Using field data and weight of evidence to develop water quality criteria

Abstract

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis report was prepared under 3 work assignments of EPA contract #68-C7-0014 to Tetra Tech, Inc. Authors of this report are Jeroen Gerritsen, June Burton, and Michael T. Barbour. We thank Maggie Passmore and Jim Green of EPA Region 3 for helpful guidance, discussions and review. The biological index was made possible by the intensive data collection efforts and discussion of West Virginia DEP; in particular, Janice Smithson, Jeffrey Bailey, Pat Campbell, and John Wirts. This report was prepared with the assistance of Jeffrey White, Erik Leppo, and Brenda Fowler. A Stream Condition Index for West Virginia Wadeable StreamsTetra Tech, Inc. iv March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK A Stream Condition Index for West Virginia Wadeable StreamsTetra Tech, Inc. v March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 Tetra Tech, Inc. vi March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK A Stream Condition Index for West Virginia Wadeable StreamsTetra Tech, Inc. vii March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 LIST OF FIGURES Tech, Inc. viii March 28, 2000 (Revised July 21, 2000 LIST OF TABLES EXECUTIVE SUMMARYOver the past century, land use activities such as mining, agriculture, urbanization, and industrialization have seriously threatened the quality of surface waters by contributing to nonpoint-source pollution. In West Virginia, the investigation of these nonpoint sources of water pollution has become a priority. indicator of ecosystem health and can identify impairment with respect to the reference (or natural) condition. The index includes six biological attributes, called metrics, that represent elements of the structure and function of the bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrate assemblage. Metrics are specific measures of diversity, composition, and tolerance to pollution, that include ecological information.The SCI is to be used as the basis for bioassessment in West Virginia and has been calibrated for a long-term biological index period extending from April through October. A data analysis application has been developed to ensure consistency in data management and analysis throughout the state as DEP biologists conduct biological monitoring.Benefits expected from the implementation of the WV SCI will apply to a broad spectrum of management programs, including:characterizing the existence and severity of point and nonpoint source impairment;targeting and prioritizing watersheds and ecosystem management areas for remedial or preventive programs; evaluating the effectiveness of nonpoint source best management programs; screening ecosystems for use attainability; and developing a basis for establishing biocriteria that relate to regional water quality goals, an EPA priority.The West Virginia SCI was tested with independent data collected in 1998 and was able to correctly identify the majority of the stream sites stressed in some way by human disturbance or pollution. Index scores were divided into 5 proposed rating categories for reporting on the condition...

A method for deriving water‐quality benchmarks using field data

“…For example, a percentage reduction in abundance may be used in place of the XC values. The U.S. EPA used a 20% reduction of abundance of distinct taxa and incorporated that into an SSD for sediment [10], and Relyea et al [27] developed a sediment-sensitive index. Linton et al [28] used a 20% reduction in abundances of individual macroinvertebrate families in the field, estimated by quantile regression.…”

“…It is most likely to be useful for agents that are commonly measured and commonly cause effects. We expect that it would be amenable for dissolved oxygen, suspended and deposited sediment [10,27], nutrients, temperature [29], organic matter, metals, and other naturally occurring agents. It is less likely to be useful for new anthropogenic agents because a full range of exposures and effects might not yet have occurred.…”

“…The option of using field data is permitted by the European Water Framework Directive [3] and has been recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Science Advisory Board [9]. It has been specifically recommended for suspended sediment benchmarks and nutrient criteria in the United States [4,10,11].…”

Influência antrópica no ambiente aquático sobre os processos fisiológicos associados à maturação oocitária em peixes teleósteos

“…Mesmo esta análise sendo proposta para sedimento, a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) desenvolveu um critério de qualidade da água para dados de campo e laboratório utilizando o WoE (Cormier et al, 2008) (Burton et al, 2002;Chapman et al, 2002). Uma visão geral dos parâmetros que serão aplicados, assim como a conclusão geral de acordo com as análises dos parâmetros está exemplificada na tabela 1.…”

“…O reservatório Billings é caracterizado pelas constantes florações de cianobactérias, o que por sua vez, explica os valores de clorofila-a (CETESB, 2013). Isso pode ocorrer devido à elevação da matéria orgânica resultando também em diminuição da concentração de oxigênio dissolvido (Cormier et al, 2008). Esse processo pode ter ocorrido, já que foram encontrados valores elevados de nitrogênio e fósforo no reservatório Billings, mas os níveis de oxigênio dissolvido permaneceram adequados (acima de 4,0 mg/L).…”