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| Texas Water Science Center |
In cooperation with the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
U.S. Geological Survey
Data Series 142
By Jeffery W. East and Debra A. Sneck-Fahrer
During 2002–04 the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, conducted a systematic monitoring study on Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek near Houston, Texas, to assess the current water-quality and biological conditions in the three tributaries to Lake Houston. Streamflow and water-quality data (chloride and sulfate, nutrients, biochemical oxygen demand, phytoplankton, indicator bacteria, pesticides, and suspended sediment) were collected at 11 sites, and fish and benthic-macroinvertebrate data were collected at eight of the 11 sites. Graphical comparisons of concentration data for eight water-quality constituents by watershed indicate relatively large differences in concentration distribution among all three watersheds for nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen (medians: Lake, 0.20; Peach, 0.14; and Caney, 0.32 mg/L). Graphical comparisons of these data by season show consistency in distribution of constituent concentrations. The distributions of chlorophyll-a in summer and E. coli bacteria in winter each contain a few relatively large concentrations. Fifty-six species of fish from 15 major families were collected during the study. For all sites except one on Lake Creek, the majority of fish collected were sunfish; minnows dominated at the one Lake Creek site. Invertivores (mostly sunfish and minnows) made up more than 65 percent of the trophic structure, omnivores were the next largest percentage, and piscivores the smallest percentage. Ecoregion-specific index of biotic integrity (ECO–IBI) scores (averages of samples) for three of four upstream Lake Creek sites indicate intermediate aquatic life use, and the most downstream site, high aquatic life use. ECO–IBI scores for the Peach Creek and Caney Creek sites indicate high aquatic life use. The maximum number of aquatic-insect taxa (51) were collected at a site on Peach Creek near Cleveland, and the minimum number of aquatic-insect taxa (17) were collected at site on Caney Creek near New Caney. The benthic-macroinvertebrate index of biotic integrity (B–IBI) scores (averages of samples) for the three upstream Lake Creek sites indicate intermediate aquatic life use, and the B–IBI score for the most downstream site indicates high aquatic life use. B–IBI scores for the Peach Creek sites, in downstream order, are exceptional and high; and scores for the Caney Creek sites, in downstream order, are high and intermediate.
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Description of Study Area
Acknowledgments
Methods of Monitoring, Sampling, and Analysis
Streamflow Data
Water-Quality Data
Biological Data
Streamflow Data
Water-Quality Data
Continuously Monitored Data
Routinely Monitored Data
Biological Data
Fish Data
Benthic-Macroinvertebrate Data
Summary
References
Figures
| 1. | Map showing location of study area and sampling sites for Lake, Peach, and Caney Creeks near Houston, Texas | |
| 2. | Hydrographs showing daily mean discharge for (a) Lake Creek, (b) Peach Creek, and (c) Caney Creek and dates of water-quality sampling, water years 2003–04 | |
| 3. | Graph showing daily mean dissolved oxygen concentration in Lake Creek (LAKE1 [08067900]) and Spring Creek (08068275), October 2003–September 2004 | |
| 4–5. | Boxplots of: | |
| 4. | (a) Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, (b) ammonia nitrogen, (c) nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, (d) nitrite nitrogen, (e) phosphorus, (f) orthophosphate phosphorus, (g) chlorophyll-a, and (h) E. coli bacteria from selected sites in Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek, grouped by watershed, December 2002–June 2004 | |
| 5. | (a) Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, (b) ammonia nitrogen, (c) nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, (d) nitrite nitrogen, (e) phosphorus, (f) orthophosphate phosphorus, (g) chlorophyll-a, and (h) E. coli bacteria from selected sites in Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek, grouped by season, December 2002–June 2004 | |
| 6. | Graph showing number of fish species collected relative to number of individuals collected for selected sites in Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek, October 2002–October 2004 | |
| 1. | Percentage of selected land-use categories in the Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek watersheds |
| 2. | Data-collection sites in Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek watersheds, water years 2003–04 |
| 3. | Annual mean streamflow at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations on Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek, Texas, water years 2003–04 |
| 4. | Continuously monitored discharge, specific conductance, pH, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen for 08067900 Lake Creek near Conroe (LAKE1), water years 2003–04 |
| 5. | Routinely sampled water-quality data for selected sites in Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek, Texas, water years 2003–04 |
| 6. | Fish taxa and individual counts of fish collected in Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek, October 2002–October 2004 |
| 7. | Selected indexes that characterize fish and benthic-macroinvertebrate community structure in Lake Creek, Peach Creek, and Caney Creek, October 2002–October 2004 |
| 8. | Metrics used to compute selected index of biotic integrity scores |
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