Temperate Plains Ecoregion - National Rivers and Streams Assessment Results
NRSA 2018-19 Ecoregional Results
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Key Results
An estimated 292,972 stream miles in the Temperate Plains ecoregion are represented in the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA).
- In the Temperate Plains ecoregion, biological condition was good in 24% of river and stream miles based on macroinvertebrates.
- The most widespread stressors assessed in the Temperate Plains region were nitrogen with 69% of river and stream miles in poor condition, phosphorus with 41% of miles in poor condition, and streambed sediments with 35% of miles in poor condition.
- Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microorganisms that occur at low levels. Under the right conditions (elevated nutrients and increasing temperature), cyanobacteria can grow at elevated rates producing blooms. Not all cyanobacterial blooms are toxic, but some may release toxins, such as microcystins. For information about risks at specific locations, recreational water users should check with state, tribal or local governments.
- During the 2018-19 NRSA, microcystins detections occurred in 13% of river and stream miles in the Temperate Plains ecoregion however, zero miles were above EPA’s recommended criteria.
Change from 2013-14*
- For the Temperate Plains, the percent of rivers and streams in good condition for enterococci increased by 30 percentage points between 2013-14 and 2018-19.
- The percent of river and stream miles with microcystin detections decreased by 35 percentage points.
To access more ecoregional specific information, please visit the interactive NRSA Dashboard.
* The change analysis is based on information from two points in time – 2013-14 and 2018-19.
