1 Taking Stock in 2009 Biological Criteria. 2 Freshwater Biology Team, EPA R3, EAID, OMA FBT Members FBT Members Amy Bergdale, Frank Borsuk, Kelly Krock,

1Taking Stock in 2009Taking Stock in 2009

Biological CriteriaBiological Criteria

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Freshwater Biology Team, Freshwater Biology Team, EPA R3, EAID, OMAEPA R3, EAID, OMA

FBT MembersFBT Members Amy Bergdale, Frank Amy Bergdale, Frank

Borsuk, Kelly Krock, Borsuk, Kelly Krock, Maggie Passmore, Greg Maggie Passmore, Greg Pond, Louis ReynoldsPond, Louis Reynolds

Assist the states in Assist the states in methods development, methods development, bioassessment, bioassessment, biocriteriabiocriteria

Assist EPA R3 in use of Assist EPA R3 in use of biological databiological data WQS, monitoring, WQS, monitoring,

TMDLs, NPDES, TMDLs, NPDES, superfund, etc.superfund, etc.

Perform special studiesPerform special studies

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CWACWASection 101Section 101ObjectiveObjective

To Restore & Maintain the Chemical, Physical, & Biological Biological IntegrityIntegrity of the Nation's Waters

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Bioassessments are evaluations of the biological condition of a waterbody using surveys of the structure & function of a community of resident biota (e.g. the interrelated plants and animals living in a waterbody including fish, bugs, amphibians, mussels, diatoms).

BIOASSESSMENTS

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Value Of Biological Information:Value Of Biological Information:Ohio Comparison Of Biosurvey Ohio Comparison Of Biosurvey

With Chemical EvaluationWith Chemical Evaluation

Chemical Evaluation Indicates No ImpairmentOf aquatic life use, butBiosurvey Shows Impairment

Biosurvey ShowsNo Impairment of the Aquatic life use, butChemical Evaluation Indicates Impairment

Chemical Prediction andBiosurvey Agree

6 %

3 6 % 5 8 %

WHY?

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What’s “old news”?What’s “old news”?

Bioassessments direct measure of Bioassessments direct measure of aquatic life use attainmentaquatic life use attainment

Wadeable stream methodsWadeable stream methods Defining stream reference conditions Defining stream reference conditions

with biological datawith biological data 303(d) lawsuits and widespread 303(d) lawsuits and widespread

impact on bioassessmentsimpact on bioassessments All states use macroinvertebrates. All states use macroinvertebrates.

MD also uses fish. MD also uses fish.

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What’s “new news”?What’s “new news”? Replacing Family with Genus level Replacing Family with Genus level

macroinvertebratesmacroinvertebrates More defensible, more representative of alusMore defensible, more representative of alus Exs. PA, WVExs. PA, WV

Adding Fish as a second assemblageAdding Fish as a second assemblage Struggling with Periphyton – 3Struggling with Periphyton – 3rdrd

assemblage or nutrient indicator?assemblage or nutrient indicator? Pondering musselsPondering mussels New analyses for measurement error and New analyses for measurement error and

uncertaintyuncertainty

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What’s “new news”?What’s “new news”?

Biological Condition Gradients (BCGs)Biological Condition Gradients (BCGs) MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates FishFish MusselsMussels PeriphytonPeriphyton

Tiered Aquatic Life UsesTiered Aquatic Life Uses Better protect high quality streamsBetter protect high quality streams Realistic goals for streams following UAAs if Realistic goals for streams following UAAs if

101(a) aquatic life use in removed101(a) aquatic life use in removed Ex. PADEPEx. PADEP

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What’s “new news”?What’s “new news”?

National SurveysNational Surveys Methods for other waterbody types Methods for other waterbody types

(non wadeable systems, wetlands)(non wadeable systems, wetlands)

Evaluating technical elements of Evaluating technical elements of bioassessment and biocriteria bioassessment and biocriteria programsprograms Ex. VADEQ Self AssessmentEx. VADEQ Self Assessment

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Ex: PA’s Metrics for Genus Level IndexEx: PA’s Metrics for Genus Level Index

1 – Modified Beck’s Index

2 – EPT Taxa Richness

3 – Total Taxa Richness

4 – Shannon Diversity Index

5 – Hilsenhoff Biotic Index

6 – Percent Intolerant Individuals

IBI ranges from 0-100: Estimate of measurement error (sd) = 3.36 units

Courtesy of B. Chalfont, PADEP

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What is Biological Condition Gradient (BCG)?

It is a scientific framework for determining biological response to anthropogenic stress. Longstanding, accepted science

Measurable and predictable

Variability needs to be characterized

Based on biological data

StressB

ioC

ond

itio

n

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Undisturbed/Undisturbed/Minimally Minimally

Disturbed StreamDisturbed Stream

MidgesMidges

BeetlesBeetles

Dragonflies, Dragonflies, DamselfliesDamselflies

CaddisfliesCaddisflies

MayfliesMayflies

StonefliesStoneflies

1 inch

Courtesy of Susan Davies, ME DEP

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CaddisfliesCaddisflies

StonefliesStoneflies

MayfliesMayfliesBlackflies

MidgesMidges

Non-insectsNon-insects

Crane flies

Beetles

Nutrient Enriched Nutrient Enriched StreamStream

1 inchCourtesy of Susan Davies, ME DEP

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Drainage from a Drainage from a Shopping Mall Shopping Mall

Parking LotParking Lot

CaddisfliesCaddisflies

SnailsSnails

MidgesMidges

LeechesLeeches

ScudsScuds

BeetlesBeetlesCranefliesCraneflies

1 inch

Courtesy of Susan Davies, ME DEP

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Bio

logi

cal

Con

dit

ion

Biological Condition Gradient-Protect HQ Waters

Increasing Level of Stress

Minimal changes in structure & function

Evident changes in structure and minimal changes in function

Moderate changes in structure & minimal changes in function

Major changes in structure & moderate changes in function

Severe changes in structure & function

1122

33

44

55

66

Natural structure and function of biotic community maintained

X

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Bio

logi

cal

Con

dit

ion

Biological Condition Gradient – Incremental Goals

Increasing Level of Stress

Natural structure and function of biotic community maintained

Minimal changes in structure & function

Evident changes in structure and minimal changes in function

Moderate changes in structure & minimal changes in function

Major changes in structure & moderate changes in function

Severe changes in structure & function

1122

33

44

55

66

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Example: PA Freestone Example: PA Freestone StreamsStreams

Tiered uses protect streams in excellent condition

…and those in good condition.

Courtesy of B. Chalfont, PADEP

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Ex: WV Genus Level MacroIndex

CooperativeEffort Between WVDEP and EPA R3

DRAFT

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WV GLIMPSSWV GLIMPSS

Replace family level indexReplace family level index Genus level taxonomyGenus level taxonomy Improved classification by season and Improved classification by season and

regionregion Improved metrics by season and regionImproved metrics by season and region More accurate assessmentsMore accurate assessments Better stressor identificationBetter stressor identification IBI ranges from 0-100: Estimate of

measurement error (sd) = 5-6 units

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Ecoregions combined into two regions, Mountains andPlateau

Two Seasons:Spring and Summer

Metrics designedTo work best in each “segion”

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GLIMPSS: Very Good GLIMPSS: Very Good DiscriminationDiscrimination

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GLIMPSS: More Accurate GLIMPSS: More Accurate AssessmentsAssessments

Ex: Alkaline Mining Disturbance

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GLIMPSS: Improved GLIMPSS: Improved Stressor ID over WVSCIStressor ID over WVSCI

Acid depositionAcid deposition Ionic strengthIonic strength SedimentSediment Organic enrichmentOrganic enrichment Metals toxicity equal to WVSCIMetals toxicity equal to WVSCI

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Methods for larger streams and rivers.

Ex. DRBC and Delaware River

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Ex: DRBC and Delaware Ex: DRBC and Delaware RiverRiver

2009 Biocriteria 2009 Biocriteria Subcommittee Subcommittee

Courtesy of B. Limbeck, DRBC

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Adding fish as an assemblage for wadeable and nonwadeable streams

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And working on nonwadeable methods at

the same time…

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BCG for FishBCG for Fish EPA R3 starting work on fish taxa lists and EPA R3 starting work on fish taxa lists and

database database June 2009 workshop plannedJune 2009 workshop planned

Introduce experts to BCG conceptsIntroduce experts to BCG concepts Attribute fish taxa with BCG descriptorsAttribute fish taxa with BCG descriptors Discuss classificationDiscuss classification Atlantic and Ohio slope drainagesAtlantic and Ohio slope drainages

PADEP planning BCG fish workshop in fall PADEP planning BCG fish workshop in fall 20092009

VA DEQ planning fish IBI/BCG meeting in VA DEQ planning fish IBI/BCG meeting in fall 2009fall 2009

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Are R3 States Adopting Are R3 States Adopting Biocriteria in their WQS?Biocriteria in their WQS?

No - Numeric Biocriteria No - Numeric Biocriteria Yes - Assessment MethodologiesYes - Assessment Methodologies MD - specific narrative biocriteriaMD - specific narrative biocriteria PA - new implementation guidance PA - new implementation guidance

for using biological data for EV/HQfor using biological data for EV/HQ DRBC – new biocriteria DRBC – new biocriteria

subcommitteesubcommittee

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Current ChallengesCurrent Challenges

Easy? It’s just Easy? It’s just science.science. Adding Adding

assemblagesassemblages Adding water Adding water

body types body types (e.g.nonwadeabl(e.g.nonwadeable, wetlands)e, wetlands)

Courtesy of B. Chalfont, PADEP

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Current ChallengesCurrent Challenges Harder? It’s not all Harder? It’s not all

science.science. Intersections of Intersections of

science and science and policy policy

Threats of Threats of lawsuits from lawsuits from regulated regulated industriesindustries

Nutrient Criteria Nutrient Criteria Nutrient TMDLsNutrient TMDLs

Courtesy of WVDEP

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Region 3 States Biocriteria Summary 2009

EPA technical assistance in 2009-2010 DRBC, WV and VA on genus level

inverts PA, VA and WV on fish indices/BCGs Use of measurement error, uncertainty

Assisting states with challenges to bioassessment and biocriteria