Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Keywords

seasonal, prairie, biomonitoring, drought, South Dakota, HOBO

Abstract

Intermittent streams comprise 90% of stream and river miles in South Dakota. Hydroperiod (duration of flow) was examined in 60 intermittent headwater streams in the Northern Glaciated Plains ecoregion of eastern South Dakota. HOBO (Onset Inc.) temperature loggers were used to track daily temperature amplitudes and allowed detection of drying dates. Streams began to flow in April following spring snowmelt and 83% of streams were either pooled or dry by early September. The majority of drying occurred in June and July. Streams commonly fluctuated between hydrologic phases and several study sites were re-wetted after initial drying. Level IV ecoregions within the Northern Glaciated Plains showed variability in hydroperiod. All sites studied in the Drift Plains (46i) dried completely during the study period, while only 50% of sites in the Prairie Coteau (46k) dried. Results show that intermittent streams in the Northern Glaciated Plains have seasonal characteristics which create implications for monitoring that are different from perennial streams.

Publication Title

Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science

Volume

90

First Page

105

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