Water quality of selected effluent-dependent stream reaches in southern Arizona as indicated by concentrations of periphytic chlorophyll a and aquatic-invertebrate communities
Water-Resources Investigations Report
98-4199
National Water-Quality Assessment Program, Central Arizona Basins Study Unit
By: Joseph B. Gebler
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Abstract
Concentrations of chlorophyll a and indices computed for aquatic- invertebrate communities in two effluent-dependent stream reaches on the Santa Cruz River and one on the Salt River were compared to those in noneffluent-dependent streams to examine potential differences in water quality. Periphytic chlorophyll a from riffle habitats and aquatic-invertebrate communities from riffle and multiple habitats were used for the comparison. Concentrations of chlorophyll a from effluent-dependent streams were elevated compared with concentrations in noneffluent- dependent streams. Aquatic-invertebrate communities from effluent-dependent streams were characterized by an abundant, yet taxonomically depauperate fauna of tolerant organisms; whereas, noneffluent-dependent streams supported a diverse assemblage of aquatic invertebrates including taxa considered sensitive to water-quality degradation. These results indicate that water quality of the effluent-dependent streams is poor compared with water quality of noneffluent-dependent streams. Patterns of taxonomic composition of aquatic-invertebrate communities and abundances of aquatic invertebrates from effluent- dependent streams are the same as patterns discussed in the scientific literature.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Water quality of selected effluent-dependent stream reaches in southern Arizona as indicated by concentrations of periphytic chlorophyll a and aquatic-invertebrate communities |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 98-4199 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri984199 |
| Year Published | 1998 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Tucson, AZ |
| Description | ii, 12 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Other Geospatial | Central Arizona Basins |
| Projection | Albers Equal-Area Conic projection |
| Scale | 100000 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |