In Reply Refer To:

Mail Stop 412                                                                                                    May 12, 2003

Office of Water Quality Technical Memorandum 2003.06

Subject: Hydrologic Benchmark Network, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003

This memorandum contains a summary of the activities of the Hydrologic Benchmark (HBN) for
FY 2003, including the stations being operated, stations where water-quality measurements are being reinitiated, constituents measured, and other operational details. Further details on HBN operations can be obtained from either the National Coordinator or the field coordinators. Contact information is contained at the end of this memorandum.

FY 2003 implementation

In FY 2002, all Districts were surveyed to gather information necessary for a re-launch of the historic long-term HBN sites. Districts completed site nominations and questionnaires to determine which still met network design criteria of medium sized watersheds which enjoy long-term protection from development and can serve as (1) a benchmark to measure changes in water quality brought about by land use development in other watersheds and (2) to gage the physical and chemical response of these undeveloped medium sized watersheds to changes in climate and inputs of nutrients, acidity and base cations from atmospheric deposition. Of the 54 sites nominated, careful examination of the proposals indicated that 36 sites still met the criteria to serve as benchmark sites, both now and anticipated for many decades in the future. The 36 stations to be operated in FY 2003 for stream gaging only (21) and for gaging and water-quality sampling (15) are shown in Figure 1. The complete listing of stations, along with number of samples to be collected, is contained in Attachment 1. The funding for gaging and sample collection by station and District are contained in Attachment 2. Stations, which no longer meet the criteria for HBN stations and where stream-gaging support from the HBN program will be discontinued at the end of FY 2003, are given in attachment 3.

 In FY 2003 the program will:

Constituents Measured

Streamflow, major ions, alkalinity, and nutrients (including carbon species) will be measured at HBN stations. Chemical and hydrologic monitoring provides basic, yet critical, data needed as part of any ecosystem monitoring effort.  Stream chemistry integrates the chemical and hydrologic processes in basins.  Phase II of the Title IV‑mandated Clean Air Act emission reductions began in 2000, and HBN data will continue to provide an evaluation of trends in aquatic response to these regulatory actions. HBN monitoring and assessments will objectively gage the effectiveness of control measures intended to mitigate impacts of sulfur and nitrogen deposition to sensitive ecosystems. Having monitoring systems in place to measure these changes will continue to grow in importance, especially in light of further major reductions in emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides proposed under the Presidents Clear Skies Initiative.

When combined with long-term soil, vegetation, and precipitation chemistry data, it is possible to track chemical changes in ecosystem compartments caused by atmospheric deposition of pollutants (Smith and Alexander 1983, Clow and Mast 1999).  For example, seasonal and long-term patterns in concentrations and fluxes of nitrogen entering and leaving HBN basins can be used to evaluate possible effects of excess N deposition on ecosystems.  Calcium depletion in forest soils can be examined based on long-term trends in calcium in stream water and soils. 

Why is the HBN is important to the nation?

The HBN is the only national network suitable for tracking the health of ecosystems in mid-size, undisturbed basins in the United States.  The HBN basins are of appropriate size for detecting changes in ecosystem processes at the landscape scale caused by acidic deposition, excess nutrient deposition, and climate change.  They are larger than typical research watersheds where most process-oriented work has been done (making them more relevant to resource managers), but are small enough to be responsive to regional anthropogenic effects.  The HBN provides a background frame of reference for evaluating changes in chemistry and hydrology at larger scales, such as those found in the NAWQA and NASQAN basins, which have been affected by land-use changes and water diversions. 

The Hydrologic Benchmark basins are unique in that they are representative of much of the Federal land managed by the DOI National Park Service and the USDA Forest Service.  The National Park Service needs the type of information provided by HBN to evaluate possible effects of climate change and atmospheric deposition of pollutants on National Park land, and is counting on HBN data to serve as a foundation for their Inventory and Monitoring Program. The importance of HBN data to the National Park Service is demonstrated by their willingness to contribute resources to the HBN monitoring effort.  In Yosemite and Glacier National Parks, for example, the National Park Service has joined USGS in a true collaborative effort, by providing personnel and physical resources critical for ongoing sample collection activities.  The National Park Service is actively seeking funds to help support monitoring of Cataloochee Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Forest Service needs HBN data to help them evaluate and track forest health, allowing them to better manage National Forests for sustainable development and use.  The Forest Service and the environmental community will find HBN data invaluable as they attempt to establish background conditions for the National Forests prior to increased logging that is expected as a result of the Healthy Forests Initiative proposed by President Bush.  The potential to develop monitoring partnerships with the Forest Service at HBN stations is large and untapped.

HBN Contact Information

For any questions on the HBN Program, contact any of the following individuals:

• National Coordinator: Mark Nilles, Office of Water Quality, Denver, CO. manilles@usgs.gov; 303-236-1878
• Eastern U.S. Field Coordinator: Mike McHale, NY District, Troy, NY. mmchale@usgs.gov; 601-933-2982
• Western U.S. Field Coordinators: Dave Clow; dwclow@usgs.gov, CO District, Denver, CO 303-236-4882 ext. 294 and Alisa Mast mamast@usgs.gov CO District, 303-236-4882 ext. 314

Distribution:      A, B, DC, AO, District and Regional Water-Quality Specialists

Attachment 1. FY 2003 HBN Stations

Station ID	Name	District	FY03 Chemistry	HBN region Coordinator	Planned Samples (1/2 FY)
11208000	Marble Fork	CA	Yes	Clow & Mast	8
11264500	Merced R	CA	Yes	Clow & Mast	8
10343500	Sagehen Ck	CA	Yes	Clow & Mast	8
06733000	Big Thompson R	CO	Yes	Clow & Mast	8
09352900	Vallecito Ck	CO	Yes	Clow & Mast	8
06879650	Kings Ck	KS	Yes	Clow & Mast	8
05014300	Swiftcurrent	MT	Yes	Clow & Mast	8
14161500	Lookout Ck	OR	Yes	Clow & Mast	8
01054200	Wild R.	ME	Yes	McHale	8
05124480	Kawishiwi R.	MN	Yes	McHale	8
01466500	McDonalds' Br	NJ	Yes	McHale	8
01435000	Neversink R	NY	Yes	McHale	8
01545600	Young Womans Ck	PA	Yes	McHale	8
03497300	Little R	TN	Yes	McHale	8
04063700	Popple R	WI	Yes	McHale	8
15292700	Talkeetna River near Talkeetna	AK	No		0
02450250	Sipsey Fk	AL	No		0
07060710	N. Sylamore Ck	AR	No		0
09508300	Wet Bottom Creek near Childs	AZ	No		0
11475560	Elder Ck	CA	No		0
07083000	Halfmoon Creek	CO	No		0
02327100	Sopchoppy River near Sopchoppy	FL	No		0
16618000	Kahakuloa Stream near Honokohau	HI	No		0
04001000	Washington Creek at Windigo	MI	No		0
02479155	Cypress Creek nr Janice	MS	No		0
03460000	Cataloochee Ck	NC	No		0
09430600	Mogollon Creek near Cliff	NM	No		0
08377900	Rio Mora near Tererro	NM	No		0
10249300	S Twin R Nr Round Mountain	NV	No		0
07335700	Kiamichi River Near Big Cedar, OK	OK	No		0
13331500	Minam River at Minam	OR	No		0
10172200	Red Butte Creek at Ft Douglas, UT	UT	No		0
02038850	Holiday Creek near Andersonville	VA	No		0
12447390	Andrews Creek nr Mazama	WA	No		0
13018300	Cache Creek near Jackson	WY	No		0
06623800	Encampment River above Hog Park near Encampment	WY	No		0

Attachment 2. FY 2003 Funding Allocations by Station and District for continuing HBN stations

Station ID	Name	District	FY03 Chemistry	HBN region Coordinator	District gaging allocation	District sampling allocation
11208000	Marble Fork	CA	Yes	Clow & Mast	$3,500	$0
11264500	Merced R	CA	Yes	Clow & Mast	$14,500	$1,350
10343500	Sagehen Ck	CA	Yes	Clow & Mast	$14,500	$1,200
06733000	Big Thompson R	CO	Yes	Clow & Mast	$0	$0
09352900	Vallecito Ck	CO	Yes	Clow & Mast	$9,100	$5,200
06879650	Kings Ck	KS	Yes	Clow & Mast	$10,300	$5,200
05014300	Swiftcurrent	MT	Yes	Clow & Mast	$7,000
14161500	Lookout Ck	OR	Yes	Clow & Mast	$11,700	$5,200
01054200	Wild R.	ME	Yes	McHale	$9,600	$5,200
05124480	Kawishiwi R.	MN	Yes	McHale	$8,900	$5,200
01466500	McDonalds' Br	NJ	Yes	McHale	$9,600	$5,200
01435000	Neversink R	NY	Yes	McHale	$10,000	$0
01545600	Young Womans Ck	PA	Yes	McHale	$11,500	$2,700
03497300	Little R	TN	Yes	McHale	$11,900	$5,200
04063700	Popple R	WI	Yes	McHale	$8,900	$5,200
15292700	Talkeetna River near Talkeetna	AK	No		$18,800	$0
02450250	Sipsey Fk	AL	No		$10,300	$0
07060710	N. Sylamore Ck	AR	No		$10,600	$0
09508300	Wet Bottom Creek near Childs	AZ	No		$13,000	$0
11475560	Elder Ck	CA	No		$14,500	$0
07083000	Halfmoon Creek	CO	No		$9,100	$0
02327100	Sopchoppy River near Sopchoppy	FL	No		$9,800	$0
16618000	Kahakuloa Stream near Honokohau	HI	No		$9,600	$0
04001000	Washington Creek at Windigo	MI	No		$8,000	$0
02479155	Cypress Creek nr Janice, MS	MS	No		$10,000	$0
03460000	Cataloochee Ck	NC	No		$11,300	$0
09430600	Mogollon Creek near Cliff	NM	No		$10,700	$0
08377900	Rio Mora near Tererro	NM	No		$10,700	$0
10249300	S Twin R Nr Round Mountain	NV	No		$10,700	$0
07335700	Kiamichi River Nr Big Cedar	OK	No		$10,700	$0
13331500	Minam River at Minam	OR	No		$11,700	$0
10172200	Red Butte Creek at Ft Douglas, UT	UT	No		$11,000	$0
02038850	Holiday Creek near Andersonville	VA	No		$9,700	$0
12447390	Andrews Creek nr Mazama	WA	No		$10,800	$0
13018300	Cache Creek near Jackson	WY	No		$8,900	$0
06623800	Encampment River above Hog Park	WY	No		$8,900	$0

Attachment 3. FY 2003 Funding allocations by Station and District for HBN stream gages that will not be supported by the HBN program in FY04

Station	District	Allocation
Blackwater River near Bradley	AL	$10,400
Cossatot River near Vandervoort	AR	$10,600
Big Jacks Creek near Bruneau	ID	$11,600
Hayden Creek below North Fork near Hayden Lake	ID	$11,600
Big Creek at Pollock	LA	$8,400
Rock Creek below Horse Creek	MT	$9,000
Bear Den Creek near Mandaree	ND	$10,600
Dismal River near Thedford	NE	$10,600
Steptoe Creek near Ely	NV	$10,800
Biscuit Brook	NY	$10,000
Upper Twin Creek	OH	$9,400
Blue Beaver Creek near Cache	OK	$10,800
Crater Lake near Crater Lake	OR	$11,800
Scape Ore Swamp near Bishopville	SC	$9,800
Castle Creek above Deerfield Reservoir	SD	$9,500