulton (Primary Presenter/Author), U.S. Geological Survey, bpoulton@usgs.gov;
Jing Tao ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Kansas City Water Services Dept., Jing.Tao@kcmo.org;