Cuyahoga Valley National Park headwater stream inventory: Final report

Abstract

EnviroScience, Inc. (EnviroScience) was contracted by the National Park Service (NPS) to design and implement a study plan to inventory the headwater stream resources within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CUVA). The parameters and expectations of the study are described in a Statement of Work (SOW) developed by NPS staff (NPS, 2021) to collect and analyze data to guide decision-making in the development of management plans to protect these resources within CUVA. The headwater stream inventory was comprised of three components to evaluate the resources as follows: 1. habitat and biological assessments to classify the streams in the context of the Ohio EPA Primary Headwater (PHW) stream classification system (Ohio EPA, 2020) and the beneficial aquatic life uses promulgated in Chapter 3745-1 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC), where applicable; 2. fluvial geomorphological assessments to determine stream channel types and to evaluate the potential and degree of streambank erosion associated with the assessment sites; and 3. development and testing of a visitor use impact assessment (VUIA) protocol for potential park-wide application to manage and protect stream resources in the context of public access. A total of 125 headwater stream sites were assessed to complete the inventory. The SOW identified eighty-three (83) of the sites designated as Primary sites by NPS. These sites were selected to document the condition of headwater streams with watershed areas of approximately 1.0 mi2. These sites were assessed using desktop methods and field reconnaissance. The final list of sites was modified as appropriate for approval by NPS. Forty-two (42) additional sites were proposed for assessment as Secondary sites following the assessment of Primary sites according to the SOW and study plan. These sites were selected to either provide additional data within Primary site watersheds or to expand coverage of the inventory within the park to target specific tributaries of interest. All inventoried sites were selected to meet the definition of Primary Headwater (PHW) streams as that term is defined in Ohio EPA headwater stream protocols. The identified locations were used to characterize the biological communities within the streams and to identify factors affecting the ecological integrity and water quality of the headwater streams within CUVA.