United States . Office of Office of Environmental Research and Water Protection Agency Development EPA/822/F-97/005April 1997 ------- CLINCH RIVER AT PENDLETON ISLAND: The topography of the Clinch River Basin is character- ized by dramatic relief, with steep, irregular mountains and valleys. Geologically, large expanses of limestone and dolomite are present, resulting in karst regions (regions with sink'holes, sinking streams and caves). What is an ecological risk assessment? n ecological risk assessment evaluates the poten- tial adverse effects of human activities on the „ J plants and animals that make up ecosystems. The risk assessment process provides a way to develop, organize and present scientific information so it is relevant to environmental decisions.. When conducted for a particular place such as a watershed, the ecologi- cal risk assessment process can be used to identify vulnerable and valued resources, prioritize data collection activities, and link human activities with their potential effectsrBisk assessments provide a focal point for cooperation among local communities and state and federal government agencies, and a basis for comparing various management options. ------- The Clinch River originating in Virginia, flows southwest to where it is join- ed by the Powell River at Norris, Tennessee. Why Is ike Clinch River special? The .Clinch River above Norris Lake is one of the largest free-flowing segments of the Tennessee River drainage basin with a length of 320 kilome- ters (200) miles. At Norris Lake the Clinch is joined by the Powell River, and continues to flow in a south- westerly direction, eventually joining the Tennessee River near the town of Harritnan, TN. The watershed drains approximately 7,600 km2 (2900 square miles). The assemblage of fish and freshwater mussel species in the Clinch River is among the most diverse and unique in North America. In fact, many of the native mussel species are found nowhere else. The Clinch River harbors at least 4 fish and 18 mussel species that are either federally endangered, threat- ened or are candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Nature Conservancy— an international resource conservation organization— has established the Clinch Valley Bioreserve to conserve biological diversity in the Clinch River water- shed while continuing to meet social and economic needs. A partnership has been formed between public and private organizations that share a goal of preserving or .restoring the valuable natural resources of the watershed while maintaining its economic uses. FEMALE WAVY-RAYED MUSSEL (LAMPSILIS FASCIOLA) Many mussel species in the.Clinch river are endangered. Mussels require clean, clear water and silt-free gravel or cobble to survive. ------- How can this valuable resource be protected? This ecological risk assess- ment will analyze the stressors and resulting ecological effects in the Clinch River watershed. The assess- ment promotes" community awareness of ecological problems in the watershed and will provide information to resource managers, including government officials, organiza- tions and the public. These activities promote environmen- tally beneficial results. How is the ecological risk assessment being done? Interested organizations collectively developed a management goal and a scientific study approach. The ecological risk assessment brought together numerous organizations to analyze the impact of stressors on the watershed. Measurements of watershed condition will be plotted on maps and related to land use within the watershed. Relationships between the stressors caused by land use activities and effects on fish and aquatic invertebrates will be examined. This will provide information to esti- mate risks associated with land-use decisions. A report describing the management goals for the Clinch River watershed and the analysis plan for the assessment will be available upon completion of the analysis described above. Nonpoint source pollution, (discharge not from a fixed source, such as a pipe or smokestack) including acid mine drainage, has been identified as the most severe cause of water pollution in the Clinch Valley. Resource managers can work with local land users to improve agricultural and mining practices to decrease sediment loading. evaluated ecological risk assessment are: ,1 t * sempxetitatipn. chejmical ------- 9 I How wii! the results be used? Agriculture is a critical component of the social and economic fiber of the region. Some pasture and row crop practices within the floodplain, karst and lowland areas pose serious risks to aquatic resources. i he Clinch River Ecological Risk Assessment will help resource managers predict how changes in land use and river flow will affect bio- logical communities in the watershed. This will enable resource managers to make decisions based on more information. This project is co-sponsored by the USEPA's Office of Water and Office of Research and Development _as an effort ,to bring the science of risk assessment into the local community decision-making process. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency thanks the following for their participation in this case study: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation Tennessee Valley Authority Virginia Cave Board The Nature Conservancy US Fish and Wildlife Service US Geological Survey US National Biological Service For more information, please contact: Roberta Hylton ..... US Fish and Wildlife Service . PO Box 2345 Abingdon, VA 24210 (540) 623-1233 MoUy Whitworth US EPA/OPPE (2183) 401 M Street, SW Washington DC 20460 (202) 260-7561 COVER PHOTO: Jon Golden ------- |