Wadeable Stream Habitat Assessments in the Southeastern United States, 2023 Data Package

This package contains data collected by the Southeast Coast Network (SECN), a part of the Inventory and Monitoring Division (IMD) of the National Park Service (NPS). Data was collected under the Wadeable Stream Habitat Monitoring Protocol (McDonald et al. 2018) during the year 2023. Wadeable stream habitat monitoring surveys were conducted on two stream reaches at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (KEMO), one stream reach at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (HOBE), and one stream reach at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park (OCMU). The data contained within describe geomorphic and habitat conditions observed within the monitored stream reaches at the time of the surveys. The geomorphic dimensions (cross-sectional morphology, channel widths, bank heights, bank angles, bank vegetative cover, and reach slope and sinuosity) of the selected stream reaches are measured to understand the natural range of variability of similar sized streams within and between the park units. Understanding the variability in channel morphology between study reaches will determine which reaches are being negatively impacted by upstream land use and land cover and provide an understanding of long-term trajectories of change along each stream reach. The habitat data provide an understanding of the habitats that are available for colonization by benthic invertebrates within each stream reach. Habitat measures selected for this protocol focus on inventorying large woody debris and bed sediment within each reach. These components of habitat have been shown to be highly influential in the distribution and character of biota within a stream. These data will also facilitate future complementary studies that can focus on the other physical factors (e.g., current, temperature, and oxygen) that influence biotic assemblages.