Integrated Monitoring & Assessment
for Effective Water Quality Management
Newport, Rhode Island • The Hotel Viking
Integrated Monitoring & Assessment
for Effective Water Quality Management
The Hotel Viking
Newport, Rhode Island
nORB
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Program Agenda ancl Table
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2004 EMAP Symposium
Integrated Monitoring & Assessment for
Effective Water Quality Management
The Hotel Viking • Newport, Rhode Island • Maiy 4-7, 2004
Section Tabs
Program by Room and Program Agenda
Symposium Organizing and Program Committee Listings
Abstracts—Oral Presentations
Abstracts—Poster Presentations
Participant List
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Pro^rMm by jloorjfi
Program of Concurrent Sessions,Workshops & Discussions
Bellevue Ballroom
Salon A/B
TUESDAY
8:30-10 a.m.
Opening Plenary Session
10:30 a.m.-Noon
1:30—3 p.m.
Wetlands
3:30-5:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
8:30-10 a.m.
Cross Media
10:30 a.m.-Noon
1:30-3 p.m.
Lakes
3:30-5:30 p.m.
6-8 p.m.
Poster Session
THURSDAY
8:30-10 a.m.
Estuaries and Near Coastal
10:30 a.m.-Noon
1-3 p.m.
Estuaries and Near Coastal, cont.
3:30-5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
9-10:30 a.m.
Closing Plenary and Discussion
1 1 a.m.-l2 noon
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-—Progmrrf by Jlo^m
mplementing EPA's Guidance
to States Pursuant to
Section 303(d) and Section 305(b)
of the Clean Water Act
Criteria for Aquatic Life Use
Attainment and Reference
Condition Assessment
Design-Based Approaches for
Estimating Approaches to 305(b)/
303(d) Informaton
Physical Criteria
Landscape Characterization and
Model-Based Approaches
for Estimating Conditions or
Impairment ofWaterbodies
Nutrient Criteria
TD
CL
LT>
Cl
LTl
Landscape... Conditions or
Impairment ofWaterbodies, cont.
Developing the U.S. IOOS by
Combining Local, State and
Regional Monitoring and
Assessment Programs
Streams and Rivers
Chemical Criteria
Streams and Rivers, cont.
Touro
Colonnade
Salon D/E
Salon C
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Program Ajgeinda
Opening Plenary 8el/evue Ballroom
Tuesday, May 4
8:30 a.m.-Noon
8:30-8:45 a.m.
8:45-9 a.m.
9-9:15 a.m.
9:15-9:30 a.m.
9:30-9:45 a.m.
9:45-10 a.m.
10:15-10:45 a.m.
10:30-10:45 a.m.
10:45-1 1:15 am
I 1:15-1 1:45 a.m.
I 1:45-Noon
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Opening Plenary:Welcome and Keynote Speeches
Dr. Jonathan Garber; U.S. EPA, Director of Atlantic Ecology Division
Governor Donald L. Carcieri, Rhode Island
Mr Robert Varney, U.S. EPA, Assistant Administrator Region I
Dn Paul Gilman, U.S. EPA, Assistant Administrator Office
of Research and Development
Magdalena Mook,The Council of State Governments,
Director of Policy and Development
Dr Robert Magnien, NOAA, Director of Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research
Break
Dr Mike McDonald, US. EPA EMAP Director
Dr Steve Paulsen and Dr Kevin Summers, U.S. EPA
EMAP: Myths, Hobgoblins and Crusades
Dr Frank Muller Karger; Commissioner of U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
Ecosystem Management and Monitoring as Viewed by the
US. Commission on Ocean Policy
Question and Answer Session
Lunch
Theme I: Monitoring the Condition of Aquatic Resources
Co-Theme Leaders:
Virginia Engle (U.S. EPA, Gulf Ecology Division)
Jim Harvey (U.S. EPA, Gulf Ecology Division)
Charles Strobel (U.S. EPA, Atlantic Ecology Division)
Neil Kamman (Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation)
Tuesday, May 4
Session I:Wetlands SalonA/B
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Bruce Carlisle (Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management)
Cathleen Wigand (U.S. EPA, ORD, Atlantic Ecology Division)
1:30-2 p.m. Development of a Rapid Assessment Method for Wetlands
and Riparian Habitats in California
Joshua N. Collins, San Francisco Estuary Institute
2-2:30 p.m. Integrating Biological, Physical and Landscape Indicators for Wetlands, Streams
and Riparian Areas of the Mid-Atlantic Region
Robert P. Brooks, Pennsylvania State University
2:30-3 p.m. Developing Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Procedures
and Strategies for Montana
Randy Apfelbeck, Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3:30-4 p.m. Enhancing the National Wetland Database for
Landscape-Level Wetland Functional Assessment
Ralph W.Tiner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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Program Agencbi
4-4:30 p.m. Can Nationally Standardized Wetland Breeding Bird and Amphibian Monitoring Data
be Used to Assess the Condition of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands?
JoAnn Hanowski, Natural Resources Research Institute
4:30-5 p.m. Geomorphometric Indicators ofTidal Marsh Condition
Vinton J. Valentine, Marine Biological Laboratory, Mass.
5-5:30 p.m. Value-Added Monitoring Beyond Project Evaluation
Richard C. Raynie, Louisiana Dept. of Natural Resources
Wednesday, May 5
Session 2: Cross Media Salon A/B
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Steve Weisberg (Southerr California Coastal Water Research Project)
Turn DeMoss (U.S. EPA)
8:30-9 a.m.
9-9:30 a.m.
9:30-10 a.m.
13-10:30 am
13:30-1 I am.
I l-l 1:30 a.m.
I 1:30 a.m.-Noon
Koon-1:30 p.m.
From Waypoints to Watersheds: Cross-Scale Explorations of Stressor-State
Correlations for the Inter-Tidal Zone of California
Joshua N. Collins, San Francisco Estuary Institute
Integrating Field-Based Sampling and Landscape Data for Regional Scale Assessments:
Examples from the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region
K Bruce Jones, U.S. EPA
Relative Risk from Stressors to Stream Biota
John Van Sickle, U.S. EPA
Break
An Index of Environmental Integrity Approach for the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region
John F. Paul, US. EPA
The State of the Nation's Ecosystems—An Experiment in Cross-System Integration
Robin O'Malley, The H.John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
Panel Discussion
Lunch
Session 3: Lakes Salon A/B
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Neil Kamman (Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation)
James Harvey (U.S. EPA, Gulf Ecology Division)
1:30-2 p.m. Partnering with Extension forVolunteer Water Quality Monitoring
Elizabeth Herron, University of Rhode Island
2-2:30 p.m. Distribution of Mercury in U.S. EPA Region 9 R-EMAP Study Areas
Robert K Hall, U.S. EPA
2:30-3 p.m. Assessment of Mercury in Waters, Sediments and Biota of New Hampshire and
Vermont Lakes using a Geographically Randomized Design
Neil Kamman, Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3:30-4 p.m. Trends in Hydrophobic Organic Contaminants in Lake Sediments
Across the U.S., 1970-2001
Peter C Van Metre, USGS
4^:30 p.m. Sampling along Human Pressure Gradients in the Coastal Great Lakes
Nicholas Danz, University of Minnesota
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Program Agenda
4:30-5 p.m. The Utility of a Broad Based Approach in Assessing Ecosystem Changes
in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Paul J. Horvatin, U.S. EPA
5-5:30 p.m. From Coast to Offshore: Some Progress on Developing Multi-Resource Designs
for Great Lakes Monitoring
J. R. Kelly, U.S. EPA
6-8 p.m. Poster Session & Reception
Thursday, May 6
Session 4: Estuaries and Near Coastal Salon A/8
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Kevin Summers (US. EPA, Gulf Ecology Division)
PhilTrowbridge (New Hampshire Estuaries Project, New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services)
8:30-9 a.m. Assessing the Condition of Aquatic Resources in Near-Coastal Waters along the U.S.
Western and Southeastern Continental Shelf
Jeffery L. Hyland, NOAA
9-9:30 a.m. Assessing the Ecological Conditions of Southeast U.S. Estuaries
James E. Harvey, U.S. EPA
9:30-10 a.m. Estimating the Condition of Gulf of Mexico Estuaries:
National Coastal Assessment and National Estuary Program
Virginia D. Engle, U.S. EPA
10-10:30 a.m. Break
10:30-1 I a.m. The Importance of Matching the Spatial Scales of Probabilistic Monitoring
Designs with Management Questions
Philip Trowbridge, New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services
I l-l 1:30 a.m. Coastal EMAP in Washington State: Estuaries, Intertidal, and Offshore
Valerie Partridge, Washington State Dept. of Ecology
I 1:30 a.m.-Noon Alaska's Coastal Bays and Estuaries: Challenges and Results
from 2002 South Central Alaskan EMAP
Susan A/I. Saupe, Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council
Noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30-2 p.m. Environmental Water Quality Characterization of the Texas Coast
from National Coastal Assessment Data
James D. Simons, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.
2-2:30 p.m. The Coastal Bend Bays Project: A Proactive Approach in
Coastal Monitoring for South Texas
Brien A. Nicolau, Center for Coastal Studies, Texas
2:30-3 p.m. Tracking Short-Term Variability and Long-Term Changes in Estuarine Systems:The
National Estuarine Research Reserve System-Wide Monitoring Program
Maurice Crawford, NOAA
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3:30-4 p.m. The Value of a Regional Water Quality Monitoring Network
in Restoration Planning in South Florida
Joseph N. Boyer, Florida International University
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ADDENDUM:
EMAP 2004 Symposium Changes and Additions
1. Agenda Changes
Opening Plenary (Tuesday, 8:30-Noon)
8:30-8:45 Dr. Jonathan Garber, US EPA Director of Atlantic Ecology Division
8:45-9:00 Lt Governor Charles Fogarty, State of Rhode Island
9:00-9:15 Ms. Carol Wood, US EPA, Region 1,
Director of Office of Environmental Measurement and Evaluation
9:15-9:30 Magdalena Mook, The Council of State Governments Director of Policy and Development
9:30-9:45 Dr. Robert Magnien, NOAA, Director of Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research
9:45-10:00 Dr. Michael McDonald, USEPA EMAP Director
BREAK
10:30-11:00 Dr. Steve Paulsen and Dr. Kevin Summers, US EPA
"EMAP: Myths, Hobglobins and Crusades"
11:00-11:30 Dr. Frank Muller Karger, Commissioner of US Commission on Ocean Policy
"Ecosystem Management and Monitoring as Viewed by the US Commission on Ocean Policy"
11:30-Noon Dr. Paul Gilman, US EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of Research and Development
Theme 2, Session 1 (Tuesday, 1:30-5:30)
1:30-2 p.m. State Comprehensive Monitoring and Assessment Strategies: EPA's Expectations for
Achieving Comprehensive Coverage, Good Science and Effective State Monitoring Programs
Diane I. Switzer, US EPA
2-2:30 p.m. Ohio's Surface Water Monitoring Design in the 3rd Millennium: The Age of the TMDL
Holly Tucker, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
2:30—3 p.m. Decision Process for Identification of Estuarine Benthic Impairments in Chesapeake Bay
Roberto Llanso, Versar, Inc
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3:30-4 p.m. Targeted Monitoring for Dissolved Oxygen: Mapping the Extent of Hypoxia in Narragansett
Bay, R.I.
Christopher F. Deacutis, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
4-4:30 p.m. Makah Tribal Perspective on Probabilistic Monitoring- Video
4:30-5 p.m. Evaluating Standards using Data Collected from Regional Probabilistic Monitoring Programs
Eric P Smith, Virginia Tech
5-5:30 p.m. Developing Constructive Partnerships with Dischargers: The Economic Benefits of Outreach
Richard S. Davis, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., D.C.
2. Breakfast will be available at 7:30 AM daily
Tuesday breakfast will be in the Bellevue Ballroom; breaks will be outside Ballrooms (LL)
Wednesday breakfast and breaks will be outside the Ballrooms (LL)
Thursday breakfast and breaks will be served in the Bellevue Ballroom to view posters
Friday breakfast and break will be outside the Ballrooms (LL)
3. The Hotel Viking will be offering daily a buffet lunch between 12-2 within per diem
which will include salad, soup and sandwiches.
4. Please see Holly Tucker's abstract entitled, "Ohio's Surface Water Monitoring Design
in the 3rd Millennium: The Age of the TMDL" for Tuesday May 4th in Salon C from 2:00-
2:30 pm.
5. Participant List Additions
6. Participant Evaluation Form
Please turn in to a CSG staff member or place in the Colonnade Room!
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Ohio's Surface Water Monitoring Design in the 3rd Millennium:
The Age of the TMDL
Holly Tucker
Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, Ecological Assessment Section, Groveport Field Office,
4675 Homer Ohio Lane, Groveport, Ohio 43125
Phone: (614) 836-8777 Email: holly. tucker@epa. state, oh. us
For nearly 25 years, the Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water has conducted integrated
watershed surveys in Ohio streams and rivers incorporating a multiple indicators approach
utilizing biological (macroinvertebrates and fish), physical habitat, and chemical water quality
parameters. While surveys have always been planned with watershed issues in mind, early efforts
from the 1980s to the mid 1990s had a primary point source focus due to the need to support
decisions related to the Construction Grants program. However, by the end of the 1990s, it
became readily apparent that watershed survey efforts needed to expand in coverage to include
high priority watershed issues related to nonpoint source impairments of beneficial uses (primarily
aquatic life and recreation). This was a direct result of more emphasis given to Section 303(d) of
the Clean Water Act and the requirement to produce Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
allocations to all pollutants impairing beneficial uses. This presentation will focus on how survey
monitoring design at the Ohio EPA has evolved to address the needs of the TMDL program.
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2004 EMA ' Symposium Participant List
Charles Audette
Environmental Data Analyst
Computer Sciences Corp.
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI02852
Phone: 401-782-3092
Fax: 401-782-3030
Jennifer Bronson
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
6300 Ocean Dr. NRC Suite 2501
Corpus Christi, TX 78412
Phone: 361-825-3204
Fax: 361-825-3248
Harry Buffum
NCA Northeast IM Coordinator
CSC
30 Linden Drive
Kingston, RI 02881
Phone: 401-782-3183
Valerie Cervenka
Apiary Program Coordinator
Minnesota Dept of Agriculture
90 West Plato Blvd
Saint Paul, MN 55107
Phone: 651-296-0591
Fax: 651-296-7386
Jane Copeland
US EPA Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3168
Fax: 401-782-3030
Bill Cooter
Scientist
RTI International
3040 Cornwallis Road
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Phone: 919-541-1249
Fax: 919-541-6131
Steve Bay
Principal Scientist-Toxicology
So. Calif. Coastal Water Research Project
7171 Fenwick Lane
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone: 714-372-9204
Fax: 714-894-9699
David Brown
Supervisory Hydrologist
US Geological Survey
2775 Alta Mesa Blvd.
Forth Worth, TX 76133
Phone: 817-263-9545 ext. 201
Fax: 817-361-0459
Roger Burke
Research Chemist
US EPA National Exposure Research Lab.
960 College Station Rd.
Athens, GA 30605
Phone: 706-355-8134
Fax: 706-355-8104
Giancarlo Cicchetti
US EPA Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone 401-782-9620
Fax: 401-782-3030
Don Cobb
Environmental Scientist
US EPA Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-9616
Lee Doggett
Marine Biologist
Maine DEP
State House Station #17
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: 207-287-3901
Fax: 207-287-7191
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Neal Doran
Florida DEP
2600 Blair Stone Road MS 3500
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850-245-8460
Barbara Foster
Associate Dir. For Environmental Policy
The Council of State Governments
2760 Research Park
Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-244-8000
Fax: 859-244-2001
Linda Fuller
Auditor
USEPA OIGA
1 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02360
Phone: 617-918-1485
Tom Heitmuller
Chemist
USGS
1 Sabine Island Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Phone: 850-934-9373
Fax: 850-934-2495
Rick Hoffman
Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Program
Virginia DEQ
PO Box 10009
Richmond, VA 23294
Phone. 804-698-4334
Fax: 804-698-4116
Martin Dowgert
Regional Shellfish Specialist
US FDA
One Montvale Avenue
Stoneham, MA 02180
Phone: 781-596-7801
Fax: 781-596-7894
JeffFrithsen
Branch Chief
USEPA
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (8623-N)
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-3323
Jim Harrison
Environmental Specialist
US EPA region 4
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-562-9171
Fax: 404-562-9224
Robert Hillger
Senior Science Advisor- ORD Liaison
EPA New England
1 Congress St
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-918-1071
Fax: 617-918-1029
Debbie Janes
ORD-RTP Public Affairs
USEPA
109TW Alexander Dr.
Mail Code B343-03
RTP, NC 27707
Phone: 919-541-4577
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Burt Jones
Professor
University of Southern California
Dept. of Biological Sciences, USC
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371
Phone: 213-740-5765
Fax: 213-740-8123
Darryl Keith
US EPA Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3135
Fax: 401-782-3030
Tiffany Luke
Environmental Project Assistant
The Council of State Governments
2760 Research Park
Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-244-8000
Fax: 859-244-8001
Frank Muller-Karger
University of South Florida
College of Marine Science
140 7th Ave S
St. Petersburg, FL 33715
Phone: 727-553-3335
Fax: 727-553-1103
David Murray
Research Associate
Brown University
135 Angell St. Box 1943
Providence, RI 02912
Phone: 401-863-3531
Fax: 401-863-2700
Deb Pelton
Environmental Analyst
Rhode Island DEM
235 Promenade St.
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401-222-4700 ext. 7545
Mark Joseph
Environmental Protection Specialist IV
Illinois EPA
1021 North Grand Avenue East
Springfield, IL 63794-9276
Phone: 217-558-0416
Fax: 217-785-1225
Barbara Levinson
US EPA
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW 8701F
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-343-9720
Fax: 202-233-0680
Magda Mook
Director of Development and Policy
The Council of State Governments
2760 Research Park
Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-244-8000
Fax: 859-244-8001
Carolyn Murphy
Wetlands Policy and Outreach
RI DEM, Office of Water Resources
235 Promenade Street
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401-222-4700
Fax: 401-222-3564
Steve Paulsen
Research Ecologist
US EPA Western Ecology Divison
200 SW 35th St.
Corvallis, OR 97333
Phone: 541-754-4428
Fax: 541-754-4716
Jerry Pesch
Chief, Monitoring and Assessment Branch
US EPA ORD NHEERL AED
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3088
Fax: 401-782-3030
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Warren Prell
Professor
Brown University
Dept. of Geological Sciences Box 1846
Providence, RI02912
Phone: 401-863-3221
Fax: 401-863-2058
Elizabeth Scott
Deputy Chief
RIDEM
235 Promenade Street
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401-222-4700
Fax: 401-222-3564
James Simons
TX Parks and Wildlife Dept
6300 Ocean Dr, NRC Suite 2501
Corpus Christi, TX 78412
Phone: 361-825-3241
Fax: 351-825-3248
Paul Stacey
Supervising Environmental Analyst
Connecticut DEP
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
Phone: 860-424-3728
Fax: 860-424-4055
Barry Thompson
Designated Representative
American Beekeeping Federation
13201 Moran Drive
North Potomac, MD 20878-3924
Phone: 301-947-4652
Terry Romaire
Biologist Supervisor
LA Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries
2000 Quail Dr
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: 225-765-2394
Fax: 225-765-2624
Ron Scott
Environmental Policy Analyst
The Council of State Government
2760 Research Park
Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-244-8000
Fax: 859-244-8001
i
Charles Smith
TX Parks and Wildlife Dept
3000 S. IH 35, Suite 320
Austin, TX 78704
Phone: 512-912-7097
Fax: 512-707-1358
Jan Stevenson
Professor
Michigan State University
Department of Zoology
East Landing, MI 48864
Phone: 517-432-8083
Fax: 517-432-2789
Allison Watanabe
Environmental Protection Specialist
US EPA Region 1
310 Miller Ave. 3rd Floor
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: 617-918-1582
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Progriun Jkgenda
4-4:30 p.rr. A More Cost-Effective EMAP—Estuaries Benthic Macrofaunal Sampling Protocol
Steven P Ferraro, U.S. EPA
4:30-5 p.m. Integrating and Communicating Results of Sediment Quality Triad Studies
M. Jawed Hameedi, NOAA
5-5:30 p.m. Long-Term Monitoring of Diagnostic Phytoplankton Photopigments to Assess
Ecological Condition and Change in the Neuse River Estuary and Pamlico Sound, N.C.
Lexia M Valdes, University of North Carolina
Thursday, May 6
Session 5: Streams and Rivers Salon DIE
Session Co-Chai-persons:
MichaelT Barbour (TetraTech)
Gail Sloane (Fbrida Dept. of Environmental Protection)
10:30-1 I a.m. Assessing Water Quality and Biological Integrity of the Great Rivers of the Central U.S.
David W Bolgrien, U.S. EPA
I l-l 1:30 am. Assessment of Water Quality in Virginia's Non-Tidal Streams
Using a Probabilistic Sampling Design
Jason R. Hill, Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality
I 1:30 a.m.-Noon Implementation of Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
(REMAP) Western Pilot Study within Idaho
Robert Steed, Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality
Noon-1:30 o.m. Lunch
1:30-2 p.m. Florida's Freshwater Condition: Lessons Learned from Rotation I,
and "Recycling" with a New Design
Gail A/1. Sloane, Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection
2-2:30 p.m. Integrated Analyses of Fish, Macroinvertebrate and Algal IBI's in the Mid-Atlantic
Uplands: A Complete Bioassessment Approach
Thomas Belton, New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection
2:30-3 p.m. Biological Indicator Development and Assessment of Condition
for Prairie Streams in Eastern Montana
Thomas R. Johnson, U.S. EPA
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3:30^ p.m. A Biointegrity Index for Coldwater Streams of Western Oregon and Washington
Robert M Hughes, Dynamac Corp, Oregon
4-4:30 p.m. Ecological Analysis of Hydrologic Disturbance Regimes
in Streams of North and South Dakota
Valerie J. Kelly, Oregon State University
4:30-5 p.m. Water Quality Management: A Case Study of Uganda's
Water Quality Monitoring Network
Robert Mugabe, Uganda Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment
5-5:30 p.m. Analysis of Nitrogen Transport and Transformation in Surface Water
Alaa El-Sadek, National Water Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
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Program Agenda
Theme 2: Methods to Integrate Monitoring and Assessment
for Clean Water Act [304(b)303(d)] Reporting
Co-Theme Leaders:
Dan McKenzie (U.S. EPA, Western Ecology Division)
Matt Nicholson (U.S. EPA, Atlantic Ecology Division)
Tuesday, May 4
Session I: Implementing EPA's Guidance to States Pursuant to Section 303(d) & Section 304(b) of the
Clean Water Act Salon C
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Michael Haire (U.S. EPA Office ofWater)
Eric Monschein (U.S. EPA Office ofWater)
Elizabeth Scott (Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
1:30-2 p.m. Introduction to the Session
Session Chairs
2-2:30 p.m. State Comprehensive Monitoring and Assessment Strategies:
EPA's Expectations for Achieving Comprehensive Coverage,
Good Science and Effective State Monitoring Programs
Diane I. Switzer, U.S. EPA
2:30-3 p.m. Decision Process for Identification of Estuarine Benthic Impairments
in Chesapeake Bay, USA
Robert Llanso, Versar, Inc.
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3:30-4 p.m. Targeted Monitoring for Dissolved Oxygen:
Mapping the Extent of Hypoxia in Narragansett Bay, R.I.
Christopher F. Deacutis, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
4-4:30 p.m. MakahTribal Perspective on Probabilistic Monitoring
Davis Lawes, Makah Tribe, Washington
4:30-5 p.m. Evaluating Standards using Data Collected from
Regional Probabilistic Monitoring Programs
Eric P. Smith, Virginia Tech
5-5:30 p.m. Developing Constructive Partnerships with Dischargers:
The Economic Benefits of Outreach
Richard S. Davis, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., D.C.
Wednesday, May 5
Session 2: Design-Based Approaches for Estimating Approaches to 305(b)/303(d) Information Salon C
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Scott Urquhart (Colorado State University)
8:30-9 a.m. Linking CWA Sections of 305(b)/303(d) Information
Scott Urquart, Colorado State University
9-9:30 a.m. Linking CWA sections 305(b)/303(d)-Small Area Estimation
F.Jay Breidt, Colorado State University
9:30-10 a.m. Estimating Power to Detect Trends in Count Data
Brian R. Gray, USGS
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J^r^ram Agend
10-10:30 a.m Break
10:30-1 I a.m Application of Probabilistic Monitoring Program Designs inTampa Bay, Florida
AnthonyJ.JanickiJanicki Environmental Inc.
I I-1 1:30 am Integrating Probabilistic and Fixed-Site Monitoring for
Robust Stream Water Quality Assessments
Keith W. Robinson, USGS
I 1:30 a.m.-Ncon Complementary Monitoring Designs to Document Regional Gradients and
Temporal Variations of Dissolved Oxygen in Estuarine Waters
Henry A. Walker, U.S. EPA
Noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch
Wednesday, May S
Session 3: Landscape Characterization and Model-Based Approaches for Estimating Conditions of Impair
ment for Waterbodies Salon D/E
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Bruce Jones (U.S. EPA Region 6)
David Diamond (University of Missouri)
Don Weller (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center)
1:30-2 p.m. Introduction to the Session
Session Chairs
2-2:30 p.m. A Landscape Model to Predict Total Nitrogen Levels in Surface Waters of the
Willamette and Central Valleys Ecoregion of the Western U.S.
Daniel Heggem, U.S. EPA
2:30-3 p.m. Development of Landscape Indicators for Potential Nutrient Impairment
of Streams in EPA Region 8
Daniel Heggem, U.S. EPA
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3:30-4 p.m. Development of a Hierarchical Riverine Classification System and Assessments
to Help Define Conservation Targets and Potential Reference Sites
David Diamond, Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership
4-4:30 p.m. Reference Conditions, Degraded Areas, Stressors and Impaired Beneficial Uses:
Conceptual Integration of Approaches to Evaluating
Human-Related Environment Pressures
Jan.J.H. Ciborowski, University ofWindsor, Ontario
4:30-5 p.m. New England Sparrow Model- Potentially Useful Information for
Designing a Stream Water Quality Network
Richard B. Moore, USGS
5-5:30 p.m. Use of Output from the New England Sparrow Model to
Estimate Concentrations of Total Nitrogen in Estuaries
Edward H. Dettmann, U.S. EPA
6-8 p.m. Poster Session & Reception
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-Program AgMdti
Thursday, May 6
Session 4: Developing the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) by Combining Local, State and
Regional Monitoring and Assessment Programs Salon C
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Virginia Engle (U.S. EPA, Gulf Ecology Division)
Tom Malone (Oceans. U.S. Office)
Margaret Davidson (NOAA)
8:30-9 a.m. Assessing the Health of Coastal Ecosystems: Adequacy of Coastal Observations
and the Implementation of the Coastal Component of the U.S. IOOS
Tom Malone, Oceans.US Office
9-9:30 a.m. Developing Complementary Programs to Assess Monitoring Condition:The National
Coastal Assessment and Oceans.US
Kevin Summers, U.S. EPA
9:30-10 a.m. Knitting Together the Coastal Tapestry with Regional Observing Systems
Margaret Davidson, NOAA
10-10:30 a.m. Break
10:30-1 I a.m. Toward an Integrated Environmental Information Systems in the Gulf of Maine
Philip Bodgen, GoMOOS
I I —I 1:30 a.m. Great Lakes National Program Office Role in Developing
the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS)
Paul Horvatin, U.S. EPA
11:30 a.m.-Noon Integrating Regional Compliance Monitoring and Ocean Observing Systems
Burt Jones, SCCOOS
Noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch
Thursday, May 6
Session 3: Landscape Characterization and Model-Based Approaches
for Estimating Conditions of Impairment for Waterbodies, continued Salon DIE
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Bruce Jones (U.S. EPA Region 6)
David Diamond (University of Missouri)
Don Welier (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center)
8:30-9 a.m. Protecting Watershed Resources and Quality through
Utilization of GISTools and Models
Jam A. Bongiorni Ajello, CH2M Hill, Virginia
9-9:30 a.m. Implementation and Initial Results of a Long-Term Monitoring Program
for Watershed Management in the City of Atlanta
Betsy Horton, Clean Water Atlanta
9:30-10 a.m. Discussion
10-10:30 a.m. Break
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Pfogmjrrj _Ayemk
Theme 3: Monitoring to Establish Aquatic Life Uses, Develop Criteria,
and Evaluate Use Attainment
Co-~heme Leaders:
Susan Jackson (US EPA, Office ofWater)
Spence Peterson (US EPA Western Ecology Division)
Tuesday, May 4
Session I: Criteria for Aquatic Life Use, Attainment and Reference Condition Assessment Salon DIE
Sess'on Co-Chairpersons:
G'eg Denton (Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation)
Jin Harrison (U.S. EPA, Region 4)
1 30-2 p.m. Use of Level IV Ecoregion Reference Stream Data to
Develop Regionalized Water Quality Criteria
Gregory Denton, Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation
2-2:30 p.m. Selecting Reference Condition Sites: An Approach for Biological Criteria
and Watershed Assessment
Doug Drake, Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality
2 30-3 p.m. Identification of Reference Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands and
Comparison of Fish Communities between Reference and Non-Reference Systems
Valerie Brady, NRRI, University of Minnesota Duluth
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3 30-4 p.m. Improving Indicators for the Maryland Biological Stream Survey
Paul F. Kazyak, Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
4-4:30 p.m. Diatoms the Organism, Diatoms the Tool: Considerations in
Assessing Environmental Impact
Sarah A. Spaulding, USGS
4 30-5 p.m. A Multi-Assemblage Index of Stream Integrity: What Are
the Fish, Bugs and Algae Telling Us?
Brian H. Hill, U.S. EPA
5-5:30 p.m. Discussion
Wednesday, May 5
Session 2: Physical Criteria Salon DIE
Sess on Co-Chairpersons:
Ed Rankin (Center for Applied Biological Assessments and Criteria)
Bill Swietlik (U.S. EPA Office of Science and Technology)
8 30-9 a.m. Quantifying Structural Physical Habitat Attributes
Using Lidar and Hyperspectral Imagery
Robert K. Hall, US. EPA
9-9:30 a.m. Seeing the Light: A Water Clarity Index for Integrated Water Quality Assessments
Lisa M. Smith, U.S. EPA
9 30-10 a.m. Assessing Relative Bed Stability and Excess Fine Sediments in Streams
Philip R. Kaufmann, U.S. EPA
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Progriirrj J\gen&d
10-10:30 a.m.
10:30-1 I am
I i-l 1:30 am
I 1:30 a.m.-Noon
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Break
Developing and Calibrating an Indicator for Biogeochemical Condition
of Headwater Riparian Ecosystems
Richard D. Rheinhardt, East Carolina University
The Use of a Habitat Assessment Method in the Derivation and Assessment of
Tiered Aquatic Life Uses in Midwest Streams
Edward T. Rankin, Center for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria, Ohio
Discussion
Lunch
Wednesday, May 5
Session 3: Nutrient Criteria Salon C
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Jim Latimer (U.S. EPA, Atlantic Ecology Division)
Paul Stacey (Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection)
1:30-2 p.m. Evaluating Lake Use Impairment Data in Nutrient Criteria Development
Scott A. Kishbaugh, New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
2-2:30 p.m. Using Complementary Tools from the Ecological Toolbox
to Establish and Apply Nutrient Criteria
R. Jan Stevenson, Michigan State University
2:30-3 p.m. Empirical Relationships between Nitrogen Loading and Ecosystem Response in
Buzzards Bay Embayments: Is thereTransferability forTMDLs Elsewhere?
Joseph Costa, Buzzards Bay Project National Estuary Program, Mass.
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3:30-4 p.m. Evaluating and Defining Water Quality Criteria for Seagrass Habitats
Using a Bio-Optical Indicator
Patrick D. Biber, University of North Carolina
4-4:30 p.m. Guidance for Implementation of the Saltwater Dissolved Oxygen Criteria
Sherry Poucher, Science Applications International Corp., R. I.
4:30-5 p.m. Discussion
5-5:30 p.m. Continued discussion
6-8 p.m. Poster Session & Reception
Thursday, May 6
Session 5: Chemical Criteria Salon C
Session Co-Chairpersons:
Steven Bay (Southern California Coastal Water Research Project)
Bob Spehar (U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development)
Paul Stacey (Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection)
1:30-2 p.m. Relationships among Exceedences of Metals Criteria, the Results of Ambient
Bioassays, and Community Metrics in Metals-Impaired Streams
Michael B. Griffith, U.S. EPA
2-2:30 p.m. Using Associations between Biological Field Data and Ambient Water Chemistry
Data to Derive Water Quality Targets
Edward T. Rankin, Center for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria
2:30-3 p.m. Use of Regional Data to Evaluate and Develop Sediment Quality Guidelines
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Prograin Agand
Steven M. Bay, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
3-3:30 p.m. Break
3:30-4 p.m. Assessing the Quality of Estuarine Habitats in South Carolina Using Integrated
Measures of Environmental and Biotic Condition
Robert F.Van Dolah, South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources
4-4:30 p.m. Diagnosing Causes of Benthic Community Degradation in Chesapeake Bay
Daniel M Dauer, Old Dominion University, Virginia
4:30-5 p.m. Discussion
5-5:30 p.m. Discussion continues
Closing Plenary 3ellevue Ballroom
Friday, May 7
Co-Chairpersons:
Amanda Mays, Environmental Program Manager; Council of State Governments
Tbm Fontaine, Acting Assc-ciate Director for Ecology, U.S. EPA, NHEERL
Brian Melzian, Oceanographen U.S. EPA, NHEERL, Atlantic Ecology Division
9 a.m.-Noon Snapshot of EMAP Symposium 2004: What Was Learned; Future Research Needs;
and State and Tribal Feedback
9-10 a.m. Exciting Developments and Discoveries; Breakthroughs; and Lessons Learned
10-10:30 a.m. Break
0:30-1 1:30 a.m. State and Tribal Feedback and Perspective
1:30 a.m.-Noon This Symposium: What Worked; and What Can Be Improved in the Future
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Symposium Oignnizing anil
I'l ogrnin CumiuiMee Listings
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Many thanks for all of the time and effort contributed by the Symposium Organizing and
Program Committees...
Organizing Committee
Jonathan Garber (Chairperson)
Bill Benson
Margaret Davidson
Tom Fontaine
Peter Grevatt
Steve Hedtke
Janet Keough
Barbara Levinson
Michael McDonald
Magdalena Mook
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Atlantic Ecology Division
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Gulf Ecology Division
NOAA's Coastal Services Center
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Western Ecology Division
U.S. EPA; Office of Water
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Research Triangle Park
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Mid-Atlantic Ecology Division
U.S. EPA; NCER; STAR Program
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Research Triangle Park
Council of State Governments
Program Committee
Brian Melzian (Chairperson)
Amanda Mays (Co-Chairperson)
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Atlantic Ecology Division
Council of State Governments
A.
Co-Theme Leaders:
Theme 1
Virginia Engle
Jim Harvey
Neil Kamman
Charles Strobel
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Gulf Ecology Division
U.S: EPA; NHEERL; Gulf Ecology Division
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Atlantic Ecology Division
Theme 2
Dan McKenzie
Matt Nicholson
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Western Ecology Division
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Atlantic Ecology Division
Theme 3
Susan Jackson
Spence Peterson
U.S. EPA; Office of Water
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Western Ecology Division
B.
Committee Members:
Barry Burgan
Steven Chipps
Bob Connell
Chris Deacutis
Erick Emery
Iris Goodman
Holly Greening
Jennifer Hagan
Charlie Howell
U.S. EPA; Office of Water
USGS/South Dakota Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Rhode Island Estuary Program
ORSANCO
U.S. EPA; NCER; STAR Program .
Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
U.S. EPA; Region 6
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Russell Isaac
Pam Cox Jutte
Jim Latimer
David Lawes
Matt Liebman
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Marine Resources Research Institute
Gil McRae
Frank Muller-Karger
George Riekerk
Norm Rubinstein
Geoffrey Scott
Mark Skopec
Bob Spehar
Paul Stacey
Phil Trowbridge
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Atlantic Ecology Division
Makah Tribe
U.S. EPA; Region 1
Florida Marine Research Institute
U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
Marine Resources Research Institute
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Atlantic Ecology Division
NOAA; National Ocean Service
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
U.S. EPA; NHEERL; Mid-Atlantic Ecology Division
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
New Hampshire Estuaries Project
Additional Acknowledgements
We would also like to recognize the following individuals for their significant contribution to this
Symposium:
Roger Blair
US EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Western Ecology Division
EPA Project Officer on Cooperative Agreement No. R-82913201 with the Council of State
Governments (CSG)
Gladys Parks
CSG, Trends Research and Response Group
Logistics Coordinator
Jeff Bledsoe and Lisa Eads
CSG, Creative Services
Symposium Banner, Graphics and Layout
Barbara Foster
CSG, Trends Research and Response Group
Associate Director for Environmental Policy and Deputy Assistant General Counsel
Tiffany Luke
CSG, Trends Research and Response Group
Environmental Project Assistant
Ron Scott
CSG, Trends Research and Response Group
Environmental Policy Analyst
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Abstracts — Oral Presentations
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DEVELOPING WETLAND MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES AND
STRATEGIES FOR MONTANA
Randv Apfelbeck', Marc Jones2, Elizabeth Crowe2, Bryce Maxell3, Anna Noson3
1. Montana Department of Environmental Quality, 1520 E. 6th Ave. Helena, MT 59620
2. Montana Natural Heritage Program, 1515 East 6th Avenue, Helena, MT 59620
3. University of Montana, Division of Biological Sciences, Missoula, MT 59812
Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT-DEQ) is currently in the process of
developing a statewide water quality monitoring program strategy to meet the objectives of
section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act to monitor, assess and report on the status and trends of all
State waters, including wetlands. We are proposing the development of a comprehensive
wetland monitoring and assessment program by including the assessment of wetlands as part of
our statewide water quality monitoring program to evaluate the ecological condition of a variety
of wetland types, including riverine and depressional wetlands, within randomly selected
watersheds. The wetland assessments will be carried out in conjunction with stream and lake
assessments to assess watershed health and to identify the primary stressors.
MT-DEQ is proposing to develop a probabilistic sampling design to make statistical
statements about the status and trends of Montana's wetlands. Hence, we need wetland
assessment protocols that can accurately assess wetland condition and can be linked to Montana's
water quality standards. Therefore, our approach to assessing wetlands will include multiple
scales and a 3-tiered framework that uses landscape, rapid and site-intensive assessment
protocols. For the past two years we have been working in two pilot areas (i.e., Middle Milk HUC
and the Red Rocks HUC) to develop biological assessment procedures for depressional and
riverine wetlands. Future work will also include the development of rapid and landscape
assessment protocols for assessing the condition of all wetland types. This year we intend to
initiate the development and testing of rapid assessment protocols within the Red Rock HUC pilot
area.
Keywords: Wetland monitoring; wetland assessment; rapid assessment protocols
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USE OF REGIONAL DATA TO EVALUATE AND DEVELOP SEDIMENT QUALITY
GUIDELINES
Steven M. Bay'. Doris E. Vidal1, and Peggy L. Myre2
'Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, California
2Exa Data and Mapping Services, Edmonds, Washington
Many types of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) are available for the interpretation of
sediment chemistry. However, information describing the accuracy of the different SQGs for
predicting sediment toxicity or benthic community degradation is limited, often resulting in
controversy regarding which guideline is appropriate for use. One factor further complicating the
decision is that site-specific or regional differences in habitat or contamination characteristics
may affect the performance of SQGs, thus creating uncertainty regarding their suitability. The
availability of synoptic sediment quality data from regional monitoring and other assessment
programs provides the opportunity to evaluate SQG performance on a regional level and identify
the best SQGs for specific applications.
A dataset consisting of matched coastal southern California sediment chemistry and acute
amphipod toxicity measurements for 1100 samples was developed using EMAP and other
regional monitoring data, as well as dredge material characterization information. This dataset
was used to evaluate the performance of six SQG approaches, including the effects range-median
(ERM), consensus median effect concentration (MEC), equilibrium portioning for organics
(EqP), apparent effects threshold (AET), and logistic regression model (LRM). The efficiency,
sensitivity, and specificity was determined for each SQG. Empirical approaches such as the ERM
showed better performance than the EqP and AET. Comparisons with the NOAA Sedtox
database indicated that regional differences in the southern California data influenced the
performance of the SQGs. The southern California dataset was also used to identify optimized
application thresholds for the SQGs and to develop regional guidelines that had improved
performance.
Keywords: sediment, sediment quality guideline, toxicity, and chemistry
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INTEGRATED ANALYSES OF FISH, MACROINVERTEBRATE AND ALGAL IBI'S IN
THE MID-ATLANTIC UPLANDS: A COMPLETE BIOASSESSMENT APPROACH
Thomas Belton'. Richard J. Horwitz2, Camille A. Flinders2, Brian Margolis3
'New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP), Trenton, New Jersey
2Patrick Center for Environmental Research, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
3New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Freshwater Monitoring (NJ
DEP BFM), Trenton, New Jersey
Indices of biotic integrity (IBI) have been developed for fish, macroinvertebrates, and
algae, but correlations among IBI's are often low. These discrepancies possibly result from
different responses of the taxonomic assemblages/indices to various stressors, from biases in
implementation (e.g., criteria for inclusion of sampling sites), from lack of concordance of precise
sampling dates or location among taxa, or from inherent statistical variability within indices.
Integrated analyses of indices can provide more powerful, robust, and defensible assessments if
the bases for agreement and disagreement among indices are known. Furthermore, understanding
relationships among indices is critical to their use for assessment, monitoring, regulation, and
research purposes. The State of New Jersey currently uses macroinvertebrate indices and a
region-specific fish IBI for bioassessment, and algal indices of nutrient enrichment are currently
under development. We examined the relationships among standard fish, macroinvertebrate, and
algal metrics from multiple datasets at 197 sites in the mid-Atlantic uplands (Piedmont, Ridge
and Valley, and Highlands regions) from NJ DEP as well as similar data from a variety of
sampling programs in PA, NJ, and NY. Metric variance was low among datasets within taxa
groups. PCA and CCA analyses showed low intercorrelation among fish and macroinvertebrate
indices and metrics, but a negative correlation between algal diversity and macroinvertebrate
metrics. Ongoing analyses examining the relationship between metrics and land use will be used
to develop conceptual models relating stressors, biota, environmental characteristics, and metrics
for a bioassessment framework and lead to more efficient and effective monitoring protocols.
Keywords: IBI, integrated assessment, fish, macroinvertebrate, algae, land use, streams
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EVALUATING AND DEFINING WATER-QUALITY CRITERIA FOR SEAGRASS
HABITATS USING A BIO-OPTICAL INDICATOR.
Patrick D. Biber1. Hans W. Paerl1, Charles L. Gallegos2, and W. Judson Kenworthy3
'institute of Marine Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
Morehead City, North Carolina
2Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater Maryland.
3NOAA Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort North Carolina.
Seagrass are an important estuarine habitat that is declining worldwide. Much of this
decline can be attributed to decreased light availability to the plants because of reductions in
water clarity due to declining water quality. Seagrass have relatively high light requirements
compared to other marine primary producers and so are more susceptible to low light stress. For
this reason, they have been proposed as indicators of estuarine change. However, it is desirable
to have an indicator(s) that provides an early warning of potential seagrass demise, rather than
waiting until after the fact.
We are developing an optical water quality modeling approach to assess habitat
suitability (water clarity) for seagrasses that will improve early detection of potentially
unsustainable conditions. The optical modeling approach focuses on decomposing the
components of light attenuation through the water column into its constituents, namely total
suspended solids (TSS), phytoplankton chlorophyll (chl a), and colored dissolved organic matter
(CDOM). By determining the relative contributions of these constituents to light attenuation, the
importance of each constituent can be evaluated. Using this indicator in a management-oriented
approach allows a direct link to be made between loading and attenuation. This information
forms the basis of an integrative indicator of water quality that will permit evaluation and
determination of the suitability of water quality in estuaries nationwide for continued seagrass
sustainability.
Keywords: seagrass, water quality, criteria, chlorophyll, turbidity, color, and optical model
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Toward An Integrated Environmental Information System in the Gulf of Maine
Philip Bogden
GoMOOS (The Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System), Portland, Maine
Our nation stands on the verge of creating a national system for observing and predicting the
myriad events that impact America's vital coastal waters. This system will impact he use,
stewardship and management of our coastal regions, and will allow us to protect them from a host
of man-made and natural hazards. Such an integrated system does not exist today on a nationwide
scale, although elements of a national backbone exist within NOAA, EPA, and other federal
agencies. And regional systems are being deployed by partnerships of research institutions
throughout the nation. These systems look to Ocean.US for guidance on becoming part of a
coordinated national system.
GoMOOS is one such regional partnership. GoMOOS meets multiple user needs with its own
data acquisition and modeling capabilities, and a data management and communication (DMAC)
system. But GoMOOS is not the only entity in the region with such capabilities. To integrate with
the others, GoMOOS takes a business-to-business (B2B) approach to information exchange that
is consistent with the Ocean.US DMAC plan, and similar to the approach being adopted by the
EPA. For GoMOOS users, the goal is a distributed, dynamic, scalable and integrated information
management system based on accepted protocols for information exchange. There is no single
protocol. Rather, appropriate protocols depend on specific requirements. For entities that use
Geographic Information Systems (GIS), such as the U.S.G.S., GoMOOS uses Open GIS
Consortium (OGC) web services. For organizations that use relational databases, such as
NOAA/NMFS and state fisheries agencies, GoMOOS employs different services. With the
National Data Buoy Center, GoMOOS uses yet another set of protocols. GoMOOS thereby
integrates data from the various distributed data providers in the region.
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ASSESSING WATER QUALITY AND BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE GREAT RIVERS
OF THE CENTRAL U.S.
Ted R. Angradi2, David W. Bolgrien', Brian H. Hill1, John R. Kelly1, and E. William Schweiger2
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Mid-Continent Ecology
Division, 'Duluth, MN and 2Denver, CO.
The goal of USEPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program program for Great River
Ecosystems (EMAP-GRE) is to demonstrate techniques with which to assess environmental conditions in the
Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers. Previous EMAP efforts have focused on streams, lakes, and
estuaries. EMAP-GRE is providing technical guidance and opportunities to collect and analyze water
chemistry, fish, benthic invertebrate, zooplankton, algae, sediment, and habitat data for large floodplain rivers.
State-level assessments, based on approximately 30 sites per state, should be completed in 2006. The program
is part of EPA's effort to improve the science to assess, and then monitor, water quality and biological
integrity. Because these rivers have complex habitats and form interstate borders, they are challenging to
assess. EMAP-GRE will assist EPA, tribes, and states to report, with known statistical confidence, the
condition and distribution of selected river and reservoir habitats. Robust "snapshots" of condition not only
improve compliance with the Clean Water Act, they facilitate the analysis of trends as is required for adaptive
management. Better understanding of how conditions in Great Rivers respond to environmental stresses will
lead to more informed environmental decisions for river management, ecological function restoration, and
hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.
Keywords: Great Rivers, biological integrity, assessment, water quality
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PROTECTING WATERSHED RESOURCES AND QUALITY THROUGH UTILIZATION
OF GIS TOOLS AND MODELS
Tara A. Bongiorni Aiello. P.E.'. Mary L. Searing2, Ronald A. Etzel, P.E.3, William H. Frost, P.E.4,
Laurens van der Talc, P.E.5
1CH2M HILL, Herndon, VA
2 Office of Environmental and Cultural Resources, Anne Arundel County, Annapolis, MD
3 Bureau of Engineering, Anne Arundel County Dept. of Public Works, Annapolis, MD
4 KCI Technologies, Inc., Hunt Valley, MD
5 CH2M HILL, Herndon, VA
Anne Arundel County is developing a comprehensive Watershed Management Master Pan
for the Severn River. This study will characterize the watershed's baseline conditions and resources,
assess existing and potential concerns, and address short- and long-term opportunities and
improvements. A major task in this effort is to develop a GIS based Watershed Management Tool
(WMT) which will link watershed data and models to give County planners and development
reviewers interactive information on how changes in land use, zoning, BMPs, and other watershed
conditions affect the Severn River and its.tributaries.
The Anne Arundel County Watershed Management Tool will incorporate existing County GIS layers
and environmental data, stream assessment data collected during the project, and several modeling
tools for the County staff to examine present and future conditions watershed. Baseline models will
be provided (present and several future scenarios). The models contained in the tool are:
• Stream Assessment - a data visualization tool containing certain querying and categorizing
functionality for the County to use in their analyses of their stream assessment and bioassessment
data;
• PLOAD - a pollutant loading model;
GWLF - a pollutant loading model that will be used to analyze soil erosion;
• TR-20 - a hydrologic model;
• HECRAS - a hydraulic model; and
• WISE - a regression analysis package that determines the effects of land use changes on the
habitat indices.
The presentation will focus on an overview of the Watershed Management Tool with a
detailed discussion of the PLOAD and Stream Assessment components.
Keywords: watershed management, stream assessment, water quality, environmental data
management tools
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THE VALUE OF A REGIONAL WATER QUALITY MONITORING NETWORK IN
RESTORATION PLANNING IN SOUTH FLORIDA
Joseph N. Bover
Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC), OE-148, Florida International University, Miami, FL
We operate a network of 330 fixed sampling sites distributed across estuarine and coastal
ecosystems of South Florida including: Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary, Whitewater Bay, Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island, Rookery Bay NERR, and Pine Island
Sound. The function of the SERC Water Quality Monitoring Network is to address regional water
quality concerns which extend beyond individual political boundaries. Funding for the Network
originates from different agencies, who see this as a value-added program. The variables currently being
measured include temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, total organic
nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus, total phosphorus, total organic carbon, chlorophyll a, alkaline
phosphatase activity, turbidity, and light extinction.
The large scale of this monitoring program has allowed us to assemble a much more holistic view
of broad physical/chemical/biological interactions occurring over the South Florida hydroscape. One of
the products of this program is a quasi-synoptic "big picture" of nutrient and phytoplankton biomass
distributions over the South Florida coastal waters. The Network has become a well-used resource by
scientists interested in complimentary data and by agencies in the TMDL development. In addition, the
information on nutrient sources, transport, spatial variability, and temporal trends gained from this
program is crucial to measuring the performance of the ongoing $8 billion Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan. Rather than thinking of water quality monitoring as being a static, non-scientific
pursuit, we want it to be viewed as a progressive tool for answering management questions and
developing new scientific hypotheses.
Keywords: water quality, nutrients, phytoplankton, restoration, management
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IDENTIFICATION OF REFERENCE GREAT LAKES COASTAL WETLANDS AND
COMPARISON OF FISH COMMUNITIES BETWEEN REFERENCE AND NON-REFERENCE
SYSTEMS
Valerie Brady1. Jeff Schuldt2, Lucinda Johnson1, Jan Ciborowski3, George Host1, Tom Hollenhorst1, Carl
Richards4, Dan Breneman1 and Joseph Gathman3
'Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth
2University of Wisconsin-Superior
3University of Windsor, Ontario
4Minnesota Sea Grant, Duluth, Minnesota
Identification of reference conditions for large, heterogeneous geographic areas poses a
challenging problem. We developed a mechanism for characterizing disturbance in Great Lakes coastal
wetlands using readily-available remotely sensed data. Within Ecological Sections bordering the US
Great Lakes coast, coastal wetlands were separated into three classes: open coastal marshes, river-
influenced wetlands, and protected wetlands. Degree of anthropogenic disturbance in contributing areas to
these wetlands was assessed using a 'watershed' approach in which disturbance was summarized for each
watershed. Watersheds were delineated in GIS using elevation data. Cumulative distributions of each
variable were used to rank wetland polygons based on minimal levels of disturbance across all axes. A
final ranking of polygons >4 ha was used to identify candidate reference areas for each wetland type in
each Ecological Section. Fish communities were characterized for both reference and non-reference
wetlands to test whether the communities from reference wetlands were distinct from those in non-
reference wetlands. Non-reference wetland sites were selected across a disturbance gradient created using
principal components analysis to summarize the influence of 214 GIS-based environmental and human
disturbance variables for shoreline areas across the Great Lakes basin. Both reference and non-reference
wetlands were sampled concurrently using the same teams and methods. The resultant fish community
data allowed us to establish benchmarks (values and confidence intervals) that reflect the "best attainable"
(i.e. least disturbed) fish community for each Great Lakes coastal wetland type in each Ecological
Section.
Keywords: reference condition, least disturbed, fish community, benchmark, wetland
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LINKING CWA SECTIONS 305(b) AND 303(d) - A STATISTICAL PERSPECTIVE
N. Scott Urquhart and F. Jay Breidt
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1877
Section 305(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to make biannual reports on the
conditions of all waters in each state's jurisdiction. EPA's Office of Water encourages states to use
probability-based surveys to fulfill requirements of that section of the CWA; a number of states and a few
tribes are moving that direction. Once the scale of "impaired" waters has been estimated from a probability-
based survey, the next question is, "Where are the impaired waters?" The statistical approaches of small area
estimation address a similar problem in other areas of endeavor. This pair of talks will address small area
estimation for the CWA from programmatic and technical perspectives. Both of the following talks are
planned for environmental scientists and managers, not statisticians.
Part 1 (Urquhart): EPA has funded the Spatial-Temporal Aquatic Resources Modeling and Analysis Program
(STARMAP) at Colorado State University. It is charged with developing the statistical approaches that would
be suitable for small area estimation. This talk will focus on STARMAP, the general nature of spatial models,
potential covariates, and associated limitations.
Part 2 (Breidt): Small area estimation has been used successfully to extend survey results to areas that lack
sufficient data for defensible estimates from the primary survey results. This talk will focus in the approaches
for small area estimation, some successful examples, and limitations.
Keywords: surface water, statistics, surveys, small area estimation
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INTEGRATING BIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, AND LANDSCAPE INDICATORS FOR
WETLANDS, STREAMS, AND RIPARIAN AREAS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION.
Robert P. Brooks'. Denice Heller Wardrop1, Joseph A. Bishop1, Jennifer M. Rubbo1, Susan E.
Laubscher1, Angela M. Conklin1, Melinda M. Farr1, Sarah J. Miller1, and Timothy J. O'Connell2.
1. Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center, Department of Geography, 302 Walker
Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
2. Department of Zoology, 430 Life Sciences West, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater,
OK 74078 USA
We compare correspondence across a set of biological, physical, and landscape indicators
building on multiple approaches for assessing the condition of aquatic ecosystems, especially
wetland, stream, and riparian components. By using this approach, we are trying to encourage
the development of indicators of ecological structure and function, and to facilitate their holistic
application. Our intent is to erase the boundaries among assessment approaches, so that the
derived information can be applied across waters in an integrated manner. The Penn State
Cooperative Wetlands Center is developing and testing a series of methods for assessing wetland,
stream, and riparian condition which combine elements of hydrogeomorphic (HGM) functional
modeling of wetlands, indices of biological integrity (IBI) for vascular plants, aquatic
macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and birds, and GIS spatial analysis of landscape patterns. We
conducted our comparisons in multiple ecoregions to illustrate selected aspects of the approach.
HGM models and GIS analyses appear to be most reliable for the physical and landscape aspects
of condition assessment, whereas IBIs address biotic responses to disturbance, whether the target
habitat is aquatic or terrestrial. When comparing the responses of these indicators along a
standard human disturbance gradient ranging from reference sites with the best attainable
conditions to severely disturbed sites, we find remarkably close agreement within a habitat type,
and reasonable correspondence among habitat types. To facilitate cross-method comparisons and
integration, we propose that a standard, consistent scoring scale of 0.0-1.0 be used for each
attribute. Striving to integrate assessments across waters will prove beneficial to managers.
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REFERENCE CONDITIONS, DEGRADED AREAS, STRESSORS, AND IMPAIRED
BENEFICIAL USES: CONCEPTUAL INTEGRATION OF APPROACHES TO EVALUATING
HUMAN-RELATED ENVIRONMENT PRESSURES
Jan J.H. Ciborowski'. Jeffrey Schuldt2, Lucinda B. Johnson3, George E. Host3,
Carl Richards4 and Tom Hollenhorst3.
"Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario
department of Biology, University of Wisconsin Superior, Superior, Wisconsin
3Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota
4Minnesota Sea Grant, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota
Various models have been developed to provide a conceptual framework within which to classify areas
and assess the effects of human activity on their environmental condition. We show that locations can be
ordinated along independent hypothetical axes representing specific types of anthropogenic disturbance
('pressure' sensu SOLEC). The ends of an axis represent minimum and maximum pressure, respectively. Axes
diverge from a common hyperdimensional point, representing the absence of pressure (pristine conditions).
The Reference Condition is the suite of locations within a hypergeometric volume extending from the common
point to locations along each axis at which the biotic community is meaningfully different than the community
at the 'apex'. The diverging pressure axes form the edges of a pyramid, the base of which represents classes of
"degraded condition". Correlation (r) between values of two different classes of pressure among locations
define the angle of divergence of the axes (arc-cos[r]), hence pyramid shape.
A "pressure pyramid" of Great Lakes coastal margin habitats is derived using 5 GIS-based measures of
human activity from the Great Lakes Environmental Indicator database of land use values relating to
agriculture, natural land cover, distance from an NPDES point source, and population density in the 295
second-order or greater watersheds. Principal components analysis (PCA) ordinated the 295 sites on two
principal component axes. A plot of eigenvectors of the 5 measures on the two axes shows the shape of the
pyramid base. This pattern is analogous to a rosette diagram of the pressures imposed by human activity.
Keywords: Reference condition, stress, Great Lakes, coastal margin, integration, land use, multivariate
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DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPID ASSESSMENT METHOD FOR WETLANDS AND
RIPARIAN HABITATS IN CALIFORNIA
Joshua N. Collins, Cristina Grosso, Ross Clark, Martha Sutula, Eric Stein, Elizabeth Fetscher.
San Francisco Estuary Institute, 7770 Pardee Lane, Oakland, CA 94621, iosh@sfei.ore.
510 746 7365
Topic: Assess condition of wetlands and riparian ecosystems and projects
The California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) can provide cost-effective,
scientific diagnoses of wetlands and riparian health throughout California. CRAM comprises the
second tier of the USEPA 3-tiered approach to comprehensive wetland monitoring. Tier 1
consists of wetland inventories that can serve as sample frames for probabilistic ambient
monitoring using CRAM. The California Resources Agency and the National Wetland Inventory
are helping to map wetlands. EMAP-Estuaries is helping with ambient monitoring design. Tier 3
consists of intensive data collection to calibrate and validate products from Tiers 1 and 2. The
west coast STAR centers for estuarine health indicator research, the Science Program of the San
Francisco Bay-Delta Authority, the Southern California Wetlands Restoration Project, and the
Bay Area Wetlands Restoration Program are helping with Tier 3 research. Tier 2 (CRAM)
development is organized into regional teams that advise the Pis and a statewide core team. The
basic CRAM assumptions are (1) experts can use field indicators to assess condition and identify
likely stressors; and (2) stressors can be managed to improve conditions. Universal attributes and
metrics of condition have been defined that cut across regions and wetland classes. Regional
teams are verifying sets of alternative states for each metric to make sure that CRAM scores
reflect known conditions of minimum and maximum stress. CRAM will next be calibrated
against existing data that quantify key functions along the middle reaches of stressor gradients.
Finally, CRAM will be validated for each wetlands class, based on new, independent data for key
beneficial uses and ecological services.
Keywords: Monitoring, Wetlands, Rapid Assessment
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FROM WAYPOINTS TO WATERSHEDS: CROSS-SCALE EXPLORATIONS OF
STRESSOR-STATE CORRELATIONS FOR THE INTER-TIDAL ZONE OF
CALIFORNIA
Joshua N. Collins. Martha Sutula, Eric Stein, Cristina Grosso, Eric Wittner
San Francisco Estuary Institute, 7770 Pardee Lane, Oakland, CA 94621,
iosh@sfei.org. 510 746 7365
The EMAP Intensification Project for San Francisco Bay and the Southern California
Bight was designed to (1) assess sediment chemistry, benthos, and vegetation per m2 plot of the
inter-tidal zone; (2) assess vegetation per inter-tidal drainage system and encompassing habitat
patch; and (3) explore cross-scale correlations between landscape-level stressors and the
conditions within habitat patches, drainage systems, and plots. The project also enabled us to
examine patterns of inter-tidal habitat fragmentation using regional rule sets to define alternative
patch types, barriers between patches, and inter-patch distance. Initial results indicate that, as
watersheds fill with people, the number of inter-tidal stressors increases, the amount of inter-tidal
edge also increases, and the integrity of the plant community decreases, regardless of salinity
regime. Cross-scale correlations between stressors and sediment chemistry or benthos remain to
be tested. Since Euro-American contact, the inter-tidal ecosystem has become more fragmented
for most, but not all, endemic wildlife of highest concern to mangers. The fragmentation is due to
a decreased number of patches, and their increased isolation, rather than a change in the relative
abundance of large patches. Small patches of habitat have always been an important component
of these inter-tidal ecosystems. These findings have significant meaning in the context of coastal
zone planning and restoration.
Keywords: Wetlands, Fragmentation, Multi-scale assessment
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EMPIRICAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NITROGEN LOADING AND ECOSYSTEM
RESPONSE IN BUZZARDS BAY EMBAYMENTS:
IS THERE TRANSFERABILITY FOR TMDLS ELSEWHERE?
Joseph E. Costa'. Ph.D.
'Buzzards Bay Project National Estuary Program, MCZM, East Wareham, MA 02538
In 1990, the Buzzards Bay Project National Estuary Program developed a total maximum annual
load (TMAL) strategy to manage anthropogenic nitrogen inputs to protect and restore water quality and
living resources in coastal embayments. The approach was based on empirical comparisons between
estimated loadings and ecosystem response in Buzzards Bay embayments and published studies. Nitrogen
loads were estimated with GIS data and well defined loading assumptions for land uses and sewage
disposal. Proposed embayment-specific loading limits were defined using depth, volume, and hydraulic
turnover time, and consideration of regulatory water quality classifications. The approach was evaluated
and revised using data collected through a citizen based water quality-monitoring program. Mean
summertime total nitrogen, eelgrass coverage, and a Eutrophication Index showed the best correlation
with estimates of loading adjusted for hydraulic turnover.
This simplified strategy had limited management success, in part because of difficulties in
regulating non-point source (NPS) pollution, but led to a more ambitious effort to evaluate 89
Massachusetts embayments using more detailed embayment circulation and ecosystem response models.
This ongoing Massachusetts Estuaries Project will likely cost more than $15 million and take more than a
decade to complete, and will be used to support the regulatory imposition of nitrogen TMDLs on local
government.
During the past two decades, ecosystem models have advanced considerably, but local regulatory
tools for controlling NPS nitrogen changed little. Scientific debate about ecosystem models will continue,
but ultimately, regulators make decisions using the best existing scientific information. TMDLS based on
existing conditions and empirical relationships between loading and ecosystem response among similar
embayments can be an important start.
Keywords: Buzzards Bay, nitrogen management, eelgrass, TMDLS, water quality, regulatory strategies
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TRACKING SHORT-TERM VARIABILITY AND LONG-TERM CHANGES IN
ESTUARENE SYSTEMS: THE NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE
SYSTEM- WIDE MONITORING PROGRAM
Maurice Crawford'
'National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOS, Silver Spring, MD
A key to conserving estuarine habitats is information on how human activities and natural,
events can change ecosystems. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System has begun a
large-scale monitoring effort for the purposes of contributing to effective coastal zone
management. The System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) tracks short-term variability and
long-term changes in coastal ecosystems represented in the reserve system. The initial phase of
the reserve's System-wide Monitoring Program, known by its acronym SWMP (pronounced
swamp), began in 1996. This phase focuses on monitoring a suite of water quality and
atmospheric information. Water quality data are collected every 30 minutes on pH, conductivity,
temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, water levels, nutrients and chlorophyll a. In addition,
weather data are collected (i.e., temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity,
barometric pressure, rainfall and Photosynthetically Active Radiation). A Centralized Data
Management Office located at the Belle Baruch Lab, SC, manages data collected. This office
also provides training for reserve staff on the instruments used by the program, QA/QC, and posts
these data to the Web ('http://cdmo.baruch.sc.edu/).
The program provides valuable short- and long-term data to researchers and coastal
managers. The information collected by this program has been used to measure the impacts of
restoration projects, to examine the duration of hypoxic events and to develop predictive models
on flooding. The monitoring program increases our understanding of how estuaries function and
change naturally over time; as funds become available the reserve system plans to expand SWMP
to monitor organisms and changes in land use/habitats.
Keywords: water quality, monitoring, hypoxia, estuaries, QA/QC and NERRS
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SAMPLING ALONG HUMAN PRESSURE GRADIENTS IN THE COASTAL GREAT LAKES
Nicholas P. Danz', Gerald J. Niemi1,2, Ronald R. Regal3, Lucinda B. Johnson1, Tom Hollenhorst1, Terry
Brown1, and Valerie Brady1
'Center for Water and the Environment, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota
Duluth, 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth, MN, 55811, USA
department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, 10 University Drive, Duluth, MN, 55811, USA
department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Minnesota Duluth, 10 University Drive,
Duluth, MN, 55811, USA
The goal of our work is to develop indicators that both estimate ecological condition and suggest
plausible causes of ecosystem degradation for Great Lakes coastal ecosystems. Understanding the
relationship between human disturbance and ecological response is essential to the process of indicator
development. Sampling designs for large-scale observational studies to develop indicators should
explicitly consider how to select sites across important pressure gradients. In the Great Lakes, the major
types of human pressures include nutrient inputs, exotic species, contaminants, sedimentation,
atmospheric deposition, land use, and human population growth. An impediment for distributing
sampling effort across such gradients is that the gradients are not quantified prior to site selection. We
used over 200 publicly available variables to partially characterize six types of human pressures for the
U.S. Great Lakes basin. To reflect the influence of upstream human activities on coastal ecosystem
condition, we used a watershed-based approach to divide the coastline into 762 units, each consisting of a
coastline reach and a drainage area. The pressure variables were categorized into six types of human
pressure and summarized for each coastal unit using a geographic information system (GIS). Redundancy
within the six pressure categories was reduced with principal components analysis, and the principal
components (PCs) were interpreted as integrated measures of human pressure. The PCs were used to
assess relative risks to coastal ecosystems and to distribute sampling effort in the Great Lakes.
Keywords: human pressure gradients, Great Lakes, sample design, GIS
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DIAGNOSING CAUSES OF BENTHIC COMMUNITY DEGRADATION IN
CHESAPEAKE BAY, USA
Daniel M. Dauer', Roberto J. Llanso2, and Michael F. Lane1
1 Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529
2 Versar, Inc., Columbia, Maryland 21045
Chesapeake Bay is North America=s largest and most productive estuary. Reductions in nutrient, sediment
and contaminant loads were implemented to restore the bay to a more ecologically balanced, productive and
diverse ecosystem. As part of this restoration effort, water quality, plankton and benthos have been monitored
since 1985.
Benthic macrofauna are an essential component of estuarine monitoring programs. One of the major
limitations of macrobenthic community monitoring data is the inability to identify the cause of degraded
benthic community condition. We developed a linear discriminant function capable of diagnosing degraded
benthic community condition due to sediment contamination with a known inclusion probability.
In developing this sediment contaminant diagnostic tool major challenges were (1) selection of the spatial
scale of application of the tool (by sediment type, by salinity regime, over the entire estuarine gradient); (2)
selection of the number of stress groups (contaminant stressed, low dissolved oxygen stressed, combined
stresses, unknown stresses, etc.); (3) selection of a priori sediment contaminant criteria to develop, calibrate
and validate the function; and (4) selection of a metric reduction approach to simply any function developed.
We present the final function with recommendations for implementation and interpretation.
Our presentation integrates several accomplishments of the benthic monitoring program (1) development
of a benthic index of biotic integrity (B-EBI); (2) establishment of relationships between the B-IBI, exposure
variables, and stressor variables; (3) implementation of probability-based sampling to generate areal estimates
of degraded benthos; and (4) quantifying the relationship between benthic biotic integrity and benthic habitat
quality.
Keywords: Sediment contaminants, benthos, degradation, spatial patterns, diagnostic tools, biotic integrity,
and discriminant analysis.
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KNITTING TOGETHER THE COASTAL TAPESTRY WITH
REGIONAL OBSERVING SYSTEMS
Margaret A. Davidson
US Dept. of Commerce/NOAA, Coastal Services Center, 2234 South Hobson Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405-2413; 843.740.1220; Margaret.Davidson@noaa.gov
A quick review and observations on how the federal agencies can, working closely
together with the academic, profit and not-for profit sectors, provide the leadership for a truly
comprehensive and collaborative coastal observing capability to deliver data and products on
national, regional and sub regional scales. Tying up the multitude of loose threads currently
representing individual and institutional efforts is both the greatest opportunity and challenge
before us.
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DEVELOPING CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH DISCHARGERS:
THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF OUTREACH
Richard S. Davis. Esq.
Director, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., Washington, D.C.
Regulatory agencies continue to wrestle with the challenge of developing data sufficient to
determine whether streams are impaired. While data from cost-effective broad-scale monitoring
sometimes can be combined with information from other sources to suggest an answer, confirmation of a
violation of numeric criteria often requires more intensive, site-specific monitoring. The need for site-
specific data is even more pressing when evaluating compliance with narrative standards. Given today's
budget realities, however, it is all but impossible to conduct such focused evaluations of every stream
required to be characterized under Sections 305(b) and 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. As a result,
marginally supported listing decisions often become the subject of administrative and judicial challenges
by dischargers. Responding to these challenges saps agency resources needed to implement critical water
quality protection programs.
Outreach to the discharger community well in advance of listing deadlines can play an important
role in filling data gaps without draining agency coffers. Facing the prospect of having their receiving
waters listed as impaired on the basis of scant or outdated available data, many discharges will elect to
support additional sampling to better characterize current conditions in the stream. Focused sampling for
specific substances or careful evaluation of a stream's compliance with narrative standards often
demonstrate that a stream should not be listed and, thus, are more cost-effective for dischargers than are
post-listing challenges. Eliciting discharger participation early in the listing process, while critical to
tapping this important resource pool, has not been a focus of many state and tribal water quality
managers. This presentation will offer examples of successes in securing private-sector support for
critical monitoring efforts, and will explore the other benefits of forging an early partnership with the on-
stream community.
Keywords: Water quality; monitoring; outreach; partnership; resources.
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TARGETTED MONITORING FOR DISSOLVED OXYGEN: MAPPING THE EXTENT OF
HYPOXIA IN NARRAGANSETT BAY, RI
Christopher F. Deacutis'. Warren Prell2, David Murray2, Emily Saarman 2, Larissa Korhun 2
1 Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, URI Coastal Institute, Narragansett RI, 02882; E-mail
deacutis@gso.uri.edu
2 Brown University, Providence RI, 02912 E-mails: dmurrav@brouTi.edu ; Warren PreIl@brown.edu ;
Larissa Korhun@brown.edu ; emilv saa@hotmail.com ;
A multi-institutional, multi-agency volunteer evening dissolved oxygen survey program was
initiated by the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program in 1999, and continued through summer 2003. Over
these last five years, approximately monthly (summer) vertical water column profiles of temperature,
salinity, and dissolved oxygen (concentration and percent saturation) were taken at over 75 stations (mean
min. distance between adjacent stations 0.8 ± 0.4 km) distributed throughout the upper half of
Narragansett Bay by 6-7 small (20-22') boats. Stations were stratified by depth (<8m, >8m) and dates for
all surveys were specifically targeted for maximum hypoxia risk periods (summer neap tides, evening
hours). Underlying reasons for targeting of worst case conditions and maximum use of cost-effective
sampling equipment will be discussed, along with a presentation of general repetitive hypoxia patterns
and what we have learned from these surveys about hypoxia dynamics in Narragansett Bay.
Keywords: Hypoxia, Monitoring Coastal Conditions, Narragansett Bay U.S., Estuaries, Dissolved
Oxygen, Spatial and Temporal Variations, Monitoring Design.
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USE OF LEVEL IV ECOREGION REFERENCE STREAM DATA
TO DEVELOP REGIONALIZED WATER QUALITY CRITERIA
Gregory M. Denton
Division of Water Pollution Control
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
7th Floor, L & C Annex
410 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37243-1534
In Tennessee, substances or conditions that do not currently have numeric national criteria have
impacted a considerable number of streams. Narrative criteria, which are based on a verbal description
of water quality, have been historically used to regulate potential pollutants such as nutrients, habitat
alteration, siltation, and loss of biological integrity. Accurate water quality assessment on the state level
requires the ability to appropriately interpret these narrative water quality criteria.
Additionally, for some conditions such as dissolved oxygen levels and pH, Tennessee has
historically incorporated statewide numeric water quality goals based on the national criteria. However,
this one-size-fits-all approach clearly has its limitations in a state that contains high gradient, pristine
mountain ^streams in the east and low gradient delta streams in the west.
In order to develop water quality criteria that better reflect Tennessee's naturally diverse aquatic
systems and to improve our ability to perform water quality assessments, between 1992 and 2002, the
Tennessee Division of Water Pollution Control undertook a comprehensive study of reference conditions.
This project was accomplished in several stages: establishment of subecoregion boundaries;
identification of reference streams; collection of biological, chemical, and physical data; analysis of data;
and development of water quality criteria.
In 2003, the Division proposed a set of criteria revisions that incorporated the concept of
reference conditions and recognized natural water quality variability. New regionalized numeric criteria
were established for dissolved oxygen and pH. New narrative criteria, along with interpretation
methodologies, were also created for nutrients, habitat, and biological integrity.
Keywords: water quality standards, water quality assessment, nutrient criteria, biological integrity,
reference streams, jabberwocky.
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USE OF OUTPUT FROM THE NEW ENGLAND SPARROW MODEL TO
ESTIMATE CONCENTRATIONS OF TOTAL NITROGEN IN ESTUARIES
Edward H. Dettmann'. Richard B. Moore2, Keith W. Robinson2, Henry A. Walker1, and Jaime B. Palter3
'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), ORD, National Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, 27 Tarzwell Dr. Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882
2U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), New Hampshire/Vermont District, 361 Commerce Way, Pembroke,
New Hampshire 03275
3Duke University, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences
Durham, North Carolina 27705
The USGS's SPARROW Model is a statistical model with mechanistic features that has been used to
calculate annual nutrient fluxes in nontidal streams nationally on the basis of nitrogen sources, landscape
characteristics, and stream properties. This model has been useful for assessment of water quality in stream
networks. In this study, we explore use of output from an application of this model to New England
watersheds, with higher spatial resolution than in the national model, for assessment of concentrations of total
nitrogen in estuaries receiving these stream fluxes. Output from the New England SPARROW Model,
calibrated using estimates of nitrogen sources and measured river fluxes in the early 1990s, was used with
supplemental data on discharges by wastewater treatment plants into tidal areas, estuary flushing times, and
nitrogen concentrations at the seaward boundaries, as input to a USEPA model to calculate annual average
concentrations of total nitrogen in three New England estuaries: Narragansett Bay, Boston Harbor, and the
Piscataqua Estuary. This USEPA model calculates annual spatially-averaged concentrations of nitrogen in an
estuary using the nitrogen loading rate from the watershed and atmosphere, estuary flushing time, and
concentration of nitrogen at the seaward boundary. We describe previous tests of the EPA model, perform a
limited validation of the results of this application with nitrogen fluxes calculated by the SPARROW model,
and explore the utility of this methodology in wider assessment of estuarine water quality.
Keywords: land-estuary interaction, New England estuaries, total nitrogen, water quality assessment,
watershed model
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DEVELOPMENT OF A HIERARCHICAL RIVERINE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
AND ASSESSMENTS TO HELP DEFINE CONSERVATION TARGETS AND
POTENTIAL REFERENCE SITES
Scott P. Sowa and David D. Diamond
Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership (MoRAP), 4200 New Haven Road,
Columbia, MO 65201
We developed a hierarchical classification of watersheds and stream valley
segments, modeled species distributions by stream segment, and identified potential
reference streams for the eastern Ozark Highlands. The classification identifies
ecological drainage units (EDUs) as groups of similar sub-basins using drainage-enforced
ecoregion boundaries (e.g. similar geophysical conditions) and downstream connectivity
(e.g. evolutionary histories and biota). Aquatic ecological systems (AES) are groups of
watersheds with similar abiotic characteristics, and these are in turn grouped into AES
types. Valley segment types (VSTs) are stream segments with similar abiotic conditions.
Species distributions are modeled to VSTs using decision tree analysis based on
collection data and abiotic variables linked to VSTs. Conservation target streams, a
subset of which may serve as potential reference streams, are identified within each EDU
by selecting the best AES form each AES type based on (1) abiotic indicators and
stressors developed from landscape variables and pollution information, and (2) the
distribution of target biota from species distribution models. Local variables such as land
cover condition are in turn evaluated for VSTs within selected AESes to establish
conservation targets at finer resolution. Further field verification and research is needed
to help set thresholds for assigning relative condition based on indicators, and to relate
indicators to condition in a quantitative way.
Keywords: riverine classification, riverine conservation, abiotic stressors, biotic
indicators, ecological drainage unit, aquatic ecological system, valley segment type
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SELECTING REFERENCE CONDITION SITES:
AN APPROACH FOR BIOLOGICAL CRITERIA AND WATERSHED ASSESSSMENT
Douglas L. Drake and Rick E. Hafele
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland Oregon
2020 SW Fourth Avenue, Suite 400
Portland, Oregon 97201
This talk describes the approach the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Watershed Assessment Section uses to select reference condition sites. The purpose of selecting
reference condition sites is to establish an objective and systematic method for finding water
bodies minimally disturbed by human activities for a given basin or region. The approach consists
of using geographic information systems (GIS) and site specific information to characterize
human disturbance. Selected reference sites are then used to describe "reference condition" for a
specific region for the purposes of stream and watershed assessment.
Site selection utilizes a three step iterative process: 1) Pre-screening, which involves
selecting a region, identifying the primary natural gradients, and using geographic information
system (GIS) information and best professional judgment (BPJ) to identify watersheds with
minimal human disturbance, and mapping candidate areas. 2) Site visits which are used to record
reach level human disturbance and together with delineated watershed geographic information is
used to score a Human Disturbance Index (HDI). 3) Site verification involves examining site
results for any anomalies by reviewing the disturbance information and sampling data. While
reference site selection is not based on in-stream conditions, final verification includes an
evaluation of the biological, physical habitat, and water quality data' for outliers that might
indicate unidentified problems. Verification is completed with the assignment of a "site
classification" grade.
Keywords: reference condition, watershed assessment, biological criteria, human disturbance.
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ANALYSIS OF NITROGEN TRANSPORT AND TRANSFORMATION IN SURFACE
WATER
Alaa El-Sadek' and Shaden Abdel-Gawad2
1 Researcher, National Water Research Center, Administration Building, Delta Barrage, El-
Kanater, P.O. Box 13621, Cairo, Egypt
2 Vice chairperson, National Water Research Center, Administration Building, Delta Barrage, El-
Kanater, P.O. Box 13621, Cairo, Egypt
The water flow in the river is the vehicle needed to carry the water pollution. In this study and
as a second step after the water discharge measurements, the water quality in terms of nitrogen
transport and transformation in surface water has been presented in both spatial and temporal
distributions. The paper is concentrated on the analysis for the August 2002 campaign results for
the Lake Nasser, the main Nile with the two branches, the drains, irrigation canals and rayahs.
The spatial variation of the sampled water quality parameters is presented with the comparison to
the recommended standard (Law 48/1982). Further temporal analysis considering the previous
campaign (September 2000) results is presented. The research concluded that the problems of
understanding the different relations between the water quality evolution, estimating the effect of
river flow and water quality management projects, etc. can not be solved by analysis of
monitoring results and simulation models can have a significant and decisive role. Furthermore,
the study indicated that the water quality models are the tools for analysing, extrapolating and
predicting the water quality. Finally, it is recommended to build up a conceptual simplified model
for the point-sources locations to be able to analyse different scenarios for improving the current
state of the river and drains quality conditions.
Keywords: water quality; monitoring; nitrogen; transformation; spatial and temporal analysis
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ESTIMATING THE CONDITION OF GULF OF MEXICO ESTUARIES: NATIONAL
COASTAL ASSESSMENT AND NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM
Virginia D. Engle, Lisa M. Smith, Linda C. Harwell, J. Kevin Summers
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/NHEERL, Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine Island
Dr., Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
Estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico have been monitored since 1991 to determine the
condition of water, sediment, and biota. More recently, through the National Coastal Assessment
(NCA), U.S. EPA has provided a comprehensive estimate of the condition of U.S. estuaries,
including a regional assessment of Gulf of Mexico estuaries. State-wide, regional, and national
estuarine condition was estimated using common ecological indicators and employing a
probabilistic survey design. Since 2000, through cooperative agreements with U.S. EPA, each
Gulf state has monitored the condition of its estuaries during the summer using standard protocols
for measuring water quality; collecting samples, conducting laboratory analyses, and ensuring
quality control. Supplemental monitoring has also occurred in Gulf estuaries that are part of the
National Estuary Program (NEP). We have treated these NEP estuaries as a subpopulation of
Gulf of Mexico estuaries. In this presentation, we compare estimates of estuarine condition
derived from National Coastal Assessment data to estimates derived from data collected only
from the National Estuary Program estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico. Our objective is to determine
how well NEP estuaries represent the condition of Gulf of Mexico estuaries.
Keywords: estuary, condition, National Coastal Assessment, National Estuary Program
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A MORE COST-EFFECTIVE EMAP-ESTUARIES
BENTHIC MACROFAUNAL SAMPLING PROTOCOL
Steven P. Ferraro1. Faith A. Cole1 and Anthony R. Olsen2
'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), ORD, Newport, Oregon
2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), ORD, Corvallis, Oregon
The standard benthic macrofaunal sampling protocol in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
Pacific Coast Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) is to collect a minimum of 30
random benthic samples per reporting unit (e.g., estuary) using a 0.1 m2 grab and to sort out macrofauna using
a 1.0 mm mesh screen. Benthic macrofaunal community conditions are then characterized by cumulative
distribution functions on endpoints of interest, for example, number of species (S), abundance (A), and
Shannon-Wiener diversity (H'). We conducted an EMAP-Estuaries study in Tillamook Bay, Oregon, in which
benthic macrofaunal samples were collected using both the standard (0.1 m2 x >7 cm deep) and a much smaller
(0.01 m2 x 5 cm deep) sample unit. After performing a probability integral transform on the smaller sample
unit data to adjust for mean shift and scale change, there was no significant difference between S, A, and H'
cumulative distribution functions for the standard and the smaller sample unit data. Benthic macrofaunal
samples collected using the smaller sample unit were, on average, about ten times easier, faster, and less costly
to process yet just as effective for characterizing benthic macrofaunal conditions in Tillamook Bay as those
collected using the standard sample unit. If the smaller, sample unit used in this study is confirmed to be
generally as effective in characterizing benthic conditions as the current standard EMAP sample unit, it's
adoption as a new standard would greatly increase the cost effectiveness of future EMAP-Estuaries studies.
Keywords: benthic macrofauna, cost-effective, sample unit, monitoring, estuaries, and EMAP.
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ESTIMATING POWER TO DETECT TRENDS IN COUNT DATA
Brian R. Gray1 and Michele M. Burlew2
'Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), La Crosse, Wisconsin
2Episystems, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota
Environmental monitoring programs typically aim to describe trends in selected environmental or
ecological metrics. However, little attention may be paid to whether such programs attain adequate power to
detect future trends that are scientifically meaningful within a reasonable temporal period. The estimation of
power to detect trends in monitoring data is particularly challenging when those data comprise counts.
Potential approaches include the use of variance estimates derived from design-based and error variance-
weighted design-based means, and simulations from models that ostensibly represent the design from which
the observed data arose. We used the latter approach to assess power to detect trends in macroinvertebrate, fish
and vegetation counts on approximately 50 km reaches of the Upper Mississippi River. Counts were assumed
to derive from Poisson-gamma mixture processes, local variance (for a given mean) was allowed to vary by
spatially-defined strata, and strata effects were themselves allowed to vary randomly by sampling event.
Multiple simulated datasets from this model, with imposed trends of vaiying magnitudes, were then analyzed
for trend effects. This approach suggests that, at a = 0.05, power to detect future decreases of 5% per year in
mayfly relative abundance, for example, of 80% after approximately 12 years. Changes of 3% per year would
be detected at the same power after approximately 17 years. Doubling sample size per sampling event
decreases these detection periods by approximately four years. An advantage of the described approach is that
the characteristics of the models used to analyze the observed data, to generate the simulated data, and to
analyze the simulated data were equivalent.
Keywords: Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP), Mississippi River, models, statistical power,
trends
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USING EMAP-BASED MONITORING RESULTS IN
MANAGING COASTAL RESOURCES
Holly S. Greening
Tampa Bay Estuary Program, St. Petersburg, Florida
In addition to use of EMAP-based monitoring results in describing national and regional coastal
conditions through the National Coastal Assessment program, a number of state and local programs are
using results from probabilistic monitoring programs to assist in managing coastal resources. When
compared to non-probabilistic monitoring program designs, EMAP-based designs allow additional
information to be assessed, including estimates of the areal extent of environmental conditions.
Examples of the use of EMAP-based monitoring results in managing statewide coastal resources
include the state of Florida, which uses results from their probabilistic sampling program to estimate areal
extent of state coastal waters meeting state water quality standards, and New Hampshire's use of results
from the National Coastal Assessment Program to support 305(b) reporting requirements. The Long
Island Sound Study, a multi-state program, is using results from their probabilistic water quality
monitoring program to meet TMDL reporting requirements and to identify the extent of waters meeting
standards. At the local level, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program is using an EMAP-based monitoring
program to develop and assess acreage goals for benthic quality using the benthic community as a metric,
and the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is developing a probabilistic monitoring program to assess
areal extent of water quality conditions.
These programs and others are finding that the additional information resulting from a
probabilistic monitoring program provides rigorous and understandable results (i.e., percent of an estuary
meeting certain environmental conditions) important for the effective tracking, reporting and management
of their coastal resources.
Keywords: coastal resource management, programs overview, regulatory reporting
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RELATIONSHIPS AMONG EXCEEDENCES OF METALS CRITERIA, THE RESULTS OF
AMBIENT BIOASSAYS, AND COMMUNITY METRICS IN METALS-IMPAIRED STREAMS
Michael B. Griffith', James M. Lazorchak2, and Alan T. Herlihy3
'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati, Ohio,
2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio, and
3Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
If bioassessments are to help diagnose causes of stream impairments, a better understanding is needed
of the relationship between community metrics and ambient criteria or ambient bioassays. This relationship is
not simple, because metrics assess responses at the community level of biological organization, while ambient
criteria and ambient bioassays assess or are based on responses at the individual level. For metals, the
relationship is further complicated by the influence of other chemical variables, such as hardness, on their
bioavailability and toxicity. In 1993 and 1994, a R-EMAP survey was conducted on streams in Colorado's
Southern Rockies Ecoregion. In this ecoregion, mining has resulted in metals contamination of streams. The
surveys collected data on fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages, physical habitat, and sediment and water
chemistry and toxicity. These data provide a framework for assessing diagnostic community metrics for
specific environmental stressors. We characterized streams as metals-impaired based on exceedence of
hardness-adjusted metals criteria (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in water; on water toxicity tests (48-hour Pimephales
promelas and Ceriodaphnia dubia survival); on exceedence of sediment TELs; or on sediment toxicity tests (7-
day Hyalella azteca survival and growth). Macroinvertebrate and fish metrics were compared among affected
and unaffected sites to identify metrics sensitive to metals. Several macroinvertebrate metrics, particularly
richness metrics, were less in impaired streams, while other metrics were not. This is a function of the
sensitivity of the individual metrics to metals effects. Fish metrics were less sensitive to metals, because of the
low diversity of fish in these streams.
Keywords: metals, effects, streams, ambient chemical criteria, ambient bioassays, community metrics, and
Colorado
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DISTRIBUTION OF MERCURY IN USEPA REGION IX R-EMAP STUDY AREAS
/'
Robert K. Hall', Anthony Olsen2, Daniel T. Heggem3, Peter Husby4, and Linda Chambers5
'USEPA Region IX, San Francisco, CA 94105
2USEPA NHEERL-WED 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333
'University of Nevada, Reno, NY 89557
4USEPA Region IX Laboratory, Richmond CA 94804
5USEPA Region IX, San Francisco, CA 94105
Mercury distribution within U.S. EPA Region IX Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Program (R-EMAP) study units is associated with geology and land-use practices. Stream water and sediment
data indicate mercury is mobilized from weathering of ore bearing rock, and atmospheric deposition. In the
Humboldt River Watershed Total Mercury (HgT) in sediment is detected at 26 of 34 sites ranging in
concentration from 0.07 - 1.50 mg/Kg. Lowest Effects Level (LEL) for aquatic organisms in sediments of 0.2
mg/Kg is exceeded at 6 sites, which are located downstream from historical mine sites and downwind from
current mining activity. Mining facilities in the Humboldt Basin reported, in the 1998 USEPA Toxic Release
Inventory (TRI), emitting an estimated 13,560 lbs. of mercury directly into the atmosphere and over 9 million
lbs. are contained in tailings and waste rock piles. In the Central Valley, CA, irrigation canals, ditches and
drains, HgT is found in 15 of 50 sites ranging from 0.1-0.32 ug/L in water and 0.07-0.66 mg/Kg dry weight
sediment. HgT is associated with abandoned mercury and gold mines in the Coast Ranges and Sierras. In the
Walker River and Muddy River watersheds, HgT in sediment is found at 7 of 28 sites ranging from 0.07 - 0.78
mg/Kg, and in 4 of 37 sites ranging from 0.07 - 0.80 mg/Kg respectively. One site in the Muddy River has
detectable HgT concentration in water of 0.41 ug/L.
Keywords: mercury, Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), mercury deposition
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QUANTIFYING STRUCTURAL PHYSICAL HABITAT ATTRIBUTES USING LIDAR AND
HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGERY
Robert K. Hall ', Russell Watkins 2, Daniel T. Heggem3, K. Bruce Jones3, and Phil Kaufmann4
"USEPA Region IX, WTR2, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105
2BAE Systems Advanced Technologies Inc., 3907 SW 5th Place, Gainesville, FL 32607
3USEPA ORD Environmental Science Division, Landscape Ecology Branch, Las Vegas, NY 89119
4USEPA ORD Western Ecology Division, NHEERL, Corvallis, OR. 97333
Structural physical habitat attributes include indices of stream size, channel gradient, substrate size,
habitat complexity and cover, riparian vegetation cover and structure, anthropogenic disturbances and channel-
riparian interaction. These habitat attributes will vary dependent on ecological setting and in the presence of
anthropogenic disturbances. Lidar is an airborne scanning laser system that provides information on
topography, as well as height and structure of vegetation and other ground features. Lidar-derived DEMs, at 1
meter horizontal and 0.3 meter vertical resolution, allow for the measuring of approximate channel dimensions
(width, depth, volume), slope, channel complexity (residual pools, morphometric complexity, hydraulic
roughness), riparian vegetation (height), dimensions of riparian zone, anthropogenic alterations and
disturbances, and channel and riparian interaction. Hyperspectral imagery is comprised of narrow spectral
bandwidths (lOnm) with a continuous spectrum in the visual to near infrared portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Hyperspectral imagery offers the advantages of high spectral and spatial resolution allowing for the
detection and identification of riparian vegetation and natural and anthropogenic features not possible with
satellite imagery. When combined, or fused, these technologies comprise a powerful geospatial dataset for
assessing and monitoring environmental characteristics and condition, and in delineating and quantifying
structural physical habitat attributes at different spatial scales (reach, sub-basin, watershed). Examples taken
from Nevada and Oregon pilot projects illustrate the utility and capability of high resolution remote sensing in
detecting a variety of features (e.g., vegetation type, sedimentation, water column constituents, potential
sources of non-point source pollution), channel attributes, and in identifying ecological condition.
Keywords: physical habitat attributes, lidar, hyperspectral, vegetation, channel dimensions
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INTEGRATING AND COMMUNICATING RESULTS OF SEDIMENT QUALITY
TRIAD STUDIES
M. Jawed Hameedi and Anthony S. Pait
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency have extensively used the Sediment Quality Triad approach for assessing
environmental conditions in coastal bays and estuaries of the United States. The approach, based on
synoptic measures of contamination, toxicity, and faunal distribution, offers weight of evidence to infer
the state of pollution in a given area. The resulting data are presented as listings, tabular matrices, pie
diagrams, or as outcomes of multivariate statistical analyses. Quite often such presentations lack
integration or need an expression that is readily interpretable by resource managers and the public. This
paper introduces an index to present results of the triad by developing a scoring system, presenting the
results on a tri-axial plot, and estimating area of the triangle to quantify the overall condition in the study
area or a particular sampling stratum. The index can be used to compare environmental conditions in
specified geographical areas and gauge the extent and severity of contamination over time. The index is
relatively simple and transparent, i.e., disaggregation of its components is possible for detailed
examination (c.f., Factor Analysis), and it avoids problems with spurious correlations, complex outcomes
of multivariate analyses, and questionable sediment quality parameters and faunal indices. A case
example is presented with data from Galveston Bay that was studied as part of NOAA's National Status
and Trends Program.
Keywords: Contamination, Toxicity, Benthos, Sediment Quality Triad, Index
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CAN NATIONALLY STANDARDIZED WETLAND BREEDING BIRD AND
AMPHIBIAN MONITORING DATA BE USED TO ASSESS THE CONDITION OF
GREAT LAKES COASTAL WETLANDS
Jo Ann Hanowski'. Robert Howe2, Charles Smith3, and Gerald Niemi1
'Natural Resources Research Institute, Duluth, Minnesota
2University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin
3Comell University, Ithaca, New York
We used standardized North American marsh bird and amphibian monitoring standards
to survey breeding birds and amphibians in over 200 coastal wetlands across the Great Lakes.
Our objective was to develop a suite of indicators from these data that could be used to document
and assess the condition of coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes. Wetlands were sampled along a
pre-determined disturbance gradient that was defined by physical, chemical and biological
stressor data from the study area.
We defined the relative condition of coastal wetlands by developing indicators at a
variety of spatial scales that were based on either hydrologic models or local land-use
surrounding the wetlands at several scales. We found that although birds are more mobile than
frogs, individual species presence in wetlands were highly associated with local habitat
conditions. Frogs, which are less mobile, were more often associated with larger-scale landscape
variables. Both groups are therefore useful as indicators of ecological stress because they provide
information from different geographic scales. We conclude that the condition of coastal wetlands
can be ascertained and annual change can be monitored with national monitoring standards.
Keywords: breeding birds, amphibians, coastal wetlands, Great Lakes, monitoring, condition
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ASSESSING THE ECOLOGICAL CONDITION OF SOUTHEAST U.S. ESTUARIES
James E. Harvey'. Corey Garza1, Linda Harwell1, Tom Heitmuller2, Virginia Engle1, Lisa Smith1, John
Macauley1, and J. Kevin Summers'
1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
2 USGS c/o U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
As a means to assess ecological condition, 151 stations located in southeastern estuaries from Cape
Henry, Virginia to Biscayne Bay, Florida were sampled by state agencies during the summer of 2000 using a
probabilistic design. The design used 8 size classes of estuaries ranging from 419.15km2 to 4.19km2. Water
quality, benthic condition, sediment condition, and fish tissue contaminants were measured. The overall
condition of Southeast estuaries rated 'fair to good,' based on these measurements. Water quality was rated
'fair to good' based on measurements of DIN, DIP, chlorophyll a, water clarity and dissolved oxygen. Only
5% of the estuarine area received a rating of poor, while 48% was rated as good and 47% rated as fair.
Southeast estuarine sediments are also rated as 'fair to good', with 92% good and 8% poor. The estimation of
sediment condition was based on measurements of sediment toxicity, sediment chemistry, and TOC. Benthic
condition of southeast estuaries was rated as 'fair'. Southeast estuarine condition based on concentrations of
contaminants in fish tissues is rated as 'good'. Only 5% of all sites sampled where fish were caught(6 of 199)
sites, exceeded risk-based criteria guidelines using whole-fish contaminant concentrations. Neither
environmental stressors nor conditions for aquatic life showed signs of serious ecological impairment during
the monitoring period. However, increasing population growth in the Southeast could result in increased water
quality degradation.
Keywords: Southeast, ecological condition, National Coastal Assessment, estuaries
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A LANDSCAPE MODEL TO PREDICT TOTAL NITROGEN LEVELS IN SURFACE WATERS
OF THE WILLAMETTE AND CENTRAL VALLEYS ECOREGION OF THE WESTEREN
UNITED STATES
Daniel T. Heggem'. Anne C. Neale1, Robert K. Hall2, and K. Bruce Jones1
'USEPA ORD Environmental Sciences Division, Landscape Ecology Branch, Las Vegas, NV 89119
2USEPA Region 9, WTR2, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105
Excess nutrients are a leading cause of impairment to streams, rivers, lakes and the coastal ecosystems.
Excessive nutrient loadings result in increased primary productivity of plant and algal communities leading to
eutrophication and other impacts to aquatic resources. Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for primary
production of plant communities and, when out of balance, is a direct contributor to water body impairment. As
a part of the Western Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), we are developing a
landscape indicator to predict nitrogen loading to western aquatic systems. The key to this work is to establish
a quantitative relationship between landscape pattern metrics and nitrogen loading in streams. A number of
recent studies have shown strong relationships between surface water quality and landscape characteristics. In
this study, a simple nutrient export simulation model based on land-cover composition is used to estimate total
loads of nitrogen to the stream using EMAP surface water nitrogen data collected in Oregon in 1997 and 1998.
A regression model is developed using the landscape metric of nitrogen loading and relating that metric to the
surface water nitrogen data.. This paper describes this model and then applies it to the Willamette and Central
Valley nutrient ecoregions. This model will be a valuable tool for land use managers in determining nutrient
conditions in surface waters and for identifying and reporting impaired water bodies.
Keywords: Nutrient modeling, nitrogen modeling, modeling, nitrogen, landscapes
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DEVELOPMENT OF LANDSCAPE INDICATORS FOR POTENTIAL
NUTRIENT IMPAIRMENT OF STREAMS IN EPA REGION 8
Karl A. Hermann Thomas R. Johnson1, Sarah A. Spaulding2, and Anthony R. Selle1
1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Denver, CO
2 U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Denver, CO
Landscape indicators for potential nitrogen and phosphorus impairment of streams were
developed for EPA Region 8. The development effort included producing selected landscape
metrics for hundreds of catchments related to field monitoring samples of nitrogen and
phosphorus from the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) Western
Study. One of the primary datasets used in creating the landscape metrics was the National Land
Cover Dataset (NLCD). Forty different versions of GIS-based catchment delineations were
created for each site by clipping the full sample site catchment at different interval distances from
the sample site and using different stream buffer distances. Numerous statistical models were
examined for each of the forty versions of catchment-derived landscape metrics and their
corresponding nitrogen and phosphorous sample site concentrations. Final landscape indicators
were selected as the best performing models of catchment interval distance and landscape metric
combinations. The landscape indicator models were then utilized in estimating nitrogen and
phosphorus concentrations in streams for individual grid cells across the entire region. The
indicator map results serve as a tool for targeting areas for intensive sampling in an effort to
improve 303(d) listings for nutrients.
Keywords: landscape indicators, landscape ecology, nutrients, phosphorous, nitrogen, streams,
water quality, assessment
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PARTNERING WITH EXTENSION FOR VOLUNTEER WATER QUALITY
MONITORING
Linda Green1, Elizabeth Herron'. Kristine Stepenuck2, Kelly Addy1,
Arthur Gold1, and Robin Shepard2
'University of Rhode Island, Dept. of Natural Resources Science, 105 Coastal Institute in
Kingston, One Greenhouse Rd., Kingston, R102881
2University of Wisconsin, Environmental Resources Center, University of Wisconsin, 210 Hiram
Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI53706
If you are interested in obtaining credible, comprehensive data on lakes while also
educating local communities on water quality issues, volunteer water quality monitoring may be
your answer. Cooperative Extension programs in the Land-Grant University System of each U.S.
state and territory may be able to sponsor or provide assistance to such volunteer monitoring
programs. The Extension network has community-based educators carrying out public outreach
education. It can reach a very large audience with its message of how local citizens can improve
water quality due to its local contacts and collaborations with numerous agencies, organizations,
and citizen groups. Volunteer monitoring can easily grow in this environment. Currently
Extension sponsors or co-sponsors 36 programs in the U.S. and its territories. We are part of a
USDA-CSREES National Facilitation Project designed to build a comprehensive support system
for Extension volunteer water quality monitoring efforts across the country. The goal is to
expand and strengthen the capacity of existing Extension volunteer monitoring programs and
support development of new groups. Our website (http://www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer/)
contains results from an inquiry of existing Extension programs and a "Guide to Growing
Programs" detailing information on program beginnings, training techniques, quality assurance,
volunteer support tools, outreach tools and funding- with special emphasis on materials that are
available through existing monitoring programs. By linking with Extension, volunteer water
quality monitoring programs can gain valuable water quality data, help educate the public,
encourage citizens to adopt "lake-friendly" behaviors, and bring university science to the
community and community science to the university.
Keywords: volunteer water quality monitoring, Extension, training, quality assurance, outreach
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A MULTI-ASSEMBLAGE INDEX OF STREAM INTEGRITY:
WHAT ARE THE FISH, BUGS AND ALGAE TELLING US?
Brian H. Hill'. Frank H. McCormick2, Michael B. Griffith3, Alan T. Herlihy4,
Philip R. Kaufmann5, John L Stoddard5 and Robert M. Hughes6
'US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
2US Forest Service, Olympia Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Olympia, Washington
3US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
4Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, c/o USEPA, Corvallis, Oregon
5US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon
6Dynamac, Inc., c/o USEPA, Corvallis, Oregon
We compared fish, macroinvertebrate, and periphyton assemblages collected from 400 streams with
stream chemistry, channel and riparian habitat conditions, and watershed land use to develop an integrative,
multiple assemblage index of biotic integrity. Streams were sampled from 1993-1998 as part of the US
Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) surveys of
the Mid-Atlantic region. We correlated 60 fish, 100 macroinvertebrate, and 200 periphyton assemblage
attributes, and fish, macroinvertebrate, and periphyton indices of biotic integrity, with the environmental
variables. On the strengths of their correlations with individual environmental variables and with the
environmental gradients described by canonical axes, 9 attributes (3 fish, 3 macroinvertebrate, 3 diatom) were
selected for a multi-assemblage index of biotic integrity (MABI). The 3 single-assemblage indices and the
MABI were then compared on the strengths of their correlations with the individual environmental stressors
and the with the disturbance gradients described by the canonical axes. In general, each assemblage's attributes
and indices responded differentially to the environmental variables and disturbance gradients, but were similar
in their overall assessment of regional-scale stream conditions. The MABI attempts to capture the unique
stressor-response signals of each assemblage into a single index while retaining the fidelity of the regional
assessment.
Keywords: diatoms, EMAP, fish, index of biotic integrity, macroinvertebrates, regional surveys
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ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY IN VIRGINIA'S NON-TIDAL STREAMS USING A
PROBABILISTIC SAMPLING DESIGN
George J. Devlin, Jason R. Hill. Mary R. Dail, Michael J. Scanlan and Larry D. Willis
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 3019 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's (VDEQ) biological and ambient water
quality monitoring programs have historically used a targeted approach for monitoring the
Commonwealth's aquatic resources. This sampling method is necessary for monitoring regulatory
compliance of pollution sources and tracking local pollution events. However, the data produced by this
sampling method is difficult to estimate water quality conditions across the whole state or in an entire
river basin. In 2001, VDEQ began a five-year probabilistic monitoring program (ProbMon) for non-tidal
streams. ProbMon incorporates a random tessellation stratified survey design that allows VDEQ to
produce an accurate assessment of chemical, physical, and biological conditions in 1st through 6th order
streams. This is the first survey that will provide policy-makers and the public with estimates of the
status of Virginia's aquatic resources with known statistical confidence. Two years of data results include
statewide benthic macroinvertebrate assessments, physical habitat assessments, and water quality data
from fall 2001 (n=58) and spring 2002 (n=61).
Keywords: statistical analysis; stream survey design; sampling design; water quality; and aquatic
ecosystems.
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GREAT LAKES NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE ROLE IN DEVELOPING
THE GREAT LAKES OBSERVING SYSTEM (GLOS)
Paul Horvatin'
1 Program Manager, Great Lakes National Program Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
To date in the Great Lakes region, multiple, independent systems have been created to collect,
transmit, store and retrieve physical, chemical and biological data. An integrated Great Lakes Observing
System (GLOS) is desired by a host of users including ecological researchers, fisheries managers,
emergency responders, water quality specialists and those involved in invasive species control. GLOS is
planned to be a regional node of NOAA's multi-year, national Integrated Ocean Observing System
flOOSl initiative.
The GLOS business plan, slated to be released in fall 2004, will propose governance for a
regional collaborative of data providers and users, and will outline the operational characteristics for the
system, and funding mechanisms to sustain data collection, integration and retrieval. The effort is being
coordinated by the Great Lakes Commission, in conjunction with the International Joint Commission's
Council of Great Lakes Research Managers, as well as a range of federal, state and provincial agencies,
academic institutions, and relevant nongovernmental organizations.
The EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPOj is expected to play a key role in the
GLOS regional association, as a data provider of limnologic, chemical, and biologic data collected by
marine fleet operations and from grantees who are conducting specialized research across the system.
1
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THE UTILITY OF A BROAD-BASED APPROACH IN ASSESSING ECOSYSTEM
CHANGES IN THE LAURENTIAN GREAT LAKES
Paul J, Horvatin' and Richard P. Barbiero2
'Great Lakes National Program Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago EL
2CSC, 1359 W. Elmdale Ave., Chicago LL
The Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) has primary responsibility within the U.S. monitoring the offshore
waters of the Great Lakes. Two of the main goals of the monitoring program are tracking
recovery from eutrophication and assessing the impacts of a growing number of invasive species.
These large systems are still imperfectly understood, and the variables constituting useful
'signals' can often be unexpected. Therefore the GLNPO monitoring program has adopted an
approach that tracks a broad range of limnological variables, and also employs detailed
taxonomic analyses of planktonic communities. Two recent examples of trends detected in the
lakes illustrate the utility of this approach.
Although phosphorus loading to Lake Michigan has been greatly reduced in the past 30
years, corresponding trends in in-lake phosphorus concentrations have been obscured by high
variability. Recovery from eutrophication in the lake has been more apparent from changes in
silica, due to the nature of phosphorus-silica dynamics in the lake. Recent increases in silica
concentrations, therefore, have provided the most compelling evidence to date that phosphorus
load reductions are impacting the Lake Michigan ecosystem.
Bythotrephes longimanus, a predatory cladoceran from northern Europe, invaded the
Great Lakes in the 1980s. Vulnerability to Bythotrephes predation is apparently species-specific,
and the organism has altered cladoceran community structure in the lakes, without changing total
cladoceran numbers. While changes to the cladoceran community have been dramatic, they
would have gone undetected with a less detailed taxonomic monitoring program.
Keywords: eutrophication, invasive species, water quality.
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A BIOEVTEGRITY INDEX FOR COLDWATER STREAMS OF WESTERN OREGON AND
WASHINGTON
Robert M. Hughes. Dynamac Corp, 200 SW 35th St, Corvallis, OR 97333, 541-754-4516,
hughes.bob@,epa.gov. Shay Howlin, West Inc., 2003 Central Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001, 307-634-1756,
showlin@west-inc.com. Philip R. Kaufmann, USEPA, 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333, 541-754-
4451, kaufmann.phil@epa.gov.
We developed, tested, and applied an index of biological integrity (IBI) for fish and amphibian
assemblages in coldwater streams of the Oregon and Washington Coast Range. A probability sample of 104
wadeable sites was quantitatively sampled for "fish and amphibian assemblages, and physical and chemical
habitat from 1994 to 1996. Natural gradients and anthropogenic disturbances were assessed by examining
digital data for catchment-scale road density and vegetation cover, along with site-scale physical and chemical
habitat data. A set of 109 candidate metrics was evaluated for variance properties, redundancy, and
responsiveness to multiple measures of disturbance, resulting in the selection of 8 metrics for the index. The
IBI itself was subsequently evaluated for variance and responsiveness to disturbance, then compared against an
independently selected set of 101 reference sites that had minimal anthropogenic disturbance. Our IBI was
fairly precise, with an among-stream variance/index-period (error) variance ratio of 4.7 (indicating a theoretical
maximum correlation of 0.83 between IBI and a predictor variable with a similar ratio). The IBI was
significantly correlated with multiple estimates of anthropogenic disturbance, and reference sites had
significantly higher IBI scores than the non-reference sites. Applying this IBI, we assessed fish assemblage
condition in the Coast Range, inferring our results to all mapped (1:100,000-scale) wadeable streams in this
region. Using the fifth percentile of reference sites as a biological criterion, 43% of stream kilometers (10,173
km) were classified as impaired. High IBI scores clustered near national parks and wilderness areas.
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ASSESSING THE CONDITION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES IN NEAR-COASTAL
WATERS ALONG THE U.S. WESTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN CONTINENTAL
SHELF
Jeffrey L. Hvland1. Walter G. Nelson2, and J. Kevin Summers3
'National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Center for Coastal Environmental Health
and Biomolecular Research, Charleston SC, USA
2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Newport OR, USA
3U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze FL, USA
' An effort is underway by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and coastal states to assess condition of
aquatic resources in near-coastal waters of the continental shelf on both coasts of the U.S.
Methods follow the probabilistic sampling approach of EMAP (Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program) to support statistical estimation of the spatial extent of condition with
respect to various measured indicators. Sampling was conducted along the west coast in June
2003 at 150 stations from Straits of Juan de Fuca, WA to Pt. Conception, CA at depths of 30-
120m. Indicators at each site included measures of general habitat condition, water quality,
benthic condition, and pollutant exposure. A companion survey, led by the Southern California
Water Resources Research Project, also was conducted between Pt. Conception and the Mexican
border. Along the U.S. southeastern coast, similar methods were used in 2004 to assess condition
at 50 stations m shelf waters (~10-100m) from Nags Head, NC to West Palm Beach, FL. Results
of these surveys provide new information for assessing condition in near-coastal waters over
multiple state, regional, and national spatial scales. In addition, stations are included in all five
NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries on the west coast, as well as the Gray's Reef National
Marine Sanctuary on the east coast, thus providing an opportunity to assess condition in
sanctuaries versus surrounding shelf waters. The program also demonstrates the benefits of
performing science through partnerships bringing together complementary capabilities and
resources from a variety of federal, state, and academic institutions.
Keywords: condition of aquatic resources, near-coastal, continental shelf waters, U.S. west
coast, U.S. southeastern coast, South Atlantic Bight, science through partnerships, EMAP
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APPLICATION OF PROBABILISTIC MONITORING PROGRAM DESIGNS IN
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA
Anthony J. Janicki'. David L. Wade1,
Steven A. Grabe2, Robert G. McConnell3, and Andrew P. Squires4
'Janicki Environmental, Inc., St. Petersburg, Florida
Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County
3Tampa Bay Water, Clearwater, Florida
4Pinellas County Department of Environmental Management, Clearwater, Florida
Several monitoring programs currently operating on Tampa Bay and some of its
tributaries have been designed using probability-based approaches. These include an annual
EMAP-based benthic monitoring program, a hydrobiological monitoring program established to
assess the potential impacts of freshwater diversions and a seawater desalination discharge, and
an assessment of water quality in the shallow, nearshore area of a coastal county where critical
habitats are found. In each of these cases, the critical element in their designs was the clear and
concise statement of program goals.
The Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring Program has been operating since 1993. Areal
estimates of estuarine benthic community and habitat condition have been derived working with
EPA staff. Recent development of a benthic index allows more meaningful interpretation of the
monitoring results for local resource managers and policy makers. The Tampa Bay Water
Hydrobiological Program has been operating since 2000 and includes water quality, benthic, and
fish sampling elements. Pinellas County recently initiated monitoring of water quality in the
shallow waters (< 2 m depth) along its coastline that extends from Tampa Bay to the Gulf of
Mexico. The County recognized the importance of these shallow waters with respect to seagrass
and the biota that utilize the nearshore habitat.
Keywords: Tampa Bay, monitoring design, local governments
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BIOLOGICAL INDICATOR DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF CONDITION
FOR PRAIRIE STREAMS IN EASTERN MONTANA
Robert G. Bramblett'. Thomas R. Johnson2. Ted R. Angradi2, Karl A. Hermann2,
Sarah A. Spaulding3, Peter C. Ismert2, and Anthony R. Selle2
'Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Denver, CO
3U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Denver, CO
Sampling for a Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (REMAP) study
of the northern plains of eastern Montana was undertaken during the late summers of 1999, 2000,
and 2001. The main objectives were to develop biological indicators and determine the condition
of prairie streams in the Northwestern Glaciated Plains and Northwestern Great Plains
ecoregions. Chemical, biological (fish, macroinvertebrates, and periphyton), and physical habitat
parameters were sampled at a total of 67 stream reaches. Forty-four sites were selected using a
probability design. An additional 23 sites were selected either randomly or by using best
professional judgment to ensure that the full range of human influence on streams was captured.
We avoided stream reaches immediately downstream of mountainous areas as they may have
contained coldwater aquatic species unrepresentative of prairie streams. Indices of biological
integrity (IBIs) were successfully developed for both fish and macroinvertebrates. Following the
development of IBIs, an assessment of stream condition within the northern plains of Montana
was completed. This assessment used IBIs, chemical and physical habitat data to determine the
percentage of stream length in good, fair and poor condition. Additional work was done
comparing landscape metrics with data collected at each stream reach.
Keywords: biological indicators, prairie streams, IBIs, water quality, assessment, landscape
metrics
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INTEGRATING FIELD-BASED SAMPLING AND LANDSCAPE DATA FOR REGIONAL
SCALE ASSESSMENTS: EXAMPLES FROM THE UNITED STATES MID-ATLANTIC
REGION
K. Bruce Jones', James D. Wickham2, and Anne C. Neale1
'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development,
Exposure Research Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada USA
2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development,
Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina USA
Spatially explicit identification of status and changes in ecological conditions over large,
regional areas is key to targeting and prioritizing areas for potential further study and environmental
protection and restoration. A critical limitation to this point has been our ability to integrate field-based
measures of ecological conditions, such as those being collected by the Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (EMAP), with spatially continuous landscape and biophysical data. Relatively new
spatial data derived from satellite imagery and other sources, the development of statistical approaches
and models, and geographic information systems make it possible to evaluate ecological conditions and
changes at multiple scales over broad geographic regions. This presentation highlights results of three
studies in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States where the aim of each of these studies was a
regional scale assessment based on integration of field-based and spatially continuous data.
Keywords: regional assessment, landscape indicators, landscape models, integration, streams, breeding
birds
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ASSESSMENT OF MERCURY IN WATERS, SEDIMENTS AND BIOTA OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT LAKES USING A GEOGRAPHICALLY
RANDOMIZED DESIGN
Neil C. Kamman, Peter M. Lorey, Charles T. Driscoll, Bob Estabrook, Drew Major, Bernie
Pientka, Ed Glassford.
VT Department of Environmental Conservation 103 S Main ION Waterbury VT
05671-0408 (802) 241-3795 (tel) (802) 241-3287 (fax)
In response to a growing need for detailed information regarding mercury in the New
England region, an assessment of Hg in waters, sediments, and biota of Vermont and New
Hampshire lakes was made during the period 1998-2000. Lakes were selected for sampling
following USEPA regional environmental monitoring and assessment program protocols.
Ninety-three lakes were sampled for mercury, methylmercury and ancillary parameters in
epilimnetic and hypolimnetic waters, and in sediments. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) muscle
tissue from study lakes containing perch were also analyzed for mercury. The resultant dataset
was opportunistically analyzed using multivariate techniques. Aqueous total and methylmercury
concentrations were elevated in dystrophic and eutrophic lakes. Perch tissue concentrations were
elevated by approximately 0.218 mg g in dystrophic lakes over remaining waterbody types, and
were very low in eutrophic lakes. Principal components analysis indicated that while total and
methylmercury increased in response to increasing lake acidity and productivity, tissue mercury
concentrations only increased with increasing acidity. A set of linear discriminant models,
developed to estimate whether lakes would exhibit fish tissue mercury concentrations in excess of
the current USEPA 0.3 mg g"1 fish tissue methylmercury criterion, indicated that age-adjusted
yellow perch tissue in 40.2% (+/- 13%) of lakes exceed the criterion. Based on this model, lakes
m New Hampshire were twice as likely to exhibit criterion violations as Vermont lakes. The
dataset produced in conjunction with this study can provide useful information to target
additional assessments to refine tissue consumption advisories, and serves as a baseline against
which the success of future reductions in atmospheric mercury deposition can be assessed.
Keywords: Biodilution, Fish tissue, Mercury, Water, Watershed
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ASSESSING RELATIVE BED STABILITY AND EXCESS FINE SEDIMENTS IN STREAMS
Philip R. Kaufmann'. David P. Larsen1, and John M. Faustini2
'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD, Corvallis, OR 97333
2Oregon State University, Corvallis OR, 97333
Excess fine sedimentation is recognized as a leading cause of water quality impairment in surface
waters in the United States. We developed an index of Relative Bed Stability (RBS) that factors out natural
controls on streambed particle size to allow evaluation of the role of human activities in stream bed
sedimentation. This index is designed for rapid synoptic regional surveys such as the EPA's EMAP. RBS is
calculated as the ratio of the geometric mean diameter of particles on the stream bed (Dgm) to the bankfull
critical diameter (Dcbf), which is the largest particle size mobilized by bankfull flows that occur every 1 to 3
years. We adjust Dcbf for large wood and channel roughness that diminish stream erosive power. We
examined evidence of anthropogenic sedimentation in a probability sample of 104 Pacific Northwest streams
using summer low flow measurements. LoglO[RBS] values between -0.7 and +0.6 in streams with low human
disturbance suggested approximate balance between sediment supply and transport; low values (-1.5 to -3.0)
indicated excess fine sediment in streams with substantial riparian and basin disturbances. Streams draining soft
sedimentary lithology showed greater response to these disturbances than did those in hard basalt. Stronger
correlations between land disturbance and Dgm (negative) than with Dcbf (zero or positive) suggest that land
use activities have augmented sediment supplies and increased streambed fine sediments. RBS has strong
potential for use in regional monitoring and assessment, as well as for 303(d) listing of streams with excess fine
sediments.
Keywords: sediment, physical habitat, streams, human disturbances, land use, riparian condition.
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IMPROVING INDICATORS FOR THE MARYLAND BIOLOGICAL STREAM
SURVEY
Paul F. Kazvak
Maryland Dept. Natural Resources
Tawes State Office Bldg., C-2, Annapolis, MD 21401
The Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS) currently uses validated Indices of
Biological Integrity (IBIs) for fish (FIBI) and benthic macroi'nvertebrates (BIBI) to characterize
the health of streams and rivers in the state. Both FIBI and BIBI have been used extensively,
including incorporation as biocriteria by Maryland Department of the Environment, the agency
responsible for water quality regulations in Maryland. In addition, a multimetric index for stream
salamanders has been developed and tested but not yet applied. Although the ability of MBSS
IBIs to discern between impaired and unimpaired streams was determined to be adequate for
water quality management in Maryland, improvements may be possible that justify switching to a
revised indicator or indicator suite. This paper will outline a current effort to evaluate changes to
existing IBIs, including: tightening of reference criteria, development of specific coldwater and
blackwater stream versions of the IBI, testing several new metrics, using continuous scoring for
metrics, and changing to a 0 to 100 rating scale. Any revisions to IBIs will be considered within
the context of costs such as recalculating scores for historical data, training partner agencies to
use the new indicators, and outreach efforts to ensure acceptance.
Keywords: biological indicators; biocriteria applications; aquatic management; IBI
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FROM COAST TO OFFSHORE:
SOME PROGRESS ON DEVELOPING MULTI-RESOURCE DESIGNS FOR GREAT LAKES
MONITORING
Kelly. J.R, P. Yurista, J. Morrice, G. Peterson, J. Scharold, M. Sierszen, C. West
All at: U. S. EPA, National Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth MN
In the next generation of monitoring the condition of very large aquatic systems, we need to explore
designs that integrate across multiple aquatic resource types, including coastal subsystems, nearshore, and
offshore components, which together make up the total hydroscape. This recognition raises a number of issues,
including: definition and discrimination among resource types (especially challenging in open or semi-open
waters), relevant indicators of condition for each defined resource, and the potential for integration across
resources to assess overall condition. Our recent efforts have used a variety of continuous in situ sensing
technologies for synoptic mapping, as well as food web analysis (stable isotopes) to explore two themes. One
is, can we establish an ecological basis for defining the bounds of nearshore resources (open waters and semi-
enclosed embayments)? A second theme couples with the Great Lakes Environmental Indicators (GLEI)
project, to explore the strength of linkage to landscape conditions among coastal resource types, judged on the
basis of lower trophic web condition indicators. Specific examples from recent Great Lakes-wide coastal field
studies (2001 -2003) explore these two themes to identify promise and challenge of developing a multi-resource
monitoring approach. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.
Keywords: Great Lakes condition monitoring, coastal resources, integrated design
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ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF HYDROLOGIC DISTURBANCE REGIMES IN
STREAMS OF NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA
Valerie J. Kelly. Oregon State University, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis OR 97331
Streamflow variability is an important component of physical disturbance in streams, and
is likely to be a major organizing feature of habitat for stream fishes. The disturbance regime in
streams is frequently described by the variability in streamflow from both floods and prolonged
low-flow periods. Streamflow disturbance is generally measured by the intensity, frequency, and
predictability of timing for these extreme streamflow patterns. These ecologically-relevant
streamflow metrics facilitate understanding the response of fish assemblages to physical habitat
conditions. This study evaluates the utility of metrics derived from flood- and low-flow
frequency distributions to describe the characteristics of fish assemblages in Dakota streams of
the upper Missouri Basin. Data are provided from the USEPA's Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (EMAP) in the West. Flood- and low-flow frequency distributions are
determined for EMAP sites from regional streamflow analysis of data from the U.S. Geological
Survey. The preliminary analysis of streamflow patterns and fish assemblage structure is focused
on identifying distinct stream and community types, and determining the association between
patterns of streamflow variation and those of habitat and biota.
Keywords: streamflow regime, variability, floods, low flow, disturbance, EMAP
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EVALUATING LAKE USE IMPAIRMENT DATA IN NUTRIENT CRITERIA
DEVELOPMENT
Scott A. Kishbaugh
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Albany, New York
The NYSDEC recently completed a two year study for EPA Regions I, II and V
involving the use of use impairment data linked with water quality data to identify reference
conditions as part of the nutrient criteria development process. Data were evaluated from eight
states and three EPA regions, all collected in a similar manner using standardized lake perception
surveys, spread over eight aggregate EPA ecoregions, twenty-six level III EPA ecoregions, and
200,000 samples. Data were evaluated using a variety of methodologies to identify reference
conditions, mostly consistent with historical methodologies used to identify intrastate ecoregions
and the EPA CALM methodology used to identify support of designated uses. Reference
conditions are defined as the 75 th percentile of the reference dataset, consistent with the EPA
recommendations. The first methodology presented defines reference waterbodies as those that
are "slightly impaired" at a frequency of <10%, consistent with the CALM methodology (as
adapted by several states) for "fully supporting" designated uses. The second methodology
defines reference as corresponding to sampling conditions described as "could not be nicer" or
(having) "very minor aesthetic problems". The third methodology assigns the percentage of lakes
meeting the criteria in the first methodology to the entire EPA nutrient dataset. This presentation
provides a summary of the resulting nutrient criteria based on these three methodologies in each
of the major aggregate and level III ecoregions in EPA Region I, and provides an example of the
use of these data in developing final nutrient criteria in one ecoregion.
Keywords: nutrients, criteria, lake, impairment, volunteer monitoring
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MAKAH TRIBAL PERSPECTIVE ON PROBABILISTIC MONITORING
David Lawes1. Vincent Cooke', James Harvey2, and Tom Heitmuller3
'Makah Tribe, Neah Bay, WA 98357
2U.S. EPA, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
3USGS, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Tribes are sovereign and independent nations, many have treaty-reserved rights to hunt, fish and gather
outside the borders of their reservation lands. Further, the U.S. government has a trust responsibility (recently
re-affirmed by President George Bush through Executive Order: Preserve America, March 2003) to protect the
health and well-being of tribes. Tribes have a history of concern for the environment and the authority to
manage decisions and actions affecting the quality of their environment. Coastal tribes regularly engage in
commercial and subsistence fishing and hunting and have aquatic organism consumption rates approximately
lOx higher than the average American; therefore coastal tribes face greater health risks from pollutant
accumulations in fish and marine mammals. Many of these pollutants originate outside tribal lands, yet still
threaten tribal health and well-being. These pollutants threaten salmon, shellfish, and other natural resources
on which tribes, particularly small coastal tribes, depend for their survival and for their culture. Tribal
programs have conducted environmental sampling for many years, however most sampling efforts are focused
on a particular site, issue or stressor. Probabilistic sampling methods, such as those offered by EPA'sNational
Coastal Assessment Program for tribal monitoring will allow establishment of baseline conditions,
identification of trends in degradation or recovery, and estimation of the areal extent of resource condition with
known confidence. This type of unbiased assessment will help tribal managers and decision makers
understand the spatial extent and relative importance of various stressors and impacts, and therefore better
focus resource management actions.
Keywords: Tribes, Makah, probabilistic monitoring, estuarine assessment, National Coastal Assessment
Program
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ASSESSING THE HEALTH OF COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS: ADEQUACY OF COASTAL
OBSERVATIONS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COASTAL COMPONENT OF THE
U.S. INTEGRATED OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM (IOOS)
Thomas C. Malone
1 Professor, Hom Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Director, Ocean.US Office for Integrated and Sustained Ocean Observations
It is becoming increasing clear that the goals and missions of government agencies responsible
for environmental protection, resource management and coastal zone management can only be achieved
through ecosystem-based, adaptive management. Adaptive management depends on the capability to
assess and anticipate changes in the status of coastal ecosystems and living resources on local to national
scales and to do so repeatedly, routinely and quantitatively at rates required for decision making. We do
not have this capacity today, not because we lack the technologies and knowledge, but because adaptive
management requires an integrated, operational system that efficiently links monitoring, data
management, and data analysis to the needs of decision makers.
EMAP and its STAR program exemplify the problem. These important research efforts focus on
developing indicators that can be used to assess changes in the condition of the nation's ecosystems and to
predict their consequences. Now is the time to take the next step. Establish an integrated observing
system for the guaranteed provision of data and information required to compute key indicators
repeatedly and routinely on time scales required for ecosystem-based adaptive management of human
activities from alterations of nutrient and water cycles to modifying habitats and harvesting marine
resources. This is a goal of the IOOS, successful development of which depends on making more
effective use of and enhancing existing assets and programs through multi-agency coordination and
collaboration. The recent commitment of EPA to engage in the development of the IOOS as both a data
provider and user marks an important milestone in this regard.
1
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NEW ENGLAND SPARROW MODEL - POTENTIALLY USEFUL INFORMATION
FOR DESIGNING A STREAM WATER-QUALITY NETWORK
Richard B. Moore and Keith W. Robinson
U.S. Geological Survey, Pembroke, New Hampshire
The New England SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed Attributes models (New
England SPARROW) are spatially detailed regression models that relate annual nutrient stream
loads (phosphorus and nitrogen) to potential sources and watershed characteristics. These
statistical relations are used to predict nutrient loads in unmonitored streams. The U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEWDPCC), has
developed these water-quality models to assist in the determination of regional total maximum
daily loads (TMDL) and in the development of regional nutrient criteria options for New
England.
The New England SPARROW models are built using a hydrologic network of 42,000 stream
reaches in the l:100,000-scale National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and their associated
watershed characteristics. Statistically significant predictor variables used in the models include
nutrient source data from wastewater discharges, various land use types, and atmospheric
deposition (for nitrogen only).
The model results, which are linked to the NHD reaches, provide estimates and confidence
intervals of loads, area-weighted yields, flow-weighted mean annual concentrations, and sources
and downstream movement of nutrients. This information can be useful for determining
appropriate monitoring strategies and has been used to select monitoring sites in an upper
Connecticut River Basin study. Other approaches include using the prediction intervals to
identify stream reaches where additional monitoring would be beneficial. Sampling schemes
could be designed to target stream reaches of greatest uncertainty relative to critical
concentrations of nutrients.
Keywords: SPARROW, nutrients, regression model, NHD, water-quality network
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WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF UGANDA'S WATER
QUALITY MONITORING NETWORK
Robert Mugabe. Senior Analyst,Water
Resources Management Department, Directorate of Water Development, Ministry of Water,
Lands and Environment P.O. Box 19 Entebbe Uganda.
The Uganda's Water Quality monitoring network consists of a total of 105 monitoring
stations spread all over the country. These include 36 stations for characterization of important
water bodies (lakes and rivers) over the long term, a flexible secondary network of 34 stations
that focus on effluent regulatory issues, 18 stations for monitoring ground water quality and 17
stations for monitoring performance of up-country water and wastewater treatment works.
Results are presented herein covering a five-year monitoring cycle. Temporal and spatial
variations in key parameters like nutrients (nitrates, nitrites, phosphorous) and pollution
indicators COD, BOD etc are presented and discussed. The water quality issues in Uganda upon
which the design of the network was based are also presented.
For the first 36 stations (lake and rivers) preliminary findings indicate seasonal variations
in parameters like Total suspended solids, Turbidity and color. Other trends are also discussed.
Keywords: monitoring network, lakes, rivers, groundwater quality, temporal, spatial trends,
nutrients, pollution
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THE COASTAL BEND BAYS PROJECT, A PROACTIVE APPROACH
IN COASTAL MONITORING FOR SOUTH TEXAS
Brien A. Nicolau'. Alex X. Nunez1, Erin M. Albert1 and Jefferson N. Childs2
'Center for Coastal Studies, Corpus Christi, Texas
2Minerals Management Service, Anchorage, Alaska
The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP) area in South Texas has experienced a
decline in temporal and spatial monitoring since the 1970s. Historical data lacked consistent monitoring
within the expansive area encompassed by the CBBEP. Numerous historical concerns for water and
sediment quality, including trace metal concentrations, existed. A potential Total Maximum Daily Load
designation for dissolved copper prompted this proactive study. Project objectives required intensive
monitoring that collected sufficient amounts of field, water, sediment, and trace metals data. Field
sampling and laboratory analysis of aqueous trace metals utilized ultra-clean methods for the improved
precision and accuracy required to produce reliable and accurate results. Utilization of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
(EMAP) probability-based sampling design was to determine resource conditions, provide information to
evaluate environmental policies, and to help identify any emerging environmental concerns before they
became widespread problems. The EMAP sampling design, consisting of 244 stations sampled over two
years, provided essential spatial and temporal components in the monitoring of CBBEP coastal waters
that produced a scientifically sound and extensive data set, which allowed for precise localization of
anthropogenic influences. Results of this study showed that historical aqueous trace metals
concentrations, using conventional methods, ranged from 10 to 280 times that of concentrations collected
and analyzed using ultra-clean methods. The comprehensive understanding gained through this project
continues to provide the tools required to protect, preserve, and enhance the unique estuarine and marine
resources of our area.
Keywords: surface water, water quality, trace metals.
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THE STATE OF THE NATION'S ECOSYSTEMS - AN EXPERIMENT IN CROSS-SYSTEM
INTEGRATION
Robin CMallev
Senior Fellow and Program Director, The H. John Heinz IE Center for Science,
Economics and the Environment, 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 735 South
Washington, DC 20004 202-737-6307 (ph) 202-737-6410 (fax) omalley@heinzctr.org
The State of the Nation's Ecosystems, published in 2002, includes a set indicators for each
of six principal ecosystem types in the United States: coasts and oceans, fresh waters, farmlands,
forests, grasslands and shrublands, and urban and suburban areas, plus a set of "core national
indicators" that provide an overview of overall national ecosystem conditions. Each set of
indicators addresses a consistent suite of ten topics, which can be categorized generally into four
key themes: system dimensions, chemical and physical properties, biological components, and
human uses.
This basic framework provides an initial stage of cross-system integration - indicators for
each ecosystem describe a consistent set of characteristics. However, the specific metrics differ
greatly between ecosystems and some characteristics were not easily reported for some
ecosystems. However, the State of the Nation's Ecosystems is an ongoing effort, designed for
adaptive, continuous improvement. Therefore, in anticipation of completion of a second edition in
2007 (and each five years thereafter), work is underway to significantly increase the consistency
among indicators that describe similar characteristics across multiple ecosystems. This work is
focusing on indicators of landscape pattern (for both terrestrial and aquatic systems) and for non-
native species.
Keywords: indicators, integration, metrics, cross-system, cross-media, landscape pattern, non-
native, coasts, oceans, fresh waters, farmlands, forests, grasslands, shrublands, urban, suburban
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COASTAL EMAP IN WASHINGTON STATE: ESTUARIES, INTERTIDAL, AND
OFFSHORE
Valerie A. Partridge' and Sarah L. Wilson2
'Washington State Department of Ecology (WA Ecology), Olympia, Washington
2Washington Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR), Olympia, Washington
The Coastal Component of EMAP-West is a partnership of the U.S. EPA, NOAA; and
the states of California, Oregon, and Washington to measure the condition of the estuaries,
intertidal zones, and offshore waters of these three states. Sampling was done in 1999-2001
(estuaries), 2002 (intertidal), and 2003 (continental shelf). This program is an integrated,
comprehensive coastal monitoring program using a spatially-balanced probabilistic design and a
common set of survey indicators. Because of the compatible design, coastal conditions can be
described and compared at the state, EPA regional, biogeographical, and national levels. Data
were collected for a suite of parameters including biotic condition indicators (e.g., benthic
infaunal and demersal fish diversity and abundance), abiotic/pollutant exposure condition
indicators (dissolved oxygen concentration, sediment and fish-tissue contaminants, and acute
sediment toxicity), and general habitat condition indicators (e.g., depth, salinity, temperature,
chlorophyll-a, nutrients, and sediment characteristics). This presentation provides a statistical
summary of the data from the sampling of the estuarine systems in Washington, as well as a
comparison of some sediment chemistry across the estuarine and intertidal environments. This
presentation also provides a brief summary of the integration of EMAP statistical design elements
into the Sediment Component of Washington State's Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program,
improving Washington's ability to determine spatial and temporal characterization of regional
sediment quality throughout Puget Sound. EMAP partnership work on development of a West
Coast benthic index will also provide the state with methods for better interpretation of benthic
infaunal assemblages monitored in Washington State.
Keywords: estuaries, intertidal, offshore, sediment, monitoring, Washington, Puget Sound.
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ANALYSIS OF ESTUARINE SEDIMENT CONTAMINANT AND
TOXICITY DATA FOR ELICITING RESPONSES
John F. Paul1 and Thomas P. O'Connor2
1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NHEERL (B205-01), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
2 NOAA/NOS, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, MD 20910
An important aspect of criteria development is understanding how well we can predict biological response.
Field et al. (2002) have developed logistic regression models for predicting likelihood of sediment toxicity
using bulk sediment chemical concentrations. We used the EMAP-Estuaries Virginian Province 1990-
1993 database to test the applicability of these models. A probability based sampling design was used to
collect these data, so comparison can be made with the likelihood of observing biological response. This
comparison could only be done approximately because Field et al. defined toxic as less than 90%
amphipod survival in 10-day laboratory exposures. This led to the seemingly anomalous conclusion that
approximately 22% of the entire estuarine area in the Virginian Province had toxic sediments. The
conventional definition of toxicity based on 80% survival lowered this to less than 10%. The small
estuarine systems across the province had the highest proportion of area with observed toxicity. Overall
comparison of the Field et al. predictions of likelihood of observing toxicity against actual distributions of
observations (based either on the 90% or 80% definition of toxicity) indicates that the predictions
overestimate the actual occurrence of toxicity. Details of the comparison will be discussed.
Keywords: sediment toxicity, estuaries, statistical models, sediment contaminants
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AN INDEX OF ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY APPROACH FOR THE
U.S. MID-ATLANTIC REGION
John F. Paul
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NHEERL (B205-01), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Environmental conditions in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States have been documented in a
series of reports that use "environmental report cards" to summarize the condition of individual natural
resources (e.g., estuaries, streams, forests, and landscapes) over the entire region and within major subregions.
An "index of environmental integrity" (IEI) approach has been developed and is illustrated using the
information content of these report cards to evaluate the overall condition throughout the region. The
development of the index builds upon the concepts underlying the development of the index of biotic
integrity (IBI): index is simple summation of individual metric values, individual metrics respond in
monotonic fashion to environmental stress, uniform scaling for metrics, and application of index
doesn't lose information contained in the individual metrics. The index relies upon the validity of
information that went into the individual resource environmental report cards. The IEI approach is a
four-step process: (1) select individual components for the index, (2) calculate subindex values for each of the
individual components, (3) aggregate the subindex values into the overall index, and (4) interpret the index
values. The IEI approach is illustrated by applying to the Mid-Atlantic estuaries and wadeable streams in the
Mid-Atlantic Highlands. Because the IEI approach is new, application should not be made without considering
issues such as evaluation of the selection of the indicators, weighting scheme, uncertainties, and appropriate
way to interpret the values.
Keywords: Mid-Atlantic United States, multiresource assessment, environmental integrity, ecological index,
environmental report card, estuaries, streams
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GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SALTWATER
DISSOLVED OXYGEN CRITERIA
Sherry Poucher'. James Keating2, Kellie Kubena2, Tonya Fish2
2Science Applications International Corporation, Newport, RI
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
Effective indicators of ecosystem health related to hypoxia depend not only on the accuracy
and precision of exposure measurements, but also the assessment endpoint used to evaluate
potential stress. Because hypoxic conditions are highly variable (in both short and long term
temporal scales) determining status and trends has always been challenging. EPA's saltwater
dissolved oxygen (D.O.) criteria help by providing an approach that integrates exposure
variability on daily and seasonal basis and that captures a broad range of biological responses,
yielding assessment endpoints with more resolution than typical benchmark applications (e.g., 2
mg/L minimum or 5 mg/L mean). The assessment approach results in a cumulative annual
impairment 'stress score' that facilitates comparison of conditions that vary from year to year,
allowing improved determinations of status and trend. The criteria requirement to integrate both
short term and seasonal data will ultimately guide strategies for improved monitoring. A new
implementation guidance document for the D.O. Criteria has been developed to assist users in
making the best use of the new assessment tools. It begins with an explanation of the technical
basis for the new criteria, and how they are used to synthesize frequency, duration and magnitude
components of various exposure scenarios. The document also suggests an implementation
process to minimize uncertainties associated with application of the criteria. Finally, it provides
examples of implementation for various types of D.O. regimes, illustrating a range of exposure
data requirements for differing exposure scenarios and assessment needs.
Keywords: hypoxia, dissolved oxygen, criteria, monitoring
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USING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL FIELD DATA
AND AMBIENT WATER CHEMISTRY DATA TO DERIVE WATER QUALITY
TARGETS
Edward T. Rankin
Center for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria
P.O. Box 21541
Columbus, Ohio 43221-0541
One of the many benefits of a strong state monitoring program is the amassing of large
data sets with biological attributes paired with environmental stressor data. Such datasets allow
powerful retrospective analyses that can be combined with controlled laboratory data to help
explain the effects of stressors on environmental impairment and threats that are observed in
nature. Ohio has such a dataset that extends back at least 25 years with consistently collected
water chemistry data, habitat data, and fish and macroinvertebrate community data. In this
presentation I will provide examples of how this data set was used to: 1.) help derive tiered
ammonia and dissolved oxygen criteria for Ohio's WQS, 2.) explain patterns and derive targets
for the effects of nutrients on aquatic life, 3.) create "caps" on dissolved metals translators based
on biological associations with total recoverable metals, and 4.) derive background concentrations
for most commonly monitored chemicals in Ohio to aid in interpreting cause/source assessments
in watershed intensive surveys. I will also discuss recent work exploring relationships between
sulfates, chlorides and macroinvertebrate taxa abundance. Such associations can be used to rank
individual taxa sensitivities to water chemistry variables and compared to "general" taxa or
species tolerance measures used in community indices.
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THE USE OF A HABITAT ASSESSMENT METHOD IN THE DERIVATION AND
ASSESSMENT OF TIERED AQUATIC LIFE USES IN MIDWEST STREAMS
Edward T. Rankin
Center for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria
P.O. Box 21541
Columbus, Ohio 43221-0541
There is a gradient of anthropogenic physical conditions within most ecoregions that has
profound influences on the aquatic communities that inhabit these systems. Current and historic
monitoring has been used to identify these patterns in many states. In this paper we summarize
the use of a habitat assessment tool, the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), in the
derivation and designation of a tiered series of aquatic life uses in Ohio for warmwater streams.
The concept and initiation of tiered aquatic life uses in Ohio predated the systematic collection of
QHEI data, but was based on a good historical record of the fauna of Ohio streams, especially,
fish species distribution data from Trautman's Fishes of Ohio (1981). Trautman described
associations he observed between species distributions and natural factors (e.g., gradient) and
anthropogenic stressors (e.g., siltation, habitat loss) he identified over a long period of changing
land uses. We use biological and QHEI habitat data collected in Ohio over the past 25 years to
quantify similar associations between habitat variables at local and watershed scales with
measures of community condition in Ohio (IBI, ICI). These indices comprise the biocriteria
associated with specific tiered aquatic life uses formalized in Ohio's Water Quality Standards and
are based on an extensive monitoring program. We also describe how habitat data is used in
watershed-based assessments to: 1.) perform use attainability analyses to identify the appropriate
tiered aquatic life use, 2.) determine aquatic life attainment status for streams, and 3.) determine
likely causes and sources of impairment.
Keywords: Habitat, QHEI, IBI, ICI, use attainment, aquatic life use, biocriteria, streams,
siltation, watershed
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VALUE-ADDED MONITORING BEYOND PROJECT EVALUATION
Richard C. Ravnie
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Coastal Restoration Division
P.O. Box 44027, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-4027
Louisiana recently adopted the Coastwide Reference Monitoring System- Wetlands
{CRMS-Wetlands) as its future protocol for monitoring wetland restoration projects. The
evolution of this new approach began out of necessity for identifying adequate reference areas for
wetland restoration projects, but has transformed to have multiple uses beyond project evaluation.
In addition to providing a comprehensive framework for collecting consistent data across a
network of stations representing the variability of vegetated habitats across coastal Louisiana, the
CRMS-Wet lands is designed to provide a mechanism to evaluate hydrologic basin and landscape-
scale changes, concurrently with changes at the individual project scale. Project-specific
monitoring activities in Louisiana have traditionally been concentrated in the vicinity of
restoration projects. As a result of the project-independent selection of site locations, CRMS-
Wetlands will provide information in areas where data are currently lacking and will promote
improved understanding of wetland functions across the entire spectrum of habitat variability.
This information will be useful for various phases of project implementation from project
planning, to engineering and design, to operation and maintenance, will be useful to validate and
verify predictive models, and will serve as a design structure for adding cost-sharing partners, or
collaborative wetland studies and research. This monitoring program has also been incorporated
as the wetland component of the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Science Plan to evaluate the
effects of future landscape scale restoration efforts. To promote information transfer among users,
improvements are being made in our recently implemented adaptive management program to
improve the interpretation and communication of observed results.
Keywords: Louisiana, CRMS-fFef/arafc, monitoring, restoration, adaptive assessment, value-
added monitoring.
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DEVELOPING AND CALIBRATING AN INDICATOR FOR BIOGEOCHEMICAL
CONDITION OF HEADWATER RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS
Richard D. Rheinhardt1,2. Mark M. Brinson1, Robert R. Christian1,
Kevin H. Miller1'3, and Greg F. Meyer"
'Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858
2415 County Road, Pocasset, MA 02559, rrheinhardt@earthlink.net
3Miller North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program, Raleigh, NC 27699-1619
Vegetated buffers of headwater riparian ecosystems remove nitrate from surface and
ground water in agricultural landscapes in the coastal plain of southeastern USA. We
hypothesized that total organic matter, represented by live plant and detrital biomass, would be an
effective indicator of riparian condition for nitrate removal, and thus a general indicator of
biogeochemical functioning. Measuring biomass in riparian zones is not practical for rapid
assessment, however. Therefore, we partitioned .riparian zones into seven easily recognizable
cover-types within a continuum of biomass, determined total biomass of each type, and
developed a condition index for each cover type based on the biomass of the least altered type
(mature forest). To calibrate the biomass index as an indicator for biogeochemical condition of
low order streams, we determined the relationship between riparian zone biomass and nitrate
concentrations in streams and in contributing ground water. Sites spanning the array of riparian
conditions from least to most altered showed a pattern of low concentrations of nitrate nitrogen at
sites with high biomass and high concentrations at sites with low biomass. The indicator of
biogeochemical condition was arranged to give more weight to biomass near the channel than
further away in the riparian zone. This approach may not be as useful in higher order streams,
however, because they likely are more affected by contributing streams and ground water than by
local riparian condition.
Keywords: riparian ecosystems, headwater streams, biomass, nitrate, indicator calibration,
nutrient buffer, coastal plain, North Carolina
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INTEGRATING PROBABILISTIC AND FIXED-SITE MONITORING FOR ROBUST
STREAM WATER-QUALITY ASSESSMENTS
Keith W. Robinson' and Henry A. Walker2
'U.S. Geological Survey, 361 Commerce Way, Pembroke, NH 03275
2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, R.I. 02882.
Determining the extent of water-quality degradation, controlling nonpoint sources, and
defining allowable amounts of contaminants are important water-quality issues defined in the
Clean Water Act that require new monitoring data. Probabilistic, randomized stream water-
quality monitoring is used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide statistically
valid assessments of water-quality and designated-use attainment for spatially diverse regions.
Other agencies, such as the U.S. Geological Survey often uses traditional fixed-site monitoring to
assess the temporal variability in water quality among drainage basins representing different land
uses or ecoregions. Disadvantages of probabilistic monitoring include the lack of information on
sources of water-quality degradation, temporal variability, and the effect of upstream drainages
on downstream receiving waters. On the other hand, fixed-site monitoring generally lacks the
ability to characterize unmonitored waters, especially when drainage-basin conditions vary. We
propose a network design that integrates both probabilistic and fixed-site monitoring activities for
more varied water-quality assessments. Using the New England region as an example, an
integrated regional monitoring program is proposed that would allow for provide spatial and
temporal water-quality assessments necessary for Clean Water Act 305(b) reporting. Such a
program would be also useful in determining the effect of different sources of contaminants on
receiving streams necessary for 303(d) listings. Results from an integrated monitoring program
could be linked to predictive models, such as the New England-wide water-quality SPARROW
model, to provide enhanced statistically based predictions of water quality and contaminant
sources in unmonitored waters. Present monitoring programs by State and Federal agencies could
be efficiently integrated into such a regional monitoring network.
Keywords: Water-Quality Monitoring, Clean Water Act Reporting, Probabilistic Designs, Fixed
Site Monitoring, Integrated Regional Monitoring Network.
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IMPLEMENTATION AND INITIAL RESULTS OF A LONG-TERM MONITORING
PROGRAM FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA
Tracy A. Hillick1, Mary E. Horton2, and Sean D. Roche2
'City of Atlanta, Division of Inspection and Monitoring, 2440 Bolton Road, N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30318.
2Program Management Team, Dept. of Watershed Management, Clean Water Atlanta
c/o CH2M HILL, 115 Perimeter Center Place, N.E., Suite 700, Atlanta, GA 30346-1278
The City of Atlanta (COA) has initiated a Long-term Watershed Monitoring (LTWM) Program
for all major watersheds within the City limits. The purpose of this program is to collect data needed
to assess stream conditions and identify any pollution reduction that can be attributed to the Clean
Water Atlanta (CWA) program implementation, a multi-billion dollar wastewater infrastructure
capital improvement program. The LTWM Program includes the following major tasks:
• Station Selection, Set-up, and Installation
• Water Quality Monitoring, Maintenance, and Data Retrieval
• Biological Monitoring
• Data Management and Reporting
• Public Involvement
• Watershed Management Plan
The LTWM Program is one of the nation's largest continuous urban hydrologic monitoring
networks in terms of both its size (20 stations) and scope (in situ, water quality, and biological
monitoring). Installation of the monitoring network was completed in June 2003. Routine water
quality sampling was initiated in August 2003. Two biological monitoring events were completed in
December 2001 and October 2003. The web-based watershed data management system should be
completed by mid 2004.
Based on data collected thus far, biotic integrity is degraded throughout the study area, due
primarily to compromised habitat conditions. The water quality data collected during the first year
will be used to support the watershed management planning process, including development of
guidelines to protect and improve water quality and biotic integrity of streams throughout Atlanta. An
iterative process will be used to review and revise our approach to better support the goals and
objectives of the LTWM Program.
Keywords: Water quality monitoring, storm sampling, continuous real-time watershed monitoring,
watershed data management, watershed management plan
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ALASKA'S COASTAL BAYS AND ESTUARIES: CHALLENGES AND RESULTS
FROM 2002 SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKAN EMAP
Susan M. Saupe' , Doug Dasher2' and Amy Blanchard3
'Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council, Kenai, Alaska
2Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Anchorage, Alaska
3School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK
Alaska's first Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) assessed the
bays and estuaries along the northern Gulf of Alaska coast in 2002. Through a partnership with
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Alaska's Department of Environmental
Conservation (ADEC) is administering Alaska's EMAP and developed numerous partnerships to
bring in expertise and build capacity within the state. Due to Alaska's extensive and inaccessible
coastline, costs for conducting a coastal EMAP are high and sampling is taking place in a phased
approach. Coastal Alaska is divided into five biogeographical provinces. The Alaskan Province
in southcentral Alaska includes over 800 miles of coastline, including two very major estuaries,
Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound, as well as areas along the Alaska Peninsula, Kodiak and
Afognak Islands, Shelikof Strait, and the Kenai Peninsula. Standard sampling was conducted for
the core set of EMAP parameters with additional analytes added. Challenges for adapting a
national program for sampling in Alaska's unique environments will be presented along with
summaries and interpretations of the 2002 analytical results. Comparisons will be made to
various national and other states' guidelines given the absence of water or sediment quality
guidelines in Alaska for many of the EMAP parameters. Coastal EMAP in Alaska will provide a
much needed context in which to interpret smaller more focused studies conducted throughout the
state, given the lack of historical data for much of Alaska's marine environment. Plans are
underway to sample in the Columbian Province in southeastern Alaska in summer 2004.
Keywords: Alaska, coastal assessment, sediment quality, water quality
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ENVIRONMENTAL WATER QUALITY CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TEXAS
COAST FROM NATIONAL COASTAL ASSESSMENT DATA
James D. Simons' and Laura Lessin2
'Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Corpus Christi, Texas
2Texas Water Development Board, Austin, Texas
In the summer of 2000 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department began a five-year effort,
funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to monitor and assess the ecological
health of the estuaries of Texas. This project is part of the National Coastal Assessment, which is
an effort by EPA to assess the health of the nation's estuaries. The program monitors water,
sediment and biotic parameters. Physical water quality parameters monitored include dissolved
oxygen, water temperature, salinity, pH, secchi depth and light transmissivity. In 2000, 44
stations were sampled along the Texas coast, ranging from three each in Sabine Lake and San
Antonio Bay to twelve in Galveston Bay. Water temperature and pH were nearly constant along
the entire coast, while salinity predictably increased from Sabine Lake to the Laguna Madre.
Dissolved oxygen levels were good to fair along the coast, although they were slightly depressed
in the mid coastal region. Light transmissivity was greatest in the Laguna Madre. Measures of
secchi depth were problematic and in some cases did not correlate well with light data. Some of
these data are currently being used to assess the condition of Texas estuaries in the National
Coastal Condition Report, which is under policy review.
Keywords: water quality, National Coastal Assessment, estuary, Texas, estuarine health,
estuarine condition, light transmissivity, secchi depth, dissolved oxygen, salinity
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FLORIDA'S FRESHWATER CONDITION: LESSONS LEARNED FROM ROTATION 1,
AND "RECYCLING" WITH A NEW DESIGN
Gail M. Sloane'. James Silvanima1, Paul Hansard',
Rick Copeland1, Kimberly D. Jackson1, Debra Harrington1, and Margaret Murray1
'Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Tallahassee, Fla.
December 2003 marked the completion of statewide sampling for the first cycle of Florida's
rotating-basin probabilistic monitoring design. The primary goal of this monitoring effort is to
estimate the condition of surface and ground water resources. Summary results from the
statewide sampling will be presented. The initial monitoring design called for statewide sampling
to be completed in four years and for resampling to occur in the fifth year. Due to changes
mandated by the advent of the state's need to address Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) basin
monitoring design, and logistical difficulties, the fifth year resample was dropped and a major
redesign ensued. Florida began sampling for the redesigned second 5-year cycle in January
2004.
In concert with the USEPA 2003 guidance; Elements of State Water Monitoring and
Assessment Program, the "recycle" is designed to estimate condition of freshwater resources
using new basin boundaries, re-defined resource types, more integrative and ecologically
significant indicators, and the Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) design
authored at the USEPA National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory (NHEERL)
Western Ecology Division. Discussion will include changes to core and supplemental indicators
from the first cycle to use of biological indicators in rivers, streams, and lakes, and metrics to
estimate sediment quality in freshwater lakes.
Keywords: surface water, ground water, freshwater, water quality, biological indicators,
sediment quality, probabilistic monitoring, network redesign, GRTS, TMDL.
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EVALUATING STANDARDS USING DATA COLLECTED FROM REGIONAL
PROBABILISTIC MONITORING PROGRAMS
Eric P. Smith'. Keying Ye2
'Department of Statistics Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 Email: epsmith@vt.edu
Phone: (540) 231-7929 Fax: (540) 231-3863
department of Statistics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061
Under section 303 (d) of the Clean Water Act, states must identify water segments, where loads
of pollutants are violating numeric water quality standards. A common approach is to use data collected at
a single site to make a decision to list or not list the site. This might be based on a raw score approach in
which a stream segment is listed as impaired when greater than 10% of the measurements of water quality
conditions exceed a numeric criteria or a Binomial test that the probability of violation is 0.10. While this
approach is useful for single site evaluation, it gives little information about regional violation rates. In
addition, for the approach to have reasonably good error rates, moderately large sample sizes are requires
(20 samples). Recent changes in monitoring programs focus on a more regional assessments of
environmental conditions. To evaluate violations of standards we propose a regional model that is more
closely related to the sampling designs based on rotating panel surveys. The approach uses mixed models
and small area estimation techniques. We show how to use the small area estimation techniques along
with the accepting sampling by variables method to make the decision to list or not list the segment. In
addition, the method results in an evaluation at the regional level. Some of the benefits and limitations of
the approach are discussed.
Keywords: TMDL, Monitoring, Standards, Acceptance Sampling by Variables, Binomial Distribution,
Small Area Estimation, BLUP
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SEEING THE LIGHT: A WATER CLARIFY INDEX FOR INTEGRATED WATER
QUALITY ASSESSMENTS
Lisa M. Smith and Linda C. Harwell
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Gulf Ecology Division
1 Sabine Island Drive
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561
The Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Program (EMAP) uses water clarity as an indicator in integrated water quality assessments. After
the publication of the first National Coastal Condition Report, the national water clarity reference
value of 10% light at one meter was reevaluated and modified to reflect expected differences in
regional reference light conditions. These regional differences range from naturally turbid
estuaries like those found in Mississippi and Louisiana areas, to clear water estuaries expected to
support extensive beds of submerged aquatic vegetation, for example, Florida and Tampa Bays.
For-the second National Coastal Condition Report, water clarity was assessed based on regional
reference values. Not all states collected transmissivity at one meter; however, all states reported
secchi depth. Different regional water clarity reference values and data collection initiated the
development of a water clarity index based on light attenuation coefficients (k). This index
incorporates reference conditions and is interchangeable with secchi depth measurements and
transmissivity. Evaluation of the water clarity index shows that k values based on transmissivity
at 1 meter can be estimated from secchi depth measurements and successfully used as a surrogate
for transmissivity data collected using light meters. The development and application of this
index are presented at both a local and regional scale.
Keywords: Water clarity, water quality, EMAP, transmissivity, secchi, light attenuation
coefficient
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DIATOMS THE ORGANISM, DIATOMS THE TOOL:
CONSIDERATIONS IN ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Sarah A. Spaulding'. Karl A. Hermann2
'U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette LA
2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Denver CO
Attributes of the diatoms (Bacillariophyta) have led to their well-established role as
environmental indicators. The utility of diatoms is supported by the number of successful
applications to environmental problems, however, understanding of basic diatom life history,
biology, and ecological requirements are often lacking. Moreover, the taxonomic keys that are in
widespread use reflect a strong northern European influence. There is evidence that the North
American continent does, in fact, have a unique flora but the use of European keys masks the
actual species composition. National efforts within the EPA EMAP and USGS NAWQA
programs to present an opportunity to not only confirm a North American diatom flora, but to
refine the metrics that are currently available for constructing indexes of biological integrity.
In this presentation, we will discuss some of the implications of recent taxonomic changes on
assessment efforts. We will also report on the extent to which endemism of diatom species is
estimated to occur in North American regions, specifically directed toward REMAP projects in
the southern Rocky Mountains and eastern Montana plains. Diatoms make robust tools, but there
is room to improve the utility of diatoms in assessment efforts.
Keywords: periphyton, diatoms, Southern Rockies REMAP, Montana REMAP, index of
biological integrity
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IMPLEMENTATION OF REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND
ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (REMAP) WESTERN PILOT STUDY WITHIN IDAHO
Robert Steed'. Donald W. Zaroban1, Cynthia S. Grafe1, William H. Clark2, Mary Anne Nelson1
'Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ), Boise, Idaho
presently at: Idaho Power, Boise, Idaho
The Idaho monitoring component of the Regional Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (REMAP) Western Pilot Study is being implemented between 2002 and
2004. The purpose of this pilot study is to refine monitoring tools that produce unbiased
estimates of the ecological condition of waters across a large geographic area and to demonstrate
the utility of those tools in large-scale assessments. The Idaho REMAP project was developed
and funded through Region X EPA and implemented by Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality. This effort includes the collection of habitat and biological data on rivers (Strahler
stream order 4 or greater) throughout Idaho. In contrast to Idaho's wadeable stream monitoring
network, many streams, unwadeable, have not had habitat, biological and chemical data collected,
in a systematic fashion. Seasonal temporaries, as well as DEQ senior staff are conducting
monitoring from Whitewater rafts. . The EPA randomly selected monitoring stations through a
geographic information system process. DEQ then used Idaho specific waterbody size criteria
(fifth order (1:100k hydrology) or larger, 15 or greater meters in wetted width, and/or minimum
of 0.4 meters in depth) to select a subset of stations within appropriately sized streams to be
monitored. Seventeen sites were monitored during 2002, 15 in 2003 and 19 are planned for 2004.
Keywords: Idaho, surface water, large stream, river, habitat, bioassessment, biocriteria,
monitoring, and REMAP.
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USING COMPLEMENTARY TOOLS FROM THE ECOLOGICAL TOOLBOX TO
ESTABLISH AND APPLY NUTRIENT CRITERIA
R. Jan Stevenson
Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
Many approaches, providing complementary information, can be used to establish
nutrient criteria. Reference conditions help establish expected conditions and near-natural
potential. Stressor-response relationships describe incremental losses in valued ecological
attributes with increasing human disturbance. Nutrient criteria developed based on these two
methods and observations in hundreds of streams from the Mid-Atlantic EMAP, Michigan, and
Kentucky agreed or disagreed, primarily depending on the definition of reference conditions and
the desired levels of valued ecological attributes. Algal responses to nutrient concentrations in
these streams were similar across ecoregions. In general, most in-stream effects of nutrients on
algae were observed in a relatively narrow range of nutrient concentrations: between TP <10 and
30 ug/L and 250 and 600 ug TN/L. Changes in diatom species composition, algal biomass, and
nuisance growths by the filamentous green alga Cladophora were all related to this range of
enrichment. Evidence suggests that N as well as P may be regulating nuisance algae in streams.
The rationale for multiple, tiered criteria for different stream-use designations were
evident in stream community responses to nutrient enrichment and corroborated with reference
condition assessments. The lowest nutrient criteria would protect particularly high quality waters
and a slightly higher criterion would support the fish, shellfish, and wildlife. The high variability
in stream nutrient concentrations makes assessment difficult. Biological indicators of nutrient
conditions, based on tolerance values of organisms, provided temporally stable indicators of
nutrient conditions and are recommended to complement chemical measurements as diagnostic
indicators and criteria in water quality standards.
Keywords: nutrient criteria, streams, algae, tolerance values, tiered aquatic life uses, reference
condition, stressor-response relationships.
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DEVELOPING COMPLIMENTARY PROGRAMS TO ASSESS MONITORING CONDITION:
THE NATIONAL COASTAL ASSESSMENT AND OCEANS.US
J. Kevin Summers
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development,
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Gulf Ecology Division
1 Sabine Island Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
The purpose of both the National Coastal Assessment (NCA) and Oceans.US (Ocean Observing
Systems) is to estimate the status and trends of the condition of the coastal resources at multiple scales.
NCA uses probabilistic surveys of ecological condition to assess condition at the NEP, state, regional and
national scales during a critical time period. Ocean Observing Systems (OOS) use a combination of
"found" data, real-time buoy systems, intensive sites, and remotely sensed data to ascertain ecological
condition. NCA targets initial assessment, population estimation, reporting and trends. OOS focuses on
site evaluations, understanding, and a greater time-frequency sampling. Obviously, both approaches are
needed to assess, understand and manage coastal resources. From 1999-2003, 100% of the nation's
estuarine waters (at over 4500 locations) were representatively sampled by NCA focusing on indicators
and indices describing the benthic community, fish community, water quality, sediment and tissue
contamination, sediment toxicity, and SAV extent/condition. In some areas of the country OOS has been
active for a decade (e.g., Gulf of Maine) but as a national program, OOS is largely just beginning. How do
we tailor these two programs to maximize their complimentary qualities? This question will be the focus
of this presentation.
Keywords: NCA, Ocean.US, IOOS, monitoring, ecological condition
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STATE COMPREHENSIVE MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES: EPA'S
EXPECTATIONS FOR ACHIEVING COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE, GOOD
SCIENCE AND EFFECTIVE STATE MONITORING PROGRAMS
Diane I. Switzer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
In 2003, EPA produced a guidance document, Elements of a State Water Monitoring and
Assessment Program (March 2003), which provided a framework for the states to develop written
comprehensive monitoring and assessment strategies for meeting both Clean Water Act and their
own state environmental goals. Production of the strategies by September 20, 2004 will meet
requirements of CWA 106(e)(1) and 106 grants. The strategies are to address all 10 elements of
a state monitoring and assessment program and should work toward attaining comprehensive
coverage of state waters and core designated uses, good science, and a balanced program that
produces measured environmental results under efficient and effective processes.
A key component of the strategies are the monitoring designs useful in achieving
comprehensive coverage of water body types and water quality standards or designated uses.
Many states use only targeted site selection, limited fixed station networks, or census sampling
(e.g., designated beaches) of a small subset of waters. Many waters or designated uses are not
monitored and are not part of any priority listing to be monitored. EPA anticipates that to expand
coverage of waters in a methodical, statistically sound and unbiased manner, a randomized
approach is an additional design states should consider.
Keywords: water monitoring program, water monitoring strategy, statewide conditions.
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ENHANCING THE NATIONAL WETLAND DATABASE FOR LANDSCAPE-LEVEL
WETLAND FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT
Ralph W. Tiner'
1. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035
The United States has a rich geospatial database on wetlands compiled by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Program. To date, the NWI has
produced wetland maps for 91% of the coterminous U.S. and 35% for Alaska and has digitized
47% of the maps for the former area and 18% of the latter. The availability of digital wetland
data provides an opportunity to perform preliminary assessments of wetland functions for
relatively large geographic areas. The NWI has developed a set of descriptors for landscape
position, landform, water flow path, and waterbody type (LLWW descriptors) to enhance NWI
data and facilitate their use for watershed-level wetland assessment. From these descriptors,
wetland functions are match and correlated with wetland characteristics. Ten functions evaluated
to date include: 1) surface water detention, 2) streamflow maintenance, 3) nutrient
transformation, 4) sediment and particulate retention, 5) coastal storm surge and shoreline
stabilization, 6) inland shoreline stabilization, 7) provision of fish and shellfish habitat, 8)
provision of waterfowl and waterbird habitat, 9) provision of other wildlife habitat, and 10)
conservation of biodiversity. The Service has worked with state and regional wetland specialists
in the Northeast to develop correlations between wetland properties in the data base on the 10
functions listed above. Over the past several years, the Service has applied these descriptors to
NWI map updates in the Northeast on a pilot basis and now plans to add these descriptors to all
future updates in this region, whenever possible.
Keywords: Wetlands mapping; watershed wetland assessment; wetland functions.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF MATCHING THE SPATIAL SCALES OF PROBABILISTIC
MONITORING DESIGNS WITH MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS
Philip R. Trowbridge1 and Stephen H. Jones2
'New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Concord, New Hampshire
2Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
Probabilistic monitoring designs offer attractive cost efficiencies to States who are
charged with assessing all of their waters in Section 305(b) Water Quality Reports. Rather than
sampling eveiy lake, river, and estuary, States can test a random sample of each water body and
use this sample to make inferences about the condition of all water bodies. However, the
accuracy of the assessment depends on the number of stations in the random sample. Therefore,
States need to make a value judgment on how many stations are needed to assess their waters
accurately with respect to the management questions being asked.
The N.H. Department of Environmental Services and the University of New Hampshire
researched the effect of different spatial scales on the outcomes of probabilistic monitoring. Three
overlapping spatial scales were compared. At the smallest scale, four small areas of NH's
estuaries were randomly sampled. These four area's were subsets of the study area for the
USEPA's National Coastal Assessment, which covered all of NH's estuarine waters. Finally,
NH's estuaries are a subset of the U.S. portion of the Gulf of Maine, the whole extent of which
was tested for the National Coastal Assessment.
Mercury concentrations in sediment were measured for each of these studies. This paper
compares the results of the three studies to determine the ability of probabilistic monitoring at
different spatial scales to discern the true scales of environmental disturbance. The results are
useful to managers who are planning to implement probabilistic monitoring to resolve specific
management questions.
Keywords: monitoring design, probabilistic, spatial scales, mercury, sediment
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LINKING CWA SECTIONS 305(b) AND 303(d) - A STATISTICAL PERSPECTIVE
N. Scott Urquhart and F. Jay Breidt
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1877
Section 305(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to make biannual reports on the
conditions of all waters in each state's jurisdiction. EPA's Office of Water encourages states to use
probability-based surveys to fulfill requirements of that section of the CWA; a number of states and a few
tribes are moving that direction. Once the scale of "impaired" waters has been estimated from a probability-
based survey, the next question is, "Where are the impaired waters?" The statistical approaches of small area
estimation address a similar problem in other areas of endeavor. This pair of talks will address small area
estimation for the CWA from programmatic and technical perspectives. Both of the following talks are
planned for environmental scientists and managers, not statisticians.
Part 1 (Urquhart): EPA has funded the Spatial-Temporal Aquatic Resources Modeling and Analysis Program
(STARMAP) at Colorado State University. It is charged with developing the statistical approaches that would
be suitable for small area estimation. This talk will focus on STARMAP, the general nature of spatial models,
potential covariates, and associated limitations.
Part 2 (Breidt): Small area estimation has been used successfully to extend survey results to areas that lack
sufficient data for defensible estimates from the primary survey results. This talk will focus in the approaches
for small area estimation, some successful examples, and limitations.
Keywords: surface water, statistics, surveys, small area estimation
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LONG TERM MONITORING OF DIAGNOSTIC PHYTOPLANKTON
PHOTOPIGMENTS TO ASSESS ECOLOGICAL CONDITION AND CHANGE IN THE
NEUSE RIVER ESTUARY AND PAMLICO SOUND, NC
Lexia M. Valdes. Michael F. Piehler and Hans W. Paerl
Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC
Concentrations of phytoplankton diagnostic photopigments (chlorophylls and
carotenoids) have been monitored in the Neuse River Estuary since 1994 and since 1999 in
Pamlico Sound as part of the Neuse River Bloom Project, the Neuse River Estuary Modeling and
Monitoring Study (ModMon) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Science to Achieve
Results (USEPA-STAR) Atlantic Coast Environmental Indicators Consortium (ACE-INC).
Photopigment concentrations were measured by HPLC and subsequently analyzed using the
ChemTax matrix factorization program to determine the contribution of the five most common
phytoplankton taxonomic groups found in these estuaries (chlorophytes, cryptophytes,
cyanobacteria, diatoms and dinoflagellates) to total chlorophyll a. Phytoplankton are sensitive to
changes in their environment, including anthropogenic (nutrient) and hydrologic (flushing rates,
residence times) disturbances. Changes in their abundance and community composition can
therefore be used to detect ecological condition and change in estuaries. Annual, seasonal and
spatial trends in phytoplankton community structure were examined. Significant differences in
the abundance of all five phytoplankton groups were observed between years, seasons and
locations within the estuary. In addition, significant differences were detected between the
abundance of the different taxonomic groups. We tested the hypothesis that these patterns were
due to the hydrologic variability that was observed during the study period (droughts, tropical
storms and hurricanes) that caused changes in water residence time and rates of nutrient loading.
Long term monitoring of phytoplankton photopigments is a broadly applicable tool.
These data also provide valuable context for manipulative experiments that test the response of
phytoplankton to changes in their environment.
Keywords: phytoplankton, photopigments, estuary, residence time, flushing,, hurricanes,
droughts, and ChemTax.
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GEOMORPHOMETRIC INDICATORS OF TIDAL MARSH CONDITION
Vinton J. Valentine' and Charles S. Hopkinson, Jr.1
'The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Woods Hole, Massachusetts
We are developing geomorphometric indicators of tidal marsh condition as part of the
Atlantic Coast Environmental Indicators Consortium (ACE INC), funded as an Estuarine and
Great Lakes Environmental Indicators (EaGLe) program through a U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grant. Our premise is that the
configuration of tidal creek networks differs greatly between marshes differing in ability to
maintain elevation relative to sea level rise and that geomorphometric indicators can be used to
quantify these differences. Our work focuses on the Plum Island Estuary marshes in northeastern
Massachusetts, a NSF Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site. We examined regions that
differ in response to sea level rise along gradients of salinity, sediment supply, vegetation
community, and human impact. Using a geographical information system (GIS), tidal channel
networks, including human-made mosquito ditches, were digitized from spring 2001 color
orthophotography with wetlands cover data developed for the MA Department of Environmental
Protection Wetlands Conservancy Program serving as a starting point. With the networks as
input, we generated "catchments" for all stream order segments. We calculated drainage density
and fractal dimension for all "catchments" and analyzed the measures by tidal "creekshed" and by
stream order. We propose drainage density and fractal dimension as indicators of marsh
condition, stability, and, when incorporating time series data, development state, in the face of
rising sea level and other stressors. The indicators can offer landscape, as well as site,
information when assigning priorities and developing strategies for wetland conservation and
restoration efforts.
Keywords: tidal marshes, geomorphology, channel networks, indicators, drainage density,
fractal dimension, Plum Island Estuary, PIE-LTER, ACE INC.
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ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF ESTAURINE HABITATS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
USING INTEGRATED MEASURES OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOTIC
CONDITION
Robert F. Van Dolah'. David E. Chestnut2; George H.M. Riekerk1, and Pamela C. Jutte1
'Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
(SCDNR), Charleston, SC
2Bureau of Water, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC),
Columbia, SC
The South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program (SCECAP) developed a
multi-metric measure of overall habitat condition using multiple measures of water quality,
sediment quality, and biotic condition. The water quality integrated measure averages scores for
six parameters (DO, pH, TN, TP, BOD, and fecal bacteria) compared to state water quality
standards or exceedance of historical averages above 75th and 90th percentiles. The sediment
quality score averages an integrated measure of 24 contaminants relative to bioeffects guidelines
(ERM-Q) and results from multiple sediment bioassays. The biotic condition measure utilizes
scores from a benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI) developed for the region. Each of the
average scores derived from these components are again averaged to provide an overall index of
habitat condition that is coded into three general condition levels (degraded, marginal, good) with
a specific numeric score within those levels to allow better resolution of overall condition. Using
this approach, 12% of the state's tidal creek habitat and 8% of the larger open water habitat coded
as marginal during 1999-2000. All marginal sites had at least two of the subcategories that were
marginal or poor. None of the sites sampled during the first two years had an overall rating of
poor. Threshold criteria for characterizing overall habitat condition are currently under review
and any modifications in scoring process will be presented.
Keywords: water quality, sediment quality, biotic condition, integrated measures
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TRENDS IN HYDROPHOBIC ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS IN LAKE SEDIMENTS
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, 1970-2001
Peter C. Van Metre and Barbara J. Mahler
United State Geological Survey, Austin Texas
A major shift in public policy in the United States toward environmental protection began
about 1970, with the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and passage of key
environmental legislation. However, over the same three decades, urban land use, population, and
vehicle use have increased greatly. To assess the effects of these and other actions on the quality
of streams and lakes across the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey collected and analyzed
sediment cores from 41 lakes. Land use in the watersheds sampled ranged from undeveloped
(nine sites), to light urban (17 sites), to dense urban (15 sites). Cores were analyzed for polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and chlorinated hydrocarbons (organochlorine pesticides and
polychlorinated biphenyls) and contaminant trends were tested for statistical significance. Trends
among the chlorinated hydrocarbons were mostly downward, and trends among the PAHs were
mostly upward. One-half of the lakes, for example, had downward trends in DDE and no lake had
an upward trend, and one-half of the lakes had upward trends in benzo(a)pyrene while only three
were downward. Concentrations of all contaminants analyzed were much greater in dense urban
settings than in reference settings. Chlordane was the compound that most frequently exceeded
the probable effect concentration (PEC), a sediment-quality guideline, often by an order of
magnitude at dense urban sites. PAHs were twice as likely to exceed the PEC in the 1990s as they
were from 1965 to 1975, and DDT and PCBs were half as likely. The combination of increasing
trends in PAH concentrations, the strong association of PAHs with urban settings, and the rapid
urbanization occurring in the U.S. suggests that PAHs could surpass chlorinated hydrocarbons in
the threat posed to aquatic biota in urban streams and lakes. And while improvements brought
about by regulation of chlorinated hydrocarbons are occurring, the continuing high levels of
chlordane, the slow rate of decreasing trends for DDT and PCBs (10- to 15-yr half-lives), and the
continuing risks to human health from consumption of fish and shellfish indicate that chlorinated
hydrocarbons will remain a concern for many years to come.
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RELATIVE RISK FROM STRESSORS TO STREAM BIOTA
John Van Sickle', John L. Stoddard1, and Steven G. Paulsen1
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Western Ecology Division, 200 SW 35th St, Corvallis, OR 97330
Past EMAP-Surface Waters assessments of the importance of stressors have focused on
ranking the "extent" of stressors. For example, in the Mid-Atlantic Region, 28% of the stream
length in the region has severe excess sedimentation problems. In comparison, only 1% of the
stream length has a signature of serious acid mine drainage problems. This type of analysis is
important and yet does not address the "severity" of the stressor effects. To address this concern,
we borrow the concept of "relative risk" from medical epidemiology. Relative risk, in this
context, can be defined as the risk of finding poor biology when the stressor score (e.g. excess
sedimentation, high nitrogen) is poor, relative to the risk of finding poor biology when the
stressor score is good. Three primary biological assemblages (fish, macroinvertebrates, algae)
were evaluated in concert with nine primary stressors incorporating a rank of chemical, physical
and biological stresses to streams. As expected the relative risk signatures varied for the three
biological assemblages. For fish, nitrogen and phosphorus showed the highest relative risk values
(between 1.7 and 2) while excess sedimentation and acidification (both mine drainage and
deposition) were the stressors with highest relative risk (just over 1.5) for macroinvertebrates. In
addition, the ranking of stressors by "extent" and "severity" was evaluated to provide
recommendations on the stressors that should be early focus for restoration and remediation
strategies.
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COMPLEMENTARY MONITORING DESIGNS TO DOCUMENT REGIONAL GRADIENTS
AND TEMPORAL VARIATIONS OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN IN ESTUARINE WATERS
Henry A. Walker'. John A. Kiddon1, Christopher F. Deacutis2, Donald J. Cobb1, Dana R. Kester3,
Candace A.Oviatt3, John F. Paul4, Gerald G. Pesch1, Richard B. Moore5, Keith W. Robinson5.
'U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI, USA 02882. 2Univiversity of Rhode Island,
Coastal Institute, Narragansett, RI, USA 02882. 3Univiversity of Rhode Island, Graduate School of
Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, USA 02882. 4U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park NC, USA 27709.
5U.S. Geological Survey, New Hampshire / Vermont District, 361 Commerce Way, Pembroke, NH
03275-3718
The U.S. EPA National Coastal Assessment program is designed to address two broad questions:
1) what are the conditions of estuarine resources, how are they changing, and what causes those changes;
2) which monitoring designs, indicators, and protocols are appropriate for assessing estuarine conditions,
particularly for assisting State efforts to comply with the Clean Water Act requirements. To document
baseline conditions, estuarine data have been collected in the U.S. over a two year period (2000-2001)
using a probability-based survey design. Assessment of estuarine dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations
have been made using the following EPA Marine Water Quality Criteria for the Northeast: # 4.8 mg/L
(chronic criterion), # 2.3 mg/L (acute criterion). In the summer of 2000 in estuarine bottom waters of the
Gulf of Maine, DO concentrations were always > 4.8 mg/L, while lower concentrations were observed in
stratified waters south of Cape Cod (Narragansett Bay, Long Island Sound, NJ coastal bays, &
Chesapeake Bay). In the subsequent summers (2002, 2003) complementary monitoring designs in
Narragansett Bay utilized moored instrumentation to capture the spatial and temporal aspects of the
formation and transport of low DO water, and additional targeted sampling during periods of increased
water column stratification (minimum neap tides) to document the spatial extent of anticipated hypoxic /
anoxic events. Targeted sampling following the minimum neap tides in August during both very dry
(2002) and very wet (2003) summers detected large areas of bottom water below the acute 2.3 mg/L DO
concentration. Both events were accompanied by localized fish kills.
Keywords: Monitoring Coastal Conditions, Northeastern U.S., Estuaries, Dissolved Oxygen,
Spatial and Temporal Variations, Probability Based Surveys, Hybrid Monitoring Designs.
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INTEGRATING REGIONAL COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND OCEAN
OBSERVING SYSTEMS
Stephen B. Weisberg'. Paul DiGiacomo2, Eric Terrill3
'Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Westminster, CA, 2Jet
Propulsion Lab, Pasadena, CA, 3Scripps Institution of Oceanography, LaJolla, CA
Extensive ocean monitoring is conducted every year as part of NPDES compliance
programs, most of which is based on routine ship-based monitoring techniques. Remote and real-
time ocean observing techniques provide new opportunities for enhancing routine monitoring to
better address larger spatial and temporal scales. Here we present a pilot regional monitoring
effort to assess the spatial effects of urban stormwater runoff on ocean water quality using both
traditional and new techniques. Eight ships sampled suspended solids, bacteria and toxicity at
distances of 1 to 10 km offshore from five river systems. These collections were supplemented
with satellite imagery, drifters and shore-based high frequency radar. Simultaneous use of these
alternative strategies revealed their relative strengths and complementary nature.
Keywords: water quality, runoff, remote sensing, toxicity.
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Abstracts - Poster Listing
and Presentations
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EMAP Sympsoiusm 2004: Integrated Monitoring and
Assessment for Effective Water Quality Management
Newport, Rhode Island
Poster Presentation Titles
Benjamin Allen
Science Applications International Corporation
Monitoring the Restoration of Benthic Habitats Impacted by Dredging at a Former Shoreside
Landfill in Narragansett Bay, Middletown, Rhode Island
Sandra J. Benyi
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Atlantic Ecology Division
A Comparative Analysis of Indices in REMAP Monitoring Studies in New York/New Jersey Harbor
Roger A. Burke
U.S. EPA, ORD, National Exposure Research Laboratory
Biogeochemical Indicators of Organic Waste Contamination in Small Streams of the Georgia
Piedmont
Tingting Cai
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Atlantic Ecology Division
Assessing Water Quality: An Energetic Perspective
Christopher Calabretta
University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography
Benthic Macrofauna in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island: An Evaluation of Different Approaches
for Describing Community Assemblages
Bridgett R.K. Chapin
University of Kansas, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Regional Frameworks for Classifying Streams in the Midwest: An Evaluatio Using Landscape-
Scale Patterns in Fish Communities
Rick Copeland, Ph.D.
Florida Geological Survey
Use of Binomial Indices In Evaluating the Environmental Conditions of Florida's Ground-Water
Quality
Michael Cyterski
U.S. EPA, ORD, NERL, ERD
Statistical Techniques for Determination and Prediction of Fundamental Fish Assemblages of the
Mid-Atlantic Highlands
Paul T. Devine
RD Instruments, California
Use of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to Measure Mixing, Velocity and Discharge for
Environmental Assessment
Robert Ginsberg
Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and
Atmospheric Science
First Regional Assessment of Caribbean Coral Reef Health
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Stephen Hale
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Atlantic Ecology Divison
Developing an Index of Benthic Condition for the Acadian Biogeographic Province
Gregory Hall
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Multidimensional Fluorescence as a Method for Estuary Fingerprinting
Robert Hall
U.S. EPA, Region 9
Cluster Analysis of Great Basin Ecoregions using R-EMAP Stream Data
Robert Hall
U.S. EPA, Region 9
Modeling Physical Habitat Parameters
William Hamilton
Vanderbilt University, Tennessee
A Tiered Approach to Countrywide Bacteria Monitoring and Assessment in Nashville, TN
James Harvey
Boy Scouts of America
Partnerships for Successful Coastal Restoration
Linda C. Harwell
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Gulf Ecology Division
DQO (Data Quality Objective) is not just a Three Letter Word: Measuring Your Data for Quality
Gretchen Hayslip
U.S. EPA, Region 10
Ecological Condition of Streams in the Western Cascades Ecoregion of Oregon and Washington
Daniel Heggem
U.S. EPA, ORD, NERL, Landscape Ecology Branch
Potential Grazing Impact to Water Quality in the Western United States
Paul Heitmuller
U.S. Geological Survey
A Regional Perspective: State-Federal Partnerships for Monitoring Water Quality in Estuaries of
the Southeastern United States
Jason R. Hill
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Assessment of Water Quality in Virginia's Non-Tidal Streams using a Probabilistic Sampling
Design
Susan Holdsworth
U.S. EPA, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
Overview of the National Wadeable Streams Assessment (WSA) Program
Sukgeun Jung
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Biomass Spectra: Linking Spectra across Trophic Levels as Indicators of Estuarine State
Howard Kator
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary
The Utility of Monitoring Estuarine Water Quality with ACROBAT: Assessing Spatial Profiles with
a Multi-Sensor, Towed Instrument Platform
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Paul Kazyak
Maryland Department Natural Resources
Beyond the Regulatory Realm: Multi-Purpose Aspect of the Maryland Biological Stream Survey
John Kiddon
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Atlantic Ecology Division
Regional and State Views of Estuarine Condition in Northeastern U.S. based on 2000 and 2001
National Coastal Assessment Data
Grace Klein-MacPhee
University of Rhode Island, Graduate School Oceanography, Narragansett Bay Campus
Developing Methods for Comparing Bioindicators across Transition Zones (Fresh to Salt Water)
Janet Lamberson
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, WED, Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch
A Probabilistic Survey of Sediment Toxicity in West Coast Estuaries: Results from the National
Coastal Assessment 1999-2000
Gunnar Lauenstein
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Estuarine and Coastal Contaminant Trends 1986 to 2002
Henry Lee II
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, WED, Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch
Regional Assessment of the Invasive Macrobenthos in the Small West Coast Estuaries
Yaqin Li
Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Management
HPLC Photopigment Analysis as a Measure of Phytoplankton Community Composition in Long
Island Sound
Robert Llanso
Versar, Inc
Decision Process for Identification of Estuarine Benthic Impairments in Chesapeake Bay, USA
John Macauley
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Gulf Ecology Division
Maintaining Data Quality in the Performance of a Large Scale Intergrated Monitoring Effort
A. Ronald MacGillivray
Delaware River Basin Commission, New Jersey
Testing Ambient Delaware River Water using Short-Term Methods for Estimating Chronic
Toxicity
Ellen Natesan
American Association for the Advancement of Science Environmental Fellow
Establishing Reference Expectations using Data Collected with Different Sampling Protocols
Walter G. Nelson
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, WED, Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch
A Probabilistic Assessment of Condition of West Coast Estuaries: Results from the National
Coastal Assessment 1999-2000
Robert Nuzzi
Suffolk County Department of Health Services
The Need for Long-Term Data to Understand Complex Ecosystems: The Brown Tide Example
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John F. Paul
U.S. EPA, NHEERL, Research Triangle Park
Analysis of Estuarine Sediment Contaminant and Toxicity Data for Eliciting Responses
John F. Paul
U.S. EPA, NHEERL, Research Triangle Park
Geographic-Specific Water Quality Criteria Development: A Conditional Probability Analysis
Approach
Ann E. Pembroke
Normandeau Associates, Inc., New Hampshire
Ecology of Glacial Till Substrate in Massachusetts Bay
Warren L. Prell
Brown University
A Surface Sediment Array to Monitor How Geochemical Gradients are Related to Hypoxic
Conditions in Upper Narragansett Bay, Rl
Edward D. Santoro
Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC)
Using Systematic Sampling and Automatic Monitoring Data to Evaluate and Modify Water Quality
Criteria in an Urban Estuary
James D. Simons
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas National Coastal Assessment Program 2000-2003: Collaborations and Adaptations
Charles R. Smith
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Toxic Contaminant Characterization of Estuarine Sediment and Organisms on the Texas Coast
Kimberly Sparks
RTI International, Center for Environmental Analysis, North Carolina
Monitoring and Protecting Our Oceans and Coasts
Craig Swanson
Applied Science Associates, Inc, Rhode Island
Application of a Monitoring and Modeling System to Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Waters
N. Scott Urquhart
Colorado State University
Learning Materials for Surface Water Monitoring
Rick D. Van Remortel
Lockheed Martin Environmental Services, Nevada
Automated GIS Watershed Analysis Tools for RUSLE/SEDMOD Soil Erosion and Sedimentation
Modeling
Stephen B. Weisberg
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)
Comparison and Verification of Bacterial Water Quality Indicator Measurement Methods Using
Ambient Coastal Water Samples
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MONITORING THE RESTORATION OF BENTHIC HABITATS IMPACTED BY
DREDGING AT A FORMER SHORESIDE LANDFILL IN NARRAGANSETT BAY,
MIDDLETOWN, RI
Benjamin T. Allen and Gregory A. Tracey
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Newport, RI
Restoration of benthic habitats impacted by remedial dredging activities was monitored
using a complement of survey tools that provided complete data coverage with high-resolution
components. Baseline site-wide substrate characterization was accomplished with side-scan
sonar and single beam bathymetry. Planview and Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) cameras were
used to obtain high-resolution characterization of habitats. The 35 mm planview camera was
effective in capturing top-down images of 0.3 m2 of seafloor, which were analyzed and assigned
epibenthic habitat classifications (e.g., eelgrass, rock, sand/silt, macroalgae). The digital SPI
camera collected 20 cm x 15 cm vertical cross-section images of the seafloor, which were
analyzed to determine infaunal habitat characteristics including apparent grain size and depth of
sediment oxygenation, as well as stage of the benthic community. From these metrics, a
summary of benthic habitat quality was calculated.
After dredging and subsequent restoration activities, monitoring was repeated to
document post-dredging conditions. Side-scan analysis and bathymetry depth-differencing
appeared to confirm as-built substrate characteristics. Planview photography results suggested
that epibenthic habitats appeared to have been restored, except for eelgrass in some areas. SPI
photography also indicated that infaunal habitat appeared to have been restored, as the benthic
community had recolonized the substrate. The study exemplifies application of complementary
techniques with different levels of resolution for monitoring benthic habitats.
Keywords: benthic habitat, dredging impacts, eelgrass, monitoring.
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A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDICES IN REMAP MONITORING STUDIES IN NEW
YORK/NEW JERSEY HARBOR
Sandra J. Benvi' and Darvene A. Adams2
1 U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Atlantic Ecology Division, 27 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, RI 02882
2 U.S. EPA, Region II, 2890 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, NJ 08837
Two regional monitoring efforts (1993/1994 and 1998) were conducted in the New York/New Jersey
Harbor system. U.S. EPA-Region II (Edison, New Jersey) sought to evaluate the condition of the Harbor
sediments and the changes over time as part of the Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Program (REMAP). To assess the utility of measures of health for classifying degraded waters that were
collected and calculated in these REMAP studies, comparisons were made among two benthic community
indices, oxygen levels in the bottom waters, concentrations of sediment contaminants, and sediment toxicity
determined using exposures of the amphipod Ampelisca abdita. There were two purposes of this analysis. One
was to compare results of classifying waters as degraded or not degraded using the Index of Biotic Integrity (I-
BI) and the EMAP Benthic Index (BI). The second was to compare results obtained using those indices with
results from other measures of condition. The I-BI was developed specifically for the NY area, and the EMAP
BI for the entire Virginian Province.
In most cases, the EMAP BI was more conservative than either the I-BI or criteria for chronic
dissolved oxygen when classifying degraded areas. Conversely, benchmarks for chemical contamination of the
sediments (Effects Range-Median) were determined to be the least conservative. The data reports highlight the
areal extent of conditions such as low concentrations of dissolved oxygen or degraded benthic condition, while
these comparative analyses go beyond areal extent and help clarify factors which may be driving a degraded
condition.
Keywords: REMAP, benthic index, New York Harbor
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BIOGEOCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF ORGANIC WASTE CONTAMINATION IN SMALL
STREAMS OF THE GEORGIA PIEDMONT
Roger A. Burke1 and Jon Molinero2
'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), ORD,NERL,ERD, Athens, GA
2National Research Council, c/o USEPA, Athens, GA
We monitored concentrations of nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide, nutrients and other
parameters (T, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, pH, DOC, DON, flow rate) in 17 headwater streams
(watershed sizes from 0.5 to 3.4 km2) of the South Fork Broad River, Georgia watershed on a monthly basis for
a year. We also measured the stable nitrogen isotope ratio of plants growing in the channel and potential
denitrification rate in the sediments at selected sites on a few dates. Watershed land use was derived from the
National Land Cover Data (NLCD) database. Our monthly monitoring results suggest that: (1) TDN, DOC,
and dissolved concentrations of nitrous oxide and methane in streams are all effective indicators of stream
impairment by nutrients and organic wastes from septic tanks and/or animal manure; and (2) trace gas
concentrations are more sensitive indicators that respond to lower levels of nutrient and organic waste
contamination than do TDN and DOC. The stable nitrogen isotope and denitrification measurements generally
support the trace gas, TDN, and DOC measurements and appear to reflect waste contamination levels in these
watersheds. Elevated levels of nitrous oxide and methane appear to be viable early warning indicators of
incipient stream impairment and these indicators, largely being developed through this research, may have
great value to water quality managers and regulators in EPA Program Offices and Regions and in state and
local governments. Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not
necessarily reflect official Agency policy.
Keywords: surface water, monitoring, indicators, watershed, land use, organic waste, stream impairment
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ASSESSING WATER QUALITY: AN ENERGETIC PERSPECTIVE
Tingting Cai', ThomasW. Olsen2, Sherry Brandt-Williams', and Dan E. Campbell1
'USEPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI 02882
2 Kingston, RI 02881
Integrated measures of food web dynamics could serve as important supplemental indicators of
water quality that are well related with ecological integrity and environmental well-being. When the
concern is a well-characterized pollutant (posing an established risk to human health), a direct measure of
this pollutant's concentration could be an efficient and reliable indicator. In other' cases, the viability or
prevalence of specific populations known to be sensitive to certain classes of more general or less
understood impairments could be most useful. Concerns with ecological integrity, however, upon which the
long-term viability of the biotic community depends, require a more integrated measure related to
community metabolism. Ecosystem and community energy/emergy fluxes provide possible measures of
vigor and long-term viability that might help relate a more empirically developed index of biotic integrity to
the processes supporting ecological integrity (in terms of the energy flows that drive them). In the proposed
approach, sites are characterized by their energy signatures (or influx attributes), with expected community
energy acquisition rate providing a standard for assessing ecological integrity with respect to a reference
energy influx regime. Application of the approach will depend on adequately specifying the relation
between energy acquisition rate and long-term community viability under a given energy signature, the
relation between changes in the emergy signature of a water body that alter food web energetics and changes
in water quality that affect bioindicators (such as an index of biotic integrity), and the factors affecting these
relations.
Keywords: water quality assessment, biological indicators, ecological integrity, emergy signature
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BENTHIC MACROFAUNA IN NARRAGANSETT BAY, RHODE ISLAND: AN
EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT APPROCHES FOR DESCRIBING COMMUNITY
ASSEMBLAGES
Christopher J. Calabretta and Candace A. Oviatt
University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, Rhode Island
Growing concern about the overall 'health' of coastal ecosystems in the presence of both
natural and anthropogenic stressors has lead to increased efforts to monitor and assess status and
trends in environmental condition. Benthic invertebrates have become well established as useful
bio-indicators of ecological quality in coastal and estuarine environments. This study compared
data collected using two different methodological approaches for sampling macrobenthic
community assemblages. The sampling programs analyzed by this study were those used during
the Marine Ecosystem Research Laboratory's Upper Narragansett Bay Benthic Study and those
used during the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Coastal Assessment (NCA).
Inconsistencies identified between the results of each survey suggested that, at least in some
instances, the method by which sediment is obtained for benthic community analysis will affect
the story told by the resulting data as to the status of the benthos. Three main factors were
identified which should be considered during the design of programs for sampling macrobenthic
community assemblages: (1) the method used for sediment collection; (2) temporal variability in
macrofaunal abundance; and (3) spatial variability in macrofaunal distribution. Among the likely
causes for the discrepancies between these studies was an underestimate of opportunistic fauna
during the NCA sampling caused by the use of a van Veen grab for sediment collection. Taking
into consideration trends in benthic community structure, it is likely that the effects of surface
sediment displacement inherent with van Veen grab sampling would become most evident during
the interpretation of data for assemblages of opportunistic taxa while having little effect on the
assessment of climax communities.
Keywords: benthic community analysis; ecological indicators; species diversity; abundance.
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REGIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR CLASSIFYING STREAMS IN THE MIDWEST: AN
EVALUATION USING LANDSCAPE-SCALE PATTERNS IN FISH COMMUNITIES
Bridgett R.K. Chapin
University of Kansas, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Lawrence, Kansas
Regional stream classification frameworks represent spatial hypotheses of expected organism-
environment interactions, and their development is still a work in progress. Much debate addresses
whether more terrestrially focused or more aquatically focused frameworks better explain landscape-level
ecological variation in streams. Also, the value of using watersheds (representing physical barriers to
species dispersal) versus ecological regions (representing ecological barriers) to classify streams is at
issue. This study addressed the issues posited above by comparing the classification strengths (CS) of
nine a priori and a posteriori classification frameworks for streams of the Midwest. CS was based on fish
community similarity (Sorenson and Bray-Curtis) within frameworks. The single non-regional and four
regional a priori frameworks included: Strahler order; watersheds (USGS Hydrologic Unit Codes
[HUCs]); two terrestrial approaches (Bailey and Omemik ecoregions), and one more aquatic approach
(Maxwell et al. 1995). The a posteriori frameworks included: non-spatial random groupings; geographic
distance clusters; and both ecoregion schemes stratified by watershed.
Preliminary results focusing on Nebraska and Kansas indicated that the Omernik classification
had a slightly higher CS than Bailey's, and that certain subregions (i.e., Flint Hills) have extremely
similar communities among streams compared to other subregions (i.e., Nebraska Sand Hills). Results
will identify connections between large-scale patterns in fish communities in the Midwest and causal
mechanisms for those patterns. This study will also provide suggestions as to how the ecoregion concepts
currently employed in the design of large scale aquatic monitoring frameworks may be fine tuned to more
accurately reflect natural variation in lotic ecosystems.
Keywords: ecoregions, stream classification, fish community ecology, landscape ecology
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USE OF BINOMIAL INDICES IN EVALUATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS OF FLORIDA'S GROUND-WATER QUALITY
Rick Copeland
Florida Geological Survey
903 W. Tennessee Street
Tallahassee, Florida
In 2003, Florida completed the first sampling cycle of its integrated, statewide ground-
water and surface-water quality monitoring network. Regarding groundwater, the network is
probably the first statewide network to be based on random sampling. Two binomial indices have
been used to evaluate the state's ground-water quality. Both the Ground-Water Quality Criteria
and the Ground-Water Quality Dynamic Indices are related to the State of Florida drinking water
standards and are based on whether or not analyte concentrations exceed their corresponding
standards. If at least one analyte exceeds its standard, the water (and the well) cannot fully
support its designated use. It is not unusual for the concentrations of some analytes to exceed
standards under natural conditions. For this reason, the Dynamic Index was developed to address
a restricted set of analytes which are significantly influenced by anthropological processes. Both
indices measure of the proportion of wells in which corresponding water does not meets its
designated use, along with corresponding confidence intervals. The Criteria Index estimates the
condition of all wells, while the Dynamic Index estimates the proportion of wells that have been,
both significantly and negatively, influenced by man. The two indices have been used to evaluate
Florida's ground-water at a basin-wide, regional, and statewide scale. The indices assist in
measuring the effectiveness of Florida' efforts to manage its ground-water quality.
Keywords: indices, binomial, groundwater, wells, effectiveness, monitoring
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STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINATION AND PREDICTION OF
FUNDAMENTAL FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF THE MID-ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS
Michael Cvterski, Craig Barber, Rajbir Parmar, Brenda Rashleigh and Kurt Wolfe
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), ORD, Athens, Georgia
A statistical software tool, Stream Fish Community Predictor (SFCP), based on EMAP
stream sampling in the mid-Atlantic Highlands, was developed to predict stream fish
communities using stream and watershed characteristics. Step one in the tool development was a
cluster analysis that characterized observed fish communities to form groups of streams with
similar fish species. Twenty-three clusters, each defined by a fundamental fish assemblage,
resulted. Step two was a discriminant analysis, which produced a system of equations to predict a
stream's fundamental fish assemblage (its cluster) based on characteristics of that stream and its
watershed (e.g., stream slope, percent forested area in the watershed, stream bank vegetation,
latitude, longitude).
The discriminant equations, when tested using our sample data, correctly predicted a
stream's fish assemblage with approximately 35% accuracy. If the user examined the three most
probable assemblages for a stream, the accuracy rose to approximately 65% (i.e., 65% of the time
one of those three choices was the correct assemblage). Randomly, given three choices, one
would only have a 3 in 23 chance of picking the correct assemblage (13%).
The tool will be used to predict fish communities in streams for which basic watershed
and stream characteristics are known. This software also allows users to investigate potential
impacts of environmental restoration or degradation by altering stream and watershed
characteristics, then examining changes in the predicted fish community.
This tool is currently available from the Canaan Valley Institute's website at
http://www.canaanvi.org/
Keywords: cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, fish communities, Mid-Atlantic Highlands,
watershed
Disclaimer: Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not
necessarily reflect official Agency policy. Mention of trade names or commercial products does
not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
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USE OF ACOUSTIC DOPPLER CURRENT PROFILER (ADCP) TO MEASURE
MIXING, VELOCITY AND DISCHARGE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Paul T Devine1. Harvey Seim2
'RD Instruments, San Diego, California
2 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
To comply with U.S. EPA clean water act regulations, both field mixing studies and
predictive numerical models are frequently used to assess effluent plume dilution within receiving
waters. Because estuaries, or open coastal regions have reversing tidal flows, a re-circulation and
buildup of previously discharged effluent may occur. Measurement of the horizontal and vertical
variation of the flow field is critical to properly assess an estuary or coastal region's potential for
dispersing built-up contaminants. Since the relative dilution of effluent is highly dependent upon
the amount of mixing present within receiving waters, field measurements of mixing are also
required to provide additional certainty to the environmental assessment. Measurements of
mixing can also provide valuable dispersion coefficient calibration data for numerical simulations
of proposed effluent discharges.
Since the mid 1980's, Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) have been effectively
used to measure velocity and echo intensity profiles from stationary platforms or moving vessels
for the calculation of river discharge, and the identification of suspended particulate plumes.
Recently, it has been demonstrated that ADCPs can also be used to measure profiles of Reynolds
stress, an indicator of the relative mixing in the water column. Examples of stationary and
moving boat ADCP data will be given that illustrate the capability to assess the flow conditions
within an estuary or near coastal region. Summaries of the required ADCP hardware, deployment
conditions and analysis that are required for the calculation of Reynolds stress will be detailed.
Keywords: field data collection, plume tracking, dilution modeling, dispersion coefficient,
velocity profile, ADCP, discharge, turbulence
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FIRST REGIONAL ASSESSMENT OF CARIBBEAN CORAL REEF HEALTH
Robert N. Ginsburg. Phillip Kramer, and Judith C. Lang
Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric
Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149
Clearly coral reefs of the Caribbean are in decline. What is not clear is the spatial extent and severity of
the declines. To produce answers to these concerns, the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA)
Program was designed to assess the health of coral reefs throughout the region by examining communities of
reef-building corals, fishes, and algae. It is the first initiative to examine the regional health of coral reefs using
trained experts rather than volunteers. AGRRA is focused on three objectives:
~ Completing the regional assessment of the health of coral reefs throughout the
Western Atlantic and compile results in a searchable database.
~ Establish a practical scale of comparative reef condition.
~ Use training, publications, and workshops to transfer results to a wider audience
including the general public, resource managers, government officials and students.
The AGRRA surveys are based on three guiding principles:
~ Multiple indicators are required to evaluate the interrelated communities of corals, algae,
and fishes.
~ Assessments must be done rapidly so that many reefs can be surveyed.
~ The surveys are designed to provide multi-scale comparisons (e.g. adjacent reef;
reefs of a country; reefs within a region) of reef health so that a single assessment
can be used to determine where a reef falls within the scales of Caribbean reefs.
The assessments of the first 20 widely distributed reef areas testify to the promise of this regional
approach. Progress is made in separating the effects of regional vs. local impacts, in creating norms of current
reef condition comparable to those of human health (blood pressure, lung condition) and in identifying candidate
areas for protection and remediation. The completed regional assessment will facilitate multi-scale comparison
of reef condition and establish a comprehensive baseline against which future changes can be determined.
Keywords: Coral reef, rapid assessment, regional database, management and conservation, Caribbean
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DEVELOPING AN INDEX OF BENTHIC CONDITION FOR
THE ACADIAN BIOGEOGRAPHIC PROVINCE
Stephen S. Hale and Sandra J. Benyi
Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 27 Tarzwell Drive,
Narrgansett, RI02882
The National Coastal Assessment has sampled benthic assemblages each summer since 2000
in coastal areas of the U.S. Acadian Biogeographic Province (tip of Cape Cod to Canadian
border). We are developing a multimetric index to be used as an indicator of benthic condition.
During the first two years, states (ME, NH, MA) sampled benthic assemblages at 182 stations
with a 0.01-m2 Young-modified Van Veen grab and sieved the samples through a 0.5-mm mesh.
We used stepwise and canonical discriminant analysis with several candidate metrics of benthic
condition to develop a discriminant score that could distinguish between sites with low benthic
environmental quality (BEQ, based on levels of sediment chemical contaminants, sediment
toxicity, and dissolved oxygen level of the bottom water) and sites with high BEQ. We developed
a discriminant function, using measures of diversity and community structure, that successfully
classified 85% of the stations. Our next step will be to validate the index with independent data
sets. The benthic index will provide environmental managers an indicator they can use to make
both spatial comparisons and year-to-year comparisons of benthic community condition.
Keywords: benthic assemblages, benthic index, ecological indicators, Gulf of Maine, Acadian
Biogeographic Province
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MULTIDIMENSIONAL FLUORESCENCE AS A METHOD FOR ESTUARY
FINGERPRINTING
LT Gregory J. Hall. USCG*
Kerin E. Clowt
Hao Chent
Jonathan E. Kennyf
* U.S. Coast Guard Academy (ds-1) 15 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320
t Tufts University, 62 Talbot Ave, Medford, MA 02155
Time-resolved Excitation Emission spectroscopy provides a four-dimensional data set
called a Time-resolved Excitation Emission Matrix (TREEM). This data is well suited for
treatment by advanced statistical techniques such as N-way Partial Least Squares (NPLS)
regression and Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC). Using these techniques, we have
successfully fingerprinted water samples as to their location from several estuaries around the
U.S. including the Thames River, Boston Harbor, and the Mystic River in Boston. This work
includes the characterization of the fluorescence of water from local estuaries over an 18 month
period. Fingerprinting of estuaries is important to the enforcement of ballast water exchange
regulations which are crucial in the prevention of aquatic nuisance species.
In the course of this analysis, unusual samples are sometimes encountered. These samples
can be further analyzed for their unique spectral characteristics by PARAFAC determining the
fluorescent contribution of the anomaly without needing standards. The result of examining the
anomalies can yield surprising results of importance to estuarial health, such as a seasonal surge
in dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Results of this powerful technique will be
presented, as well as the development progress of a deployable in-situ instrument.
Keywords: Aquatic nuisance species, Ballast water, PARAFAC, NPLS, seasonal variation,
TREEM, fluorescence.
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CLUSTER ANALYSIS OF GREAT BASIN ECOREGIONS USING R-EMAP STREAM
DATA
Robert K. Hall1. James Omernik2, Allan Woods3, Sandy Bryce4, and Daniel Heggem5
'USEPA Region IX, WTR2, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105
2USGS, c/o USEPA, 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333
3Department of Geosciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333
4Dynamac Co., 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333
5 USEPA ORD Environmental Science Division, Landscape Ecology Branch, Reno, NV 89557
Ecological regions (ecoregions) are defined as areas of relative homogeneity in
ecosystem type, quality and quantity of environmental resources. Ecoregions are identified by
analyzing biotic and abiotic geographic patterns, which are natural and human related. Parameters
used in classifying these spatial patterns are climate, physiography, geology, soil, vegetation and
land use (i.e. human influences). Human influences will accelerate changes in the ecosystem
character. Over time ecoregions will develop patterns characteristic of human disturbance and
alterations. The objective of this study is to test the viability of ecoregions using environmental
data from the U.S. EPA Region IX Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
(R-EMAP) project in the Humboldt Basin, Nevada, to define areas impacted by human activity.
Group averaging cluster analysis of environmental data indicates increasing nutrients and metal
concentrations towards the basins as a result of upstream land use (extensive grazing, agricultural
pressure, mining). Phosphorus, arsenic and sulfate concentrations are indicative of the general
geology, and the spatial distribution of land cover and land use (mining and agriculture) patterns.
Variability, of water and sediment chemistry and benthic invertebrate community, within an
ecoregion is associated with land use characteristics.
Keywords: Ecoregion, nutrients, arsenic, sulfate, benthic invertebrates, water chemistry,
sediment chemistry, land use.
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MODELING PHYSICAL HABITAT PARAMETERS
Robert K. Hall'. Daniel T. Heggem2, Anne C. Neale2, Rick Van Remortel3, Phil Kaufmann4, Daniel
Hagans5 and Janet Y. Hashimoto1
'USEPA Region D(, WTR2, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105
2USEPA ORD Environmental Sciences Division, Landscape Ecology Branch, Las Vegas, NV 89119
3Lockheed Martin Environmental Services, Las Vegas, NV, 89119.
4USEPA ORD Western Ecology Division, NHEERL, Corvallis, OR. 97333
5Pacific Watershed Associates, PO Box 4433, Areata, CA 95518
Salmonid populations can be affected by alterations in stream physical habitat. Fish productivity is
determined by the stream's physical habitat structure (channel form, substrate distribution, riparian vegetation),
water quality, flow regime and inputs from the watershed (sediments, nutrients, and organic matter). The
interaction of these components influences primary production, and fish population and community structure
within the stream. Physical habitat is an important and often overlooked ingredient for good stream condition.
The objective of this paper is to predict, on a watershed scale, the characteristics of stream physical habitat
structure in the Eel River Basin. Geology in the basin is dominated by the Franciscan formation, a complex
assemblage of shales, sandstones and conglomerates of marine origin intermixed with igneous extrusives.
These lithologies in combination with regional tectonic actvity, steep terrain and climatic factors have rendered
the Eel River Basin geologically unstable. Net result is high sediment loads to the streams. Terrestrial and
riparian habitat consist of low elevation oak woodlands with valley oak grading to pines and fir at higher
elevations. Canopy conditions range from closed, or nearly closed to open depending on the level of human
disturbance. The metric of riparian habitat quality is calculated by using the National Land Cover Data along
with the National Hydrological Data to determine the percentage of riparian vegetation cover. Per cent riparian
forest correlated with channel alteration and bank stability. Sediment distribution, as tons per year for
subwatersheds using the RUSLE model, correlated with the EMAP and Rapid Habitat Assessment sediment
parameters.
Keywords: Salmonid, physical habitat, riparian, sediment
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MODELING PHYSICAL HABITAT PARAMETERS
Robert K. Hall'. Daniel T. Heggem2, Anne C. Neale2, Rick Van Remortel3, Phil Kaufrnann4, Daniel
Hagans5 and Janet Y. Hashimoto1
'USEPA Region DC, WTR2, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105
2USEPA ORD Environmental Sciences Division, Landscape Ecology Branch, Las Vegas, NV- 89119
3Lockheed Martin Environmental Services, Las Vegas, NV, 89119.
4USEPA ORD Western Ecology Division, NHEERL, Corvallis, OR. 97333
5Pacific Watershed Associates, PO Box 4433, Areata, CA 95518
Salmonid populations can be affected by alterations in stream physical habitat. Fish productivity is
determined by the stream's physical habitat structure (channel form, substrate distribution, riparian vegetation),
water quality, flow regime and inputs from the watershed (sediments, nutrients, and organic matter). The
interaction of these components influences primary production, and fish population and community structure
within the stream. Physical habitat is an important and often overlooked ingredient for good stream condition.
The objective of this paper is to predict, on a watershed scale, the characteristics of stream physical habitat
structure in the Eel River Basin. Geology in the basin is dominated by the Franciscan formation, a complex
assemblage of shales, sandstones and conglomerates of marine origin intermixed with igneous extrusives.
These lithologies in combination with regional tectonic activity, steep terrain and climatic factors have
rendered the Eel River Basin geologically unstable. Net result is high sediment loads to the streams. Terrestrial
and riparian habitat consist of low elevation oak woodlands with valley oak grading to pines and fir at higher
elevations. Canopy conditions range from closed, or nearly closed to open depending on the level of human
disturbance. The metric of riparian habitat quality is calculated by using the National Land Cover Data along
with the National Hydrological Data to determine the percentage of riparian vegetation cover. Per cent riparian
forest correlated with channel alteration and bank stability. Sediment distribution, as tons per year for
subwatersheds using the RUSLE model, correlated with the EMAP and Rapid Habitat Assessment sediment
parameters.
Keywords: Salmonid, physical habitat, riparian, sediment
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A TIERED APPROACH TO COUNTYWIDE BACTERIA MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
William P. Hamilton'. Edward L. Thackston1, Scott Woodard2, and Butch Bryant3
'Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee,
2Consoer Townsend Envirodyne Engineers, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee,
Metropolitan Nashville Department of Water and Sewerage Services, Nashville, Tennessee
Since 2001, a countywide stream monitoring and assessment program for pathogens has been
conducted as part of the Metropolitan Nashville Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Program. The
program, which represents a partnership between the Metropolitan Nashville Department of Sewerage
Services, academia (Vanderbilt University), and the private sector (Consoer Townsend Envirodyne
Engineers), provides a quarterly depiction of the background bacterial quality at approximately 65 sites
on 36 streams in Davidson County, Tennessee, and helps identify segments where more intensive
investigation is warranted.
Based on 303(d) listings and known potential impacts, sampling sites were identified and are
monitored for Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. during dry weather (operationally defined as at
least 5 days post rain). Sites with either elevated E. coli densities (50% of the state single sample
maximum E. coli density) or an elevated E. coli: Enterococcus ratio (EC/Ent > 2.0) are resampled. In
addition to E. coli and Enterococcus, sites are resampled for fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus to
provide information on probable source. Resampled E. coli isolates are subjected to Antibiotic Resistance
Analysis (ARA) using a regionally specific database (3000+ isolates, ARCC = 80%).
Sites with chronic problems undergo more intensive and extensive sampling. This tiered approach
efficiently identifies problem sites and rationally concentrates efforts, leading to the identification of
several pollutant sources. Results were used by state regulators to remove 28.9 pathogen stream miles
from the final 2002 303(d) list (179.9 pathogen miles originally) and to properly classify 89.3 pathogen
stream miles as "urban runoff' instead of "collection system failure."
Keywords: pathogens, bacteria, dry weather, E. coli, monitoring, antibiotic resistance, 303(d), Tennessee
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PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL COASTAL RESTORATION
James Harvey'. Barbara Ruth2, Cary Levins2, and Frank Blanchard3
1 Boy Scouts of America, Troop 106, Navarre, Florida
2 Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Pensacola, Florida
3 Depart of Defense, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Department of Natural
Resources, Pensacola Florida
Erosion of coastal areas is a widespread problem on the Gulf of Mexico coast. It causes a variety
of water quality problems as well as loss of habitat. Maintaining or re-vegetating a buffer zone of natural
vegetation along the shoreline is a traditional approach to shoreline preservation. The presence of aquatic
vegetation stabilizes shorelines, reduces erosion and helps to prevent non-point source runoff of
pollutants. It also filters water and provides a habitat for shellfish, juvenile fish and birds. Through
cooperation of the Pensacola Naval Air Station's Natural Resources Department, an eroded shoreline area
was selected for a re-vegetation attempt. The shoreline borders environmentally sensitive Bayou Grande,
a brackish water bay that connects to the Gulf of Mexico and received runoff from a picnic and recreation
area. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Ecosystem Restoration Section grows native
aquatic plants for re-vegetation projects. Spartina alterniflora, or smooth cordgrass, was selected based
on the need for a salt-tolerant native aquatic plant that grows and propagates well at or below the mean
low water zone. Boy Scouts from Troop 106 of Navarre, Florida planned the re-vegetation effort and
planted over 1,200 Spartina alterniflora plants on the shoreline. Plants were placed every one foot on
center, several inches deep, and staggered. Subsequent inspections at six month intervals have shown that
plants propagated well and the shoreline has not eroded further. This type of collaborative effort
demonstrates the importance of state, federal, and private organizations working together to solve
environmental problems that affect everyone.
Keywords: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Naval Air Station, Boy Scouts of America,
restoration, erosion, partnership, Spartina.
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DQO (DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVE) IS NOT JUST A THREE LETTER WORD:
MEASURING YOUR DATA FOR QUALITY
Linda C. Harwell. John M. Macauley
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD/NHEERL, Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine Island
Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL, 32563
Data quality is vital to the long-term success of the U.S. EPA's, Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) and the National Coastal Assessment (NCA).
EMAP-NCA research planning includes extensive, documented quality standards by which each
data component may be measured. These quality measurements are used to identify potential
areas of concern, to assess the extent of any quality issues, and, if necessary, to deploy corrective
adjustments during the execution of a survey. The NCA team uses a variety of software
applications (e.g., SAS®, ArcGIS®) to generate many graphical, statistical, and tabular reports
comparing prescribed data quality standards to the observational and analytical survey data. In
recognizing the importance of data quality, we offer examples of proven quality assessment
techniques that aid in the determination of the value the data holds for the program.
Keywords: quality assessment, data quality objective, National Coastal Assessment
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ECOLOGICAL CONDITION OF STREAMS IN THE WESTERN CASCADES ECOREGION OF
OREGON AND WASHINGTON
Gretchen A. Havslip' and Lillian Herger1
'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Region 10, Seattle, Washington
EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) is designed to monitor and assess
the condition of the nation's aquatic resources. The Western Cascades ecoregion Regional EMAP project was
a cooperative effort between EPA Region 10, EPA ORD, Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). The purposes of this study were to describe the
ecoregion streams and to determine overall stream condition based on comparisons to water quality criteria and
reference condition.
This ecoregion has a moist temperate climate with elevation ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 feet. The
predominant landcover is forest and timber production is the primary land use. Study sites were selected from
mapped 2nd and 3rd order streams using EMAP's probabilistic design. In 1999-2000, Ecology and ODEQ
sampled 79 sites. In addition, 23 sites representing reference condition were sampled. All sites were sampled
using EMAP surface waters protocols.
Water column indicators were compared to applicable State water quality criteria and physical habitat
and biological assemblages indicators were compared to the reference condition calculated from the reference
sites. The 5lh and 25th percentiles of this reference distribution were used to designate 'good', 'fair', and 'poor'
categories.
Few (3-8%) of the stream miles were in "poor" condition based on water column indicators. Physical
habitat indicators showed more stream miles in "poor" condition (27-46%). The biota are likely responding to
alterations in physical habitat, as 14-32 % of the stream miles were in "poor" condition using biological
indicators (fish, amphibians, and macroinvertebrates).
Keywords: EMAP, streams, physical habitat, fish, amphibians, macroinvertebrates, Washington, Oregon
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POTENTIAL GRAZING IMPACT TO WATER QUALITY IN THE WESTERN UNITED
STATES
Timothy G. Wade1, Peter Leinenbach2, Scott Augustine2, Anthony R. Selle3, Abe Calderon4, J. Max Viger,
Daniel T. Heggem5. Karl A. Hermann3, Robert K. Hall6, Andrew Weiss7, and Valentina Haack8
'USEPA ORD Environmental Sciences Division, Landscape Ecology Branch, RTP, NC 27711
2USEPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
3USEPA Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80202-2466
4SAIC, EPA Region 10, 1200 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
5USEPA ORD Environmental Sciences Division, Landscape Ecology Branch, Las Vegas, NV 89119
^JSEPA Region 9, WTR2, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105
7The Nature Conservancy, 217 Pine St. Suite 1100,Seattle, WA 98101
8Indus Corporation, EPA Region 10,1200 6th Avenue,Seattle, WA 98101
Grazing is a widespread stressor on ecosystems in the western United States. As part of the US EPA's
Western Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), the potential for grazing impacts to
surface water quality was modeled using commonly available data in a Geographic Information System (GIS).
Inputs to the model are derived from four sources: land cover from the National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD),
land ownership from the National Atlas, distance-to-water from the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD;
1:100,000 scale,) and topographic position from the National Elevation Dataset (NED). The model uses 30
meter grid cells for input, analysis, and output. The input grids to the model have their values scaled to a range
of 0 (not possible to graze) to 10 (most likely to be grazed). The potential grazing impact model operates by
multiplying each of the four input grids together to determine a value between 0 and 10,000 for each cell. The
areas with the highest potential for water quality impacts due to grazing are flat, non-protected, grasslands that
are within 90 meters of a water source, Maps of potential grazing impact for Oregon and the Central Valley of
California, along with maps of the model input layers are included on the poster.
Keywords: grazing, grazing impacts, water quality, grazing impact model
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A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE: STATE-FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR MONITORING
WATER QUALITY IN ESTUARIES OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
Paul T. Heitmuller' and James E. Harvey2
'U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Gulf Breeze, Florida
2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Gulf Ecology Division,
Gulf Breeze, Florida
Federal and State resource agencies have worked together over the past four years to promote effective
coastal monitoring in conjunction with National Coastal Assessment (NCA) activities in the Southeast Atlantic
Region (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia). EPA's National Coastal
Assessment program demonstrates the successful implementation of a national program at regional and state
levels through development of partnerships and division of duties among state and federal scientists and
managers. The NCA program is coordinated at the national level by a steering committee composed of federal
and state environmental scientists, state resource managers, and a tribal representative. The program is
conducted by states and tribes in close collaboration with federal regional scientists and quality assurance
experts. Sampling design, sample collection, use of state or national laboratories for sample analyses, sample
tracking and transfer among participating states and laboratories, data analyses, data quality and data
availability are discussed in the Southeast with particular emphasis on roles and responsibilities of state and
federal scientists. This program demonstrates the advantages and difficulties of implementing a large-scale
program through tiered management approaches and shared responsibilities.
Keywords: environmental monitoring, estuaiy, National Coastal Assessment, regional, and Southeast Atlantic
Coast.
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ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY IN VIRGINIA'S NON-TIDAL STREAMS USING A
PROBABILISTIC SAMPLING DESIGN
George J. Devlin, Jason R. Hill. Mary R. Dail, Michael J. Scanlan and Larry D. Willis
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 3019 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's (VDEQ) biological and ambient water
quality monitoring programs have historically used a targeted approach for monitoring the
Commonwealth's aquatic resources. This sampling method is necessary for monitoring regulatory
compliance of pollution sources and tracking local pollution events. However, the data produced by this
sampling method is difficult to estimate water quality conditions across the whole state or in an entire
river basin. In 2001, VDEQ began a five-year probabilistic monitoring program (ProbMon) for non-tidal
streams. ProbMon incorporates a random tessellation stratified survey design that allows VDEQ to
produce an accurate assessment of chemical, physical, and biological conditions in lsl through 6ltl order
streams. This is the first survey that will provide policy-makers and the public with estimates of the
status of Virginia's aquatic resources with known statistical confidence. Two years of data results include
statewide benthic macroinvertebrate assessments, physical habitat assessments, and water quality data
from fall 2001 (n=58) and spring 2002 (n=61).
Keywords: statistical analysis; stream survey design; sampling design; water quality; and aquatic
ecosystems.
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OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL WADEABLE STREAMS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
(WSA)
Susan Holdsworth1. Steve Paulsen2, Laura Gabanski1, Michael T. Barbour3
'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (USEPA), Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds,
Washington, D.C.
2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (USEPA), Office of Research and Development,
Corvallis, Oregon
3Tetra Tech, Inc., Owens Mills, Maryland
Recent critiques of water monitoring programs have claimed that EPA and states cannot
make statistically valid inferences about water quality and ecological condition, and lack data to
support management decisions regarding the Nation's aquatic resources. These critiques have
stemmed from reviews of the General Accounting Office (2000), the National Research Council
(2001), the National Academy of Public Administration (2002), the Heinz Center Report (2002),
and most recently, the draft Report on the Environment (2003). The primary reasons for this
inability to produce adequate reporting of ecological condition are (1) the targeted monitoring
designs used by water quality agencies, which are not conducive to extrapolation to comprehensive
coverage, and (2) the question of comparability of the ecological data gathering tools, which, to
date, have precluded aggregating data and/or assessments for regional and national scales.
WSA will maximize partnerships among EPA, states and tribes, and other agencies to use
the best combination of monitoring tools and strategies to answer key environmental questions at
national, and regional scales, and to establish a framework to address issues at state and local
scales. The basic framework of WSA is to build upon previous large-scale programs, such as
EMAP and NAWQA, and to benefit from existing state agency expertise and knowledge of
aquatic resources. Randomly generated sampling locations stratified by ecoregion (Level II) and
EPA region will enable reporting at regional scales. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and a
strict Quality Assurance Program will be used to ensure the highest data integrity for the
assessment. The data collection from 600 stream sites in the western US (EPA Regions 8-10) over
a two year period (2001 and 2002) will be complemented by a scheduled sampling of 500 stream
sites in 2004 throughout EPA Regions 1-7.
Keywords: water quality, monitoring, ecological condition
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BIOMASS SIZE SPECTRA: LINKING SPECTRA ACROSS TROPHIC LEVELS AS
INDICATORS OF ESTUARINE STATE
Sukgeun Jung', David G. Kimmel2, Jason Adolf2, Edward D. Houde1, Michael R. Roman2, and
Lawrence W. Harding, Jr.2'3
1 University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
(UMCES-CBL), Solomons, Maryland.
2 University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point Laboratory (UMCES-HPL),
Cambridge, Maryland
^Maryland Sea Grant, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
Biomass size-spectra potentially may serve as integrative indicators of estuarine status. In the
Atlantic Coast Environmental Indicators Consortium (ACE INC), spectra are being constructed for
the pelagic community of Chesapeake Bay and include organisms from phytoplankton to pelagic fish.
Variability in spectra on inter-annual, seasonal, and regional scales is being evaluated with respect to
hydrological and anthropogenic factors. To date, synthesis of existing data (1995-2000) has
produced spectra for mesozooplankton to fish in the size range 0.0038 to 4,096 kcal, based on
zooplankton data from an Optical Plankton Counter and fish data from a midwater trawl. Slopes of
normalized spectra for each of the trophic levels varied inter-annually, seasonally, and regionally.
Annual mean slopes of fish spectra were positively correlated with freshwater input, the major factor
that modified fish community structure. Slopes of zooplankton spectra also were responsive to
variability in freshwater discharge, the major controller of nutrient and organic matter input into the
estuary. Preliminary analysis indicated that the 'backbone' slope (a measure of trophic efficiency) of
combined zooplankton-fish spectra was -1.4, a value significantly different from a theoretical -1.0
and steeper than the slope for each trophic level (-1.2 for zooplankton and -1.0 for pelagic fishes).
Annually, the 'backbone' slope was steepest and the regression intercept (a measure of relative
productivity) lowest in 1996, the wettest year. Regionally, the 'backbone' was steepest in the middle
Bay and the intercept highest in the lower Bay. Defining spatial and temporal trends in statistical
properties of biomass size spectra can characterize variability in community structure and provide an
integrative indicator for defining ecosystem state.
Keywords: biomass size spectra, indicator, Chesapeake bay, estuary and ecosystem.
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THE UTILITY OF MONITORING ESTUARINE WATER QUALITY WITH ACROBAT:
ASSESSING SPATIAL PROFILES WITH A MULTI-SENSOR TOWED INSTRUMENT
PLATFORM
Howard Kator. Leonard Haas, Iris Anderson, Hunter Walker and Lorraine Brasseur
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary,
1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, Virginia. 23062 USA
The ability to profile the hydrography, biology and chemistry of large, complex estuarine
systems in real time and space provides distinct advantages over fixed moorings and surface data
logging. We are testing a towed vehicle with multiple water quality sensors in the York River,
Virginia to assess its utility to quantify water quality parameters in three-dimensional space. The
ACROBAT (Sea Sciences Inc.) is a small, "winged" instrument platform towed from a small
vessel and depth-controlled by computer. It is equipped with sensors for chlorophyll/turbidity
(SCUFA, Turner Designs), conductivity, temperature and depth (pressure) (Falmouth Scientific),
and dissolved oxygen (AnalysenmeRtechnik GmbHY Of particular interest is the short response
time of the oxygen sensor (milliseconds), a requirement for accurately mapping dissolved oxygen
(DO) while moving rapidly in water with strong vertical oxyclines. The Acrobat has been
successfully deployed in the York River in depths ranging from 5-20 m and at speed over the
ground of 4 m/s with typically 10 top-to-bottom excursions/km in a 10 m water column. Using
MATLAB software (The MathWorks, Inc), two-dimensional plots of DO along the estuarine axis
depict the dimensions of sub-pycnocline, summer hypoxia. The ACROBAT also mapped
widespread oxygen depletion in the river in the aftermath of hurricane Isabel. Hypoxic/anoxic
water volume has been proposed as a critical water quality criterion for the Chesapeake Bay and
will require intensive, real-time sampling for documentation. Aspects of ACROBAT design,
calibration and use will be discussed using data collected during 2003.
Keywords: monitoring, estuarine water quality, towed instrument, hypoxia/anoxia, sensors,
3-D water quality mapping.
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BEYOND THE REGULATORY REALM: MULTI-PURPOSE ASPECT OF THE
MARYLAND BIOLOGICAL STREAM SURVEY
Paul F. Kazvak
Maryland Dept. Natural Resources
Tawes State Office Bldg., C-2 , Annapolis, MD 21401
Since 1993, Maryland Department of Natural Resources has been monitoring Maryland
Streams and Rivers to assess water quality status and trends, identify high quality and impaired
areas, target restoration and protection activities, and develop associations between stressors and
biological condition. An important, and perhaps unique, additional purpose of the Maryland
Biological Stream Survey (MBSS) has been to provide a quantitative biological inventory for
fisheries and ecosystem management. In 2000, the MBSS further expanded to include a
volunteer benthic macrovinvertebrate monitoring component- this highly successful aspect of
MBSS has involved over 600 private citizens, and Quality Assurance activities have documented
that sampling results are similar to data collected by professional crews. This paper will present
an overview of MBSS methods, findings, data use, and lessons learned from a statewide,
probability-based stream monitoring program, including biodiversity, species management, and
classroom education applications.
Keywords: water quality survey; biological sampling; stream monitoring; aquatic education;
aquatic biodiversity, aquatic management
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REGIONAL AND STATE VIEWS OF ESTUARINE CONDITION IN NORTHEASTERN U.S.
BASED ON 2000 AND 2001 NATIONAL COASTAL ASSESSMENT DATA.
John A. Kiddon', Henry A. Walker1, Harry W. Buffum2, Sandra J. Benyi1, Donald J. Cobb1, Walter B.
Galloway', Stephen S. Hale1, Gerald G. Pesch1, Charles J. Strobel1
'U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research
Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI, USA, 02882
2Computer Sciences Corporation, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI, USA, 02882
The National Coastal Assessment (NCA) is a probability-based survey that permits assessment of
estuarine conditions at national, regional, or large-system scales. Additionally, states may use these data to
comply with requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA), which mandates reporting quantitative estimates of
the condition of state waters [section 305(b) of CWA], A National Coastal Condition Report, based on year
2000 NCA data, will be released in 2004. Here, we use NCA data collected in 2000 and 2001 to summarize
the regional condition of estuarine water, sediment, and benthic communities in the northeastern U.S. (Maine
through Delaware) and major estuarine systems therein. This regional summary highlights gradients in many of
the measured indicators and provides context for state assessments. We also use simple Excel and Arc Explorer
tools to display and summarize data grouped by state. These tools provide a convenient method for calculating
estimates of the percent area of state estuarine waters failing specified criteria and the variance of those
estimates. All 2000 and 2001 NCA estuarine data for the northeastern states and the exploratory tools are
available on the web at: http://www.epa.gov/emap/nca/html/regions/index.html.
Keywords: National Coastal Assessment, northeastern U.S., probability-based survey, Clean Water Act
305(b).
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DEVELOPING METHODS FOR COMPARING BIOINDICATORS ACROSS
TRANSITION ZONES (FRESH TO SALT WATER)
Grace Klein-MacPhee1. James McKenna2, Adam Memon3
'University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett Bay Campus,
Narragansett RI02882-1197
2Williams College, Williamstown, MA.
3University of Rhode Island, College of Arts and Sciences, Kingston RI 02881,
The Coastal 2000 Project was created by the U.S. E.P.A. to establish sampling methods
for bioindicators of health in fresh, estuarine, and marine waters in states that did not have such
valid sampling methods. Transition zones are the areas where freshwater enters the marine
environment and forms a mixing zone which is tidally influenced. IBI's (Indices for Biological
Integrity) have been developed for freshwater and marine environments but not for the transition
zone. We examined five streams and their transition zones in coastal Rhode Island. Methods for
sampling freshwater and saltwater environments were compared and data was collected on fish,
benthic macroinvertebrates, sediment characteristics, stream flow, water quality parameters and
nutrients. Information gathered will be used to develop an IBI for transition waters in the
Northeast region.
Keywords: IBI, Transition zones, Rhode Island, fish, macroinvertebrates, bioindicators
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A PROBABILISTIC SURVEY OF SEDIMENT TOXICITY IN WEST COAST ESTUARIES:
RESULTS FROM THE NATIONAL COASTAL ASSESSMENT 1999-2000
Janet O. Lamberson, Walter G. Nelson, and Henry Lee II
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), ORD, WED, Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch, Newport,
OR
The toxicity of estuarine sediments to benthic organisms was measured with 10-day static whole
sediment toxicity tests measuring survival with the amphipods Ampelisca abdita, Eohaustorius estuarius and
Hyalella azteca. Sediment porewater toxicity tests using egg fertilization and embryo developmental success
were conducted with the sea urchins Arbacia punctulata and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus by the US
Geological Survey Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends Program (USGS-BEST). Sediment
porewater. was extracted from test sediments, adjusted if necessary to standard salinity, and run at three
concentrations: 100%, 50% and 25% of salinity adjusted porewater. Toxicity was tested using endpoints of
egg fertilization success, and % normal embryo development to the pluteus stage
at each porewater concentration.
Sediment toxicity ranged from low to high in California small estuaries and San Francisco Bay
sediments, low to moderate in Washington small estuaries and Puget Sound sediments, and low to moderately
low in Oregon small estuary and Columbia River sediments. Results show some (17%) incidence of sediment
toxicity to the amphipod Ampelisca abdita, but some sites may be false positives or false negatives.
Differences in sensitivity between the amphipod species A. abdita and E. estuarius to San Francisco Bay
sediments were apparent. There was inconsistent toxicity of sediments among species (amphipods compared
with sea urchins) in whole sediment and porewater toxicity tests.
Keywords: sediment, toxicity, amphipods, sea urchins, West Coast estuaries
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NATIONAL ESTUARINE AND COASTAL CONTAMINANT TRENDS 1986 TO 2002
Gunnar G. Lauenstein. M. Jawed Hameedi and Adriana Y. Cantillo
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Silver Spring, Maryland
NOAA has developed and managed its National Status and Trends Program since 1984 to
carry out environmental monitoring and assessment, and associated research, to provide data and
information products that contribute toward an effective stewardship of the Nation's estuarine,
coastal and Great Lakes resources. The principal components of the program have included long-
term monitoring (the Mussel Watch Project); documentation of contaminant residues in fish and
measures of adverse biological effects (Benthic Surveillance Project); geographically
comprehensive regional assessments to determine the nature and extent of sediment toxicity and
its associated adverse biological effect (Bioeffects Assessment Project). A significant new effort
is underway to compile and organize the program's data and make them accessible to users via
Internet from a NOAA website (NSandT.NOAA.GOV).
The Mussel Watch Project has quantified organic and trace element contaminants at over
300 sites nationwide with approximately 200 core sites providing sufficiently long-term data to
determine temporal trends. For the major of the sites, no trends were found for either trace
elements or organic contaminants. When trends were found they were primarily decreasing and
were more prevalent for organics contaminants than for trace elements. Total-Chlordane, DDT
and its metabolites, and butyltins and its metabolites had numerous sites exhibiting decreasing
trends. To a lesser extent decreasing trends were also found for lindane, aldrin and dieldrin,
PCBs; and total-PAHs may have also be decreasing at certain locations. While both increasing
and decreasing trends were infrequent for hexachlorobenzene and mirex, increasing trends did
outnumber decreasing trends.
Keywords: monitoring, Mussel Watch, PCB, DDT, TBT, PAH
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REGIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE INVASIVE MACROBENTHOS IN THE SMALL WEST
COAST ESTUARIES
Henry Lee H1. Walter Nelson1, Janet Lamberson1, and Deborah A. Reusser2
1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), ORD, WED, Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch,
Newport, OR
2. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Mapping Division, WGSC, Seal Rock, OR
In 1999, U.S. EPA's EMAP program surveyed the soft-bottom benthic communities in the estuaries of
California, Oregon, and Washington exclusive of the large systems (Puget Sound, Columbia River, and San
Francisco Bay which .were sampled in 2000). Out of a total of 677 benthic species, 43 were nonindigenous and
88 were cryptogenic. The polychaetes Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata and Hobsonia florida and the
amphipods Grandidierella japonica and Corophium acherusicum were the most abundant nonindigenous
species. The polychaetes Streblospio benedicti and Pygospio elegans were the most abundant cryptogenic
species. In contrast to the importance of polychaetes among the nonindigenous and cryptogenic species,
amphipods were the numerical dominants among the native species, in particular two species of Corophium.
The EMAP probabilistic survey design allowed statistically unbiased estimates of the area invaded as measured
by different metrics. Approximately 25% of the estuarine area contain no nonindigenous species. In contrast,
nonindigenous species constituted >=50% of the individuals in 2.5% of the area. As measured by the
percentage of the species per sample, nonindigenous species were the major component of species richness in
7.5% of the area of these estuaries. Using proposed invasion criteria, approximately 15% of the area of the
small West Coast estuaries would be classified as invaded or highly invaded. These results provide the first
regional-scale evaluation of the nature and extent of invasion of the estuaries on the West coast.
Keywords: Invasive species, macrobenthos, West Coast, estuaries, EMAP
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HPLC PHOTOPIGMENT ANALYSIS AS A MEASURE OF PHYTOPLANKTON
COMMUNITY COMPOSITION IN LONG ISLAND SOUND
Yaqin Li'. Christine B. Olsen1, Matt Lyman1, Paul Stacey1, Laurie Van Heukelem2
and Senjie Lin3
'Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, Connecticut
2Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland, Cambridge, Maryland
3Unversity of Connecticut Avery Point, Avery Point, Connecticut
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection started high-performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC) photopigment monitoring in 2002 with the funding from US EPA
National Coastal Assessment Program. Seventeen stations throughout Long Island Sound were
sampled monthly for photopigments in addition to other water quality parameters such as
nutrients, oxygen, temperature, salinity and phytoplankton and zooplankton species and
abundance.
Phytoplankton is an important component of marine ecosystems and understanding of
phytoplankton dynamics is essential to developing effective hypoxia management programs for
Long Island Sound. Microscopic examination is the typical method for phytoplankton
identification and enumeration. However, the microscopic method is very labor intensive and
requires high level of taxonomic skills thus it is practically difficult for a monitoring program
covering large temporal and spatial scales. In addition, small phytoplankton and those hard to
perverse species are often unidentifiable or missed by microscopic method. Alternately,
phytoplankton groups can be characterized based on their pigment composition.
Total of 26 pigments including various chlorophylls and carotenoids were separated and
quantified by HPLC. A preliminary analysis by using software CHEMTAX based on these
pigments revealed that there were considerable amount of small flagellates in the family
Cryptophyceae, Prasinophyceae and Haptophyceae in summer in addition to diatoms and
dinoflagellates. The concurrent microscopic identification of phytoplankton indicated a large
amount of small unidentifiable cells in the sample in addition to diatoms and dinoflagllates. The
spatial and temporal dynamic of phytoplankton in Long Island Sound, and its role in hypoxia
management, will be discussed as analyses continue.
Keywords: HPLC photopigments, phytoplankton composition, water quality, Long Island Sound
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DECISION PROCESS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ESTUARINE BENTfflC IMPAIRMENTS IN
CHESAPEAKE BAY, USA
By Roberto J. Llanso'. Jon Volstad1, and Daniel M. Dauer2
1 Versar, Inc., Columbia, Maryland 21045
2 Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529
Measuring the health of benthic macroinvertebrate communities is often considered as a measure of
support for a balanced population of aquatic organisms. This measure is often derived as an index of benthic
condition based on species abundance, biomass, feeding guilds, and life history strategies. The States of
Maryland and Virginia are interpreting aquatic life use support in the estuarine waters.of the Chesapeake Bay
using benthic community data assessed with respect to key stressors such as dissolved oxygen and toxic
contaminants. The Chesapeake Bay benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI) is the basis for this decision
process. Working together with the States and the US EPA, we evaluated alternative approaches for 303(d)
impairment decisions based on the B-IBI. The evaluation took into consideration reference frequency
distributions, multiple habitats within assessment units (segments), balance of Type I and Type II errors, and
sample size. The assessment data consisted of 1,525 random samples collected from 1998 to 2002 throughout
the Chesapeake Bay. B-EBI scores were grouped into condition categories and the distribution of scores within
a segment was compared to reference distributions, treating the scores in each population of samples as ordered
categorical responses. A stratified Wilcoxon rank sum test was found to be the most suitable method for
assessing impairments given the complexities of the data. Using this method and a set of recommended
requirements, 26 of the 90 Chesapeake Bay segments were considered impaired. We discuss the relative
merits and limitations of the methods and provide recommendations for future assessments.
Keywords: Clean Water Act report, impairment, benthos, degradation, biotic integrity, and statistical methods.
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MAINTAINING DATA QUALITY IN THE PERFORMANCE
OF A LARGE SCALE INTEGRATED MONITORING EFFORT
John M. Macauley and Linda C. Harwell
US Environmental Protection Agency, ORD, NHEERL, Gulf Ecology Division,
1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, Fl. 32561
In the conduct of monitoring the condition of aquatic resources, scope and scale enter into all aspects
of the data collection. Larger, integrated monitoring programs present complex issues regarding maintenance
and documentation of data quality. In generating the second "National Coastal Condition Report", the
National Coastal Assessment (NCA) program needed to ensure that all data met the necessary quality
requirements. Generation of a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) addressed data quality issues prior to
any data collection. Ideally, this document controls all aspects of data collection, regardless of scale. The more
geographically and culturally diverse the area and the participants, however, the more difficult it is to maintain
standards for data quality. This presentation will show how NCA strived to maintain data quality throughout
the integrated assessment. All aspects of NCA's approach to maintaining data quality will be addressed,
including, training, documentation, and audits, as well as calculating how well the program met the required
data quality objectives.
Keywords: Quality Assurance, Data Quality, Integrated Monitoring, National Coastal Assessment
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TESTING AMBIENT DELAWARE RIVER WATER USING SHORT-TERM METHODS
FOR ESTIMATING CHRONIC TOXICITY
A. Ronald MacGillivrav and Thomas J. Fikslin
Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), West Trenton, New Jersey
Six chronic toxicity studies of ambient water in the tidal Delaware River (River Miles 63
to 115) were conducted to monitor cumulative chronic toxicity at twelve fixed sampling stations
over an eleven year period (1990 through 2001). Freshwater and saltwater test species commonly
used to assess toxicity of wastewater discharges from point sources and infrequently used to
assess receiving (ambient) water were used. The tests methods used were Fathead Minnow,
Pimephales promelas, larval survival and growth; Daphnid, Ceriodaphnia dubia, survival and
reproduction; Green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum (Raphidocelis subcapitata), growth;
Sheepshead minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus, larval survival and growth, and Mysid, Mysidopsis
(Americamysis) bahia, survival and growth. Survival of all test organisms was not affected by
exposure to the ambient water samples. Sublethal chronic toxicity was indicated at different
sampling stations and in different species over the study period (e.g., adverse effect on Fathead
Minnow growth at three sites in 1992 versus adverse effect on Ceriodaphnia dubia reproduction
at one site in 2000). Biostimulation of Selenastrum capricornutum (Raphidocelis subcapitata)
was observed corresponding with increased nitrate and total phosphorus concentrations in the
water samples. Interpretation of the ambient Delaware River water chronic toxicity data is
complicated by salinity differences at the sites. Alternative chronic toxicity studies are considered
to assess attainment of aquatic life uses in estuanne waters.
Keywords: chronic toxicity, estuarine, ambient water, biostimulation.
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ESTABLISHING REFERENCE EXPECTATIONS USING DATA COLLECTED
WITH DIFFERENT SAMPLING PROTOCOLS
Ellen Natesan' and Lester L. Yuan2
'American Association for the Advancement of Science Environmental Fellow
, 2National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
The goal of the National Wadeable Streams Survey Demonstration is to
characterize the ecological condition of wadeable streams in the United States. EMAP
monitoring protocols will be used to collect data from streams in EPA Regions 1 through 7
and combined with previously collected data from Regions 8 through 10 to derive a national
assessment of streams. Biological condition will be inferred using a variety of commonly
used metrics (e.g: Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera richness) that are known to
respond to anthropogenic disturbance. However, to be most informative these metric values
must be compared to expectations that are established by a set of least-impacted reference
sites. At the present time, only limited sampling of reference sites in Regions 1 through 7 is
planned. However, these reference sites can be characterized more completely if existing
state, USGS and historic data can be incorporated. These data have been collected using
sampling protocols that differ from the current EMAP protocol, which hampers efforts to
combine the data in a single analysis. We present a potential method for reconciling
biological data collected using different protocols. We illustrate this method using a pilot
study, in which existing state data from EPA Region 3 is used to derive reference
expectations. These reference expectations are then compared to expectations derived using
data collected using EMAP protocols.
Keywords: reference condition, sampling protocols, national stream survey
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A PROBABILISTIC ASSESSMENT OF CONDITION OF WEST COAST ESTUARIES: RESULTS
FROM THE NATIONAL COASTAL ASSESSMENT 1999-2000
Walter G. Nelson. Henry Lee n, Janet 0. Lamberson
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Newport, OR, USA
As part of the National Coastal Assessment, the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program of
EPA is conducting a six year evaluation of benthic habitat condition for coastal waters of the western U.S. In
1999, probabilistic sampling for a range of biotic and abiotic condition indicators was conducted at 210 stations
within the small estuary systems of Washington, Oregon and California. In 2000 an additional 171 stations were
sampled in Puget Sound, the Columbia River, and San Francisco Bay. Results indicate that only a small
percentage of the total area of these estuarine systems has levels of sediment contamination of either metals or
organic compounds potentially toxic to benthic organisms. There was also a general absence of elevated mortality
in sediment bioassays conducted with the amphipod Ampelisca abdita. Nonindigenous species were present at
many sample sites and were the numerical dominants at several, but overall constituted only a relatively small
percentage of the total fauna other than in San Francisco Bay. Within the Western estuaries, nonindigenous
species may be a more spatially widespread form of disturbance to benthic communities than sediment chemical
contaminants, although the relative severity of impacts is not yet known.
Keywords: west coast estuaries, assessment, benthic condition, water quality, sediment contamination,
nonindigenous species
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THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM DATA TO UNDERSTAND COMPLEX ECOSYSTEMS:
THE BROWN TIDE EXAMPLE
Robert Nuzzi
Suffolk County Department of Health Services, County Center, Riverhead, NY 11901
Long-term, data collected by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services
(SCDHS) prior to, and as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) sponsored
Peconic Estuary Program (PEP), along with data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
resulted in a hypothesis relating rainfall, groundwater, dissolved organic and dissolved inorganic
nitrogen (DON and DIN) to the development of "brown tide" blooms caused by the picoplankter
Aureococcus anophagefferens. Aureococcus is capable of efficiently utilizing DON in the
absence of groundwater-supplied DIN, the typical phytoplankton nitrogen source, during periods
of low groundwater flow.
Similar, though less intensive data collection by the SCDHS, partly in response to the
New York State Department of State (DOS) sponsored South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER)
Program, and data provided by researchers from the State University of New York (SUNY) at
Stony Brook revealed a cascade of events suggesting a relationship between extreme water clarity
resulting from high shellfish clearance rates, the growth and subsequent partial mineralization of
benthic macroalgae leading to the release of DON, and the production of an unusual winter-time
brown tide bloom.
These monitoring programs illustrate the importance of multi-agency cooperation and
long-term, intensive data collection for characterizing aquatic resources, and developing an
understanding of complex ecosystems sufficient for the formulation of realistic management
alternatives.
Keywords: long-term, multi-agency, nitrogen, groundwater, brown tide
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ANALYSIS OF ESTUARINE SEDIMENT CONTAMINANT AND
TOXICITY DATA FOR ELICITING RESPONSES
John F. Paul' and Thomas P. O'Connor2
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NHEERL (B205-01), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
2 NOAA/NOS, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, MD 20910
An important aspect of criteria development is understanding how well we can predict biological
response. Field et al. (2002) have developed logistic regression models for predicting likelihood of sediment
toxicity using bulk sediment chemical concentrations. We used the EMAP-Estuaries Virginian Province 1990-
1993 database to test the applicability of these models. A probability based sampling design was used to collect
these data, so comparison can be made with the likelihood of observing biological response. This comparison
could only be done approximately because Field et al. defined toxic as less than 90% amphipod survival in 10-
day laboratory exposures. This led to the seemingly anomalous conclusion that approximately 22% of the
entire estuarine area in the Virginian Province had toxic sediments. The conventional definition of toxicity
based on 80% survival lowered this to less than 10%. The small estuarine systems across the province had the
highest proportion of area with observed toxicity. Overall comparison of the Field et al. predictions of
likelihood of observing toxicity against actual distributions of observations (based either on the 90% or 80%
definition of toxicity) indicates that the predictions overestimate the actual occurrence of toxicity. Details of
the comparison will be discussed.
Keywords: sediment toxicity, estuaries, statistical models, sediment contaminants
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GEOGRAPHIC-SPECIFIC WATER QUALITY CRITERIA DEVELOPMENT: A
CONDITIONAL PROBABILITY ANALYSIS APPROACH
John F. Paul and Michael E. McDonald
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NHEERL (B205-01), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
A conditional probability analysis (CPA) approach using monitoring data to develop
geographic-specific water quality criteria for protection of aquatic life is presented. This approach expresses a
biological threshold of impact as the likelihood of exceeding a given value of a pollution metric. Uncertainty
and natural variability are inherently incorporated into the analysis. Application with survey data
(probability-based sample design) alleviates two issues typical with existing methods: (1) extrapolation to an
entire geographic area and (2) possible bias in site selection. Data from wadable streams in the mid-Atlantic
area of the U.S. are used to illustrate the approach. Benthic community index values (EPT taxa richness) were
used to identify impacted stream communities. Thresholds of impact were identified using four changepoint
techniques for water column turbidity, percent fines in the sediment bed, and geometric mean diameter of
sediment bed particles. Finally, a demonstration is provided of how these thresholds could be used to develop
criteria for protection of aquatic life in streams. Although final development of water quality standards is a
management decision, scientifically-defensible approaches for establishing criteria based on significant
deviations from expected community condition across a wide range of geographic conditions could be a useful
first step.
Keywords: water quality criteria, sedimentation, wadable streams, mid-Atlantic region, benthic community
condition, conditional probability, statistical analysis, aquatic ecosystems
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ECOLOGY OF GLACIAL TILL SUBSTRATE IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY
Arm E. Pembroke', Michael Tyrrell2, Paul D. Martin2, and George A. McLachlan3
'Normandeau Associates, Inc., Bedford, New Hampshire
2TRC Environmental, Inc., Lowell, Massachusetts
3Duke Energy, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts
Benthic resources were monitored for the purpose of siting and permitting a 30-mile long
gas pipeline in Massachusetts Bay and Boston Harbor. The pipeline crosses several substrate
types, including silt, sand, glacial till, and boulder/ledge. The biological monitoring program
incorporates a "Before-After Control-Impact" (BACI) design for each of these substrate types so
that recovery of the benthic resources following construction could be documented. Two
preconstruction surveys (winter and summer) were completed and results of the surveys of the
glacial till substrate are discussed herein.
Glacial till is a complex substrate consisting of various mixtures of sediments that run the
entire range of the Wentworth classification system. This complexity provides habitat for
numerous invertebrate species exhibiting different life history strategies, including early benthic
phase (EBP) lobsters, but also makes it a difficult habitat to sample quantitatively. Air-lift
methods developed to inventory EBP lobster populations were successfully adapted to sample the
entire benthic community.
Species richness was high (up to 189 taxa/1.5m2) regardless of season and numerical
dominance by a single species was rare. Numerical classification indicated that stations were
most closely associated by depth and season. Species composition was similar to rocky
communities but the presence of cobble-to-gravel sized rocks and granular sediments created
interstitial spaces that enabled recruitment of infaunal and cryptic species as well.
Keywords: glacial till, marine benthos, EBP lobsters, BACI design
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A SURFACE SEDIMENT ARRAY TO MONITOR HOW GEOCIIEMICAL GRADIENTS ARE
RELATED TO HYPOXIC CONDITIONS IN UPPER NARRAGANSETT BAY, RI
Warren Prell1, David Murray Keira Heggie and Emily Saarman
1 Brown University, Providence RI, 02912 E-mails: dmurrav@brown.edu ; Warren Prell@brown.edu
;Keira_heggie@brown.edu; emilv saa@hotmail.com;
Surface sediments integrate the environmental-related inorganic and organic fluxes and thus
provide reliable estimates of long-term conditions. However, the environmental inputs may be modified
by depositional and oceanographic processes. The goal of this project is to assess the geochemical
gradients in the mid-upper Narragansett Bay and the Providence River and how they are related to
depositional processes and to areas of persistent hypoxia. To establish the database for measuring
geochemical gradients, we used a standard Ponar grab to collect a high-resolution array of over 300
surface samples during the summer of 2003. Stations in the Providence River were collected at about 400
m intervals and stations in the mid-upper Bay were collected at about 800 m intervals. Samples were
processed in the field, sub-sampled for geochemical analyses, and sieved at 2mm to retain the coarse
fraction for benthic fauna and flora characterization. Preliminary analyses show distinct patterns of grain
size and the expected correlation of higher organic carbon cpncentrations with fine-grained (dominantly
silt and clay) samples. Sediments with >20% silt and clay average 3.95% organic carbon, with individual
samples as high as 8.0%. Analyses of nitrogen concentrations, N isotopes, elemental composition, and
biofacies will be integrated with the grain size and carbon concentration data.
Keywords: Sediments, Hypoxia, Narragansett Bay, Estuaries, Dissolved Oxygen, Spatial and Temporal
Variations.
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USING SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING AND AUTOMATIC MONITORING DATA TO
EVALUATE AND MODIFY WATER QUALITY CRITERIA IN AN URBAN ESTUARY
Edward D. Santoro. M.S.
&
Patricia McSparran
Delaware River Basin Commission
Since the Delaware River Compact was signed into law in the 1960s the Delaware River
Basin Commission has been effective working with its Federal and State partners to
regulate activities in the Delaware River Basin in a consistent manner. For many years during the
1960s and 1970s the River suffered from severe depletion of dissolved oxygen preventing fish
passage and propagation. The DRBC helped raise the dissolved oxygen
in the river and estuary by determining the waste assimilative capacity of the estuary for
20-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand and allocating it among individual dischargers.
In support of these efforts, the DRBC has provided consistent monitoring of the main stem of
the River and Bay to assess attainment of water quality standards. The DRBC also provides funding
support for 5 automatic monitors in the estuary.
The current average summer dissolved oxygen concentrations in the center channel of the
Estuary indicate that present-day oxygen levels are at or near water quality standards for the entire
length of the Estuary. However in an effort to reach the Clean Water Act goal
of fishable and swimable in all portions of the estuary, DRBC has proposed raising the
24-hour average DO criteria in three zones in the urban area of the river. Discreet monitoring data
collected by DRBC and data from continuous monitors were used to create absolute minimum DO
criteria that reflect existing water quality and were also used to evaluate the impact of raising the 24-
hour average criteria on dischargers. Upon 1
adoption of the revised criteria, the monitoring program will continue to be used to
evaluate compliance with the criteria. In this way, the monitoring data has been a tool for both
modifying and evaluating water quality criteria used to protect fish passage and propagation in an
urban estuary.
Keywords: Dissolved Oxygen, Automatic Monitors, Water Quality Criteria
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THE TEXAS NATIONAL COASTAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM 2000-2003:
COLLABORATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS
James Simons'. Brien Nicolau2, Charles Smith3, Jennifer Bronson1, Steven Johnston4
'Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Resource Protection Division, Corpus Christi, TX
2Texas A&M University Center for Coastal Studies, Corpus Christi, TX
3Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Resource Protection Division, Austin, TX
4Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Webster TX
In 1999, the Gulf of Mexico Program (GMP) sought to establish a regional monitoring
program involving the five states that bordered on the Gulf. With the advent of Coastal 2000
(now National Coastal Assessment (NCA)),. the GMP adopted Coastal 2000 for its regional
monitoring program. In August of 1999, EPA presented its Coastal 2000 proposal to the Texas
state resource monitoring agencies. TPWD became the lead agency for the Texas Coastal 2000
program. The program began as a collaboration between TPWD's Coastal Fisheries (CF) and
Resource Protection Divisions, with the CF Division's fishery independent monitoring program
serving as the basis for station selection. In 2000, 44 stations were successfully sampled. In
2001, at the request of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP), support from EPA's Office
of Water added nine additional stations in Galveston Bay. The GBEP also began a volunteer
field effort that has greatly benefited the program. In 2002 the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries
Program funded the TAMU-CC Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) to collect NCA parameters at
50 stations in their region. Close coordination and cooperation between CCS and TPWD ensured
methodological consistency. Support from CBBEP continued in 2003. The Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Surface Water Quality Monitoring (SWQM) program in
Galveston B^y joined TPWD in 2003 to meld the two programs during the summer quarter in
which NCA sampling is conducted. This collaboration, although there were challenges, was
highly successful, enabling each program to benefit. Currently we are planning the 2004 field
season, and exploring a mechanism by which we can share the NCA database with the TCEQ
SWQM program. We are also exploring the possibility of expanding the scope of a randomized
sampling scheme along the Texas coast.
Keywords: National Coastal Assessment, regional monitoring, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department, Coastal Fisheries, Resource Protection, Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, Center for
Coastal Studies, Surface Water Quality Monitoring
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TOXIC CONTAMINANT CHARACTERIZATION OF ESTUARINE SEDIMENT AND
ORGANISMS ON THE TEXAS COAST
Charles R, Smith'. James D. Simons2, Pamela Hamlett3, David M. Klein3, and Gary Steinmetz3
'Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Austin, Texas
2Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Corpus Christi, Texas
3Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), San Marcos, Texas
Numerous recent studies have assessed coastal environments for toxic contaminant loads by
assaying sediment and a variety of species for various analytes. The Resource Protection Division of the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under
the National Coastal Assessment Program, has monitored contaminants in sediment and selected shellfish
and finfish species along the entire Texas coast since 2000. Compounds measured in sediment and in
whole-carcass homogenates of target organisms included polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides,
polychlorinated biphenyls, and trace elements listed on the EPA Priority Pollutant List. The results
provide insight into the influence of sediment analyte concentrations and organism species on tissue
uptake of the compounds. A complementary question is how well the tissue analyte concentrations of
motile animals such as shrimp and finfish reflect the environmental contaminant levels where they are
sampled. Ultimately, this baseline data will permit meaningful comparison with other studies of areas
with different sediment contaminant levels and organisms.
Keywords: tissue, sediment, chemistry, chemical analysis, contaminant, trace element, polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbon, PAH, polychlorinated biphenyl, PCB, metal, pesticide, DDT, inorganic analyte,
organic analyte, organophosphate, fish, finfish, shrimp, crustacean.
-------
MONITORING AND PROTECTING OUR OCEANS AND COASTS
Kathleen M. Hurld1, J. Kevin Summers2, Barry G. Burgan1, Patricia A. Cunningham3, and
Kimberlv L. Sparks3
1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Ocean and Coastal Protection Division,
Washington, D.C.
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Gulf Ecology Division, Gulf Breeze, Florida
3 RTI International, Center for Environmental Analysis, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a multi-agency federal team participated
in assessing the condition of the nation's coastal resources. The first National Coastal Condition
Report attracted widespread attention within USEPA and other federal agencies and received
praise from the Heinz Center, which intends to draw on this USEPA-led initiative for future
updates to its State of the Nation's Ecosystems Report.
RTI International provided support for the development of the first National Coastal
Condition Report published in 2001 and is currently preparing a second edition. This support
included acquisition of monitoring data from numerous agencies, data analysis, and presentation
of information for national and regional scales that summarized the data to present a broad
baseline picture of the condition of coastal waters. RTI compiled data from USEPA's
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), 305(b), 303(d), National Listing of
Fish and Wildlife Advisories, and Beach Watch programs, and NOAA's National Shellfish
Register.
The resulting ecological assessment of our estuaries using these mixed data sets shows
that estuaries range from fair to poor condition. New environmental monitoring programs, both
proposed and in place, will permit a comprehensive and consistent overall assessment of the
nation's coastal resources by 2005. The overall condition of U.S. estuaries was assessed to be
fair based on seven indicators of ecological condition - water clarity, dissolved oxygen, loss of
coastal wetlands, eutrophic condition, sediment contamination, benthic condition, and
accumulation of contaminants in fish tissue.
Keywords: TMDLs, National Shellfish Register, Beach Watch, National Fish and Wildlife
advisories, coastal monitoring indicators, National Coastal Condition Report.
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APPLICATION OF A MONITORING AND MODELING SYSTEM TO
NARRAGANSETT BAY AND RHODE ISLAND WATERS
Craig Swanson
Applied Science Associates, Inc
70 Dean Knauss Drive, Narragansett, RI02882
401-789-6224
cswanson@appsci.com
Matthew Ward, Applied Science Associates, Inc.
Eoin Howlett, Applied Science Associates, Inc.
Malcolm Spaulding, Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island
COASTMAP is a globally relocatable, integrated system for real time monitoring,
modeling and data distribution for shelf, coastal sea and estuarine waters. The system was
recently tested as an operational prototype for Narragansett Bay and surrounding coastal waters
(Southern New England Bight). Real time monitoring observations were acquired from NOAA
PORTS, CO-OPS and NBDC systems, the USGS river gauging system and instruments deployed
by the Universities of Rhode Island and Connecticut and the Narragansett Bay Commission. The
system is designed to link with any type of time varying data, either as time series (deployed
current meters or water quality instruments), as fields of information (CODAR surface currents)
or as a series of images (weather satellite imagery). The data can be processed, archived in a
database and distributed to COASTMAP clients to provide present, historical and forecast
conditions. Forecast data was acquired automatically by COASTMAP from external sites such as
the NOAA Coastal Ocean Forecast System (COFS) and the National Weather Service Extra-
Tropical Storm Surge model (ETSS) and standard meteorological forecasts. The forecasting
component integrates a hydrodynamic model that accesses necessary environmental data from the
COASTMAP database for open boundary conditions, assimilation, and other related
environmental conditions. Hindcast, nowcast and forecast simulations generated by the
hydrodynamic and other process models were ingested by COASTMAP where they were
integrated with the database and made available to other users and the public.
Keywords: monitoring system, computer model, real time data
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LEARNING MATERIALS FOR SURFACE WATER MONITORING
N. Scott Urquhart
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1877
The Spatial-Temporal Aquatic Resources Modeling and Analysis Program (STARMAP) is funded by
EPA's STAR Program. It has a specific responsibility for outreach to states and tribes. This responsibility is
being met by the development and delivery of learning materials oriented toward probability-based sampling of
aquatic resources as advocated by EMAP and other EPA programs. The materials will be individualized and
available via a web-browser. The materials are designed to be available on a CD-ROM or intranet, not on the
internet for reasons which will be explained. A preliminary draft of the interface environment is available and
an early draft of a few sections have recently undergone user testing. This talk will report recent results, and
solicit potential evaluators from the intended user community.
Keywords: aquatic resources, learning, monitoring, statistics, probability sampling, CD-ROM
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AUTOMATED GIS WATERSHED ANALYSIS TOOLS FOR RUSLE / SEDMOD SOIL
EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION MODELING
Rick D. Van Remortel1, Robert W. Maichle 1, Daniel T. Heggem2, and Ann M. Pitchford2
1 Lockheed Martin Environmental Services, Las Vegas, NV 89119
2 USEPA ORD Environmental Sciences Division, Landscape Ecology Branch, Las Vegas, NV 89193
A comprehensive procedure for computing soil erosion and sediment delivery metrics has been
developed using a suite of automated Arc Macro Language (AML) scripts and a pair of processing-intensive
ANSI C++ executable programs operating on an ESRI ArcGIS 8.x Workstation platform. The computing
algorithms are rooted in the technical literature of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) soil
erosion modeling framework and the Spatially Explicit Delivery Model (SEDMOD) sediment delivery
framework. This suite of software programs can be used to compute estimates of the RUSLE-based soil
erosion rate and its component factors, the SEDMOD-based sediment delivery rate and its contributing
parameters, and other ancillary soil and landform characteristics reported at multiple spatial scales. Iterative
batch processing is available for computing the soil metrics on as many as 16,000 watersheds in a single run.
Beta versions of the programs are currently available for testing and evaluation:
Keywords: soil erosion, sediment delivery, landscape modeling, watershed analysis, geographic information
systems
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COMPARISON AND VERIFICATION OF BACTERIAL WATER QUALITY
INDICATOR MEASUREMENT METHODS USING AMBIENT COASTAL WATER
SAMPLES
John F. Griffith1, Larissa A. Aumand2, Ioannice M. Lee3, Charles D. McGee4, Laila Othman5,
Kerry J. Ritter1, Kathy 0. Walker6 and Stephen B. Weisberg'
'Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP), Westminster, California
2MEC Analytical Systems, Inc., Carlsbad, California
3City of Los Angeles, Department of Sanitation, Los Angeles, California
40range County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley, California '
5City of San Diego, Metropolitan Waste Water Department, San Diego, California
6Los Angeles County Sanitation District, Whittier, California
More than 30 different groups routinely monitor water along southern California's
beaches for bacterial indicators of fecal contamination. Data from these efforts are frequently
combined and compared even though three different methods (membrane filtration (MF),
multiple tube fermentation (MTF) and chromogenic substrate substrate (CS) methods) are used in
these programs. To assess interchangeability of these data and quantify variability within
method, 26 laboratories participated in an intercalibration exercise. Each laboratory processed
three replicates from eight ambient water samples employing the method or methods they
routinely use for water quality monitoring. Verification analyses were conducted also on a subset
of wells from the CS analysis. Enterococci results were generally comparable across methods.
There was a 9% false positive rate and a 4% false negative rate in the CS verifications, though
these errors were small in context of within and among laboratory variability. Fecal coliforms
were also comparable across all methods, though CS underestimated the other methods by about
10% because it measures only E. coli, rather than the larger fecal coliform group measured by MF
and MTF. CS overestimated total coliforms relative to the other methods by several fold and was
found to have a 40% false positive rate in verification.
Keywords: microbiology, intercalibration, variability, bacterial indicators, environmental
samples
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Participnnt List
-------
2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Mohamed Abdelrahman
EPA
27 Tarzwell Dr.
Narragansett, RI02882
Phone: 401-782-3182
Fax: 401-782-3030
Collis Adams
Wetlands Bureau Administrator
NH Dept. of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Dr.
Concord, NH 03302
Phone: 603-271-4054
Fax: 603-271-6588
Elizabeth Alafat
Biologist
US EPA Reg. I
1 Congress Street, Ste 1100
Boston, MA 02203
Phone: 617-918-1399
Fax: 617-918-0399
Erin Albert
Research Associate
Center for Coastal Studies
6300 Ocean Drive NRC3200
Corpus Chrsiti, TX 78412
Phone: 361-825-5791
Fax: 361-825-2770
Randall Apfelbeck
Water Quality Specialist
Department of Environmental Quality
1520 E 6th Ave
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 406-444-2709
Fax: 406-444-6836
Bulent Acma
Dr./Researcher and Lecturer(Ph.D)
Anadolu University
Department of Economics
Unit of Eskisehir, 26470
Phone: +902223350580ext.6171
Fax: +902223353616
Kazeem Adesina Adenuga
Olabisi Onabanjo University
67 Yangidi Street ,Atikori
Ijebu-Igbo., Ogun-State 200005
Phone: 234-37-350428
Fax: 234-37-350428
Alejandro Alamario
Biological Science Technician
National Park Service/Assateague Island
7206 National Seashore Lane
Berlin, MD 21811
Phone: 410-641-1443 ext. 212
Fax: 410-641-1099
Benjamin Allen
Marine Scientist
SAIC
221 Third Street
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: 401-848-4628
Fax: 401-849-1585
Rochelle Araujo
Acting Associate Director for Ecology
EPA, Office of Research
109 TW Alexander Drive
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone: 919-541 -4109
Fax: 919-541-3615
1
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Michael Barbour
Director, Ecological Sciences
Tetra Tech
10045 Red Run Blvd., Suite 110
Owings Mills, MD 21117
Phone: 410-356-8993
Fax: 410-356-9005
David Barnes
Environmental Scientist IV
MS Dept. of Environmental Quality
1141 Bayview Ave., Suite 208
Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone: 228-432-1056x116
Fax: 228-432-5553
Tom Barnwell
Senior Science Advisor
NCER (8723F)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-343-9862
Thomas Baugh
Environmental Scientist
U.S. EPA Region 4
61 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-562-8275
Fax: 404-562-8269
Ken Bazata
Program Specialist
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Suite 400, 400 N St
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922
Phone: 402-471-2192
Fax: 402-471-2909
Thomas Belton
Research Scientist
NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection
401 East State St. PO Box 409
Trenton, NJ 08033
Phone: 609 633-3866
Fax: 609 292-7340
Sandra Benyi
Research Biologist
U.S. EPA / ORD/ NHEERL / AED
27 Tarzwell Dr.
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3041
Fax: 401-782-3030
Patrick Biber
University of North Carolina
3431 Arendell St
Morehead City, NC 28516
Phone: 252 728 8790
Fax: 252 728 8784
Roger Blair
Aquatic Monitoring/Bioassessment
EPA/Western Ecology Division
200 SW 35th Street
Corvallis, OR 97333
Phone: 541-754-4662
Philip Bogden
Chief CEO
GoMOOS
PO Box 4919
Portland, ME 04112
Phone: 207-773-0423
Fax: 207-773-8672
?
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
David Bolgrien
USEPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division
6200 Congdon Blvd
Duluth, MN 55804
Phone: 218-529-5216
Fax: 218-529-5003
Valerie Brady
Natural Resources Research Institute
University of Minnesota Duluth
5013 Miller Trunk Hwy
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: 218-720-4353
Fax: 218-720-4328
F. Jay Breidt
Professor
Department of Statistics
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 90523-1877
Phone: 970^91-6786
Fax: 970-491-7895
Robert Brooks
Professor Geography and Ecology
Pennsylvania State University
302 Walker Bldg.
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-1596
Fax: 814-863-7943
Barry Burgan
Senior Marine Biologist
US EPA
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
1200 PennsylvaniaAve, NW
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-566-1242
Fax: 202-566-1336
Joseph N. Boyer
Associate Director
Florida International University
SERC, OE-148
Miami, FL 33199
Phone: 305-348-4076
Fax: 305-348-4096
Sherry Brandt-Williams
USEPA
27 Tarzwell Dr
Narragansett, RI02882
C. Lee Bridges
Biological Studies Section Chief
Indiana Dept. of Environmental Mgmt.
501 Village Blvd
Mooresville, IN 46158
Phone: 317-308-3183 (office) ,
Fax: 317-308-3219
Darrell Brown
Chief, Coastal Management Branch
US Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 4504T
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-566-1256
Fax: 202-566-1336
Tingling Cai
Biologist
EPA ORD NEHEERL
Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Dr.
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3066
Fax: 401-782-3030
3
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Christopher Calabretta
Graduate Student
University of Rhode Island
Graduate School of Oceanography
Box 200, South Ferry Road
Narragansett, RI02882
Phone: 401-874-6656
Fax: 401-874-6613
Daniel Campbell
Ecologist
US EPA NHEERL ATLANTIC
ECOLOGY DIVISION
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3195
Fax: 401-782-3030
Drew Carey Constance Carey
Coastal Vision Principal Environmental Scientist
215 Eustis Avenue Rhode Island Dept., Environmental Mgmt.
Newport, RI 02840 235 Promenade Street
Phone:401-849-9236 Providence, RI 02908
Fax: 401-849-9237 Phone: 401-222-3961 x 7239
Fax: 401-222-3564
John M Carley
Program Analyst
US EPA/Office of Pesticide Programs
501 Overhill Drive
Edgewater, MD 21037
Phone: 703-305^-7019
Fax: 703-305-5060
Roberta Carvalho
Water Quality Coordinator
Westport River Watershed Alliance
P.O. Box 3427
Westport, MA 02790
Phone: 508-636-3016
Fax: 508-636-8884
Fran Castro
Nonpoint Source Program Manager
CNMI Dept. of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 502849
Saipan, MP 96950
Phone: 670-664-8570
Fax: 670-664-8540
Larry Caton
Coastal Monitoring Coordinator
Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality
2020 SW 4th Ave., Suite 400
Portland, OR 97201
Phone: 503-229-5491
Fax: 503-229-6924
Michael Charpentier
GIS Analyst
CSC Corporation c/o US EPA
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3186
Fax: 401-782-3030
Jan Ciborowski
University of Windsor
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Windsor, ON N9B 3P4
Phone: 519-253-3000 x2725
Fax: 519-971-3609
4
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Giancarlo Cicchetti
Ecologist
US EPA NHEERL
Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI02882
Phone: 401-782-9620
Fax: 401-782-3030
Robert Connell
Bureau Chief
NJDEP - Marine Water Monitoring
PO Box 405, Stoney Hill Road
Leeds Point, NJ 08220
Phone: 609-748-2000
Fax: 609-748-2014
Rick Copeland
Professional Geologist
Florida Geological Survey
903 W. Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, FL 32304
Phone: 850-488-9380
Fax: 850-488-8083
Lyle Cowles
Environmental Scientist
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913 551 7081
Fax: 913 551 8699
Julie Crocker
Fishery Biologist
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
One Blackburn Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
Phone: 978-281-9328 x6530
Fax: 978-281-9394
Sarah Clem
Ecologist
AR Department of Environmental Quality
8001 National Drive, PO Box 8913
Little Rock, AR 72219-8913
Phone: 501-682-0663
Fax: 501-682-0910
Vince Cooke
Environmental Division Manager
Makah Tribe
PO Box 115
Neah Bay, WA 98357
Phone: 360-645-3263
Fax: 360-645-2323
David Cotnoir
Environmental Engineer
Atlantic Division, NAVFAC
6506 Hampton Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23508-1278
Phone: 757- 322-4733
Fax: 757- 322-8124
Maurice Crawford
National Estuarine Research Reserves
N/ORM5, 1305 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-713-3155 ext 165
Fax: 301-713-4012
Jesse Cruz
Biologist
.Guam EPA
P.O. Box 22439 GMF
Barrigada, Guam 96921
Phone: 671-475-1658
Fax: 671-477-9402
5
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Paul Currier
Watershed Mangement Bureau Administrator
New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services
PO Box 95 - 29 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03302-0095
Phone: 603-271-3289
Fax: 603-271-7894
Mike Cyterski
Research Ecologist
EPA, Office of Research & Development
Athens, GA
Nicholas Danz
University of Minnesota Duluth - NRRI
5013 Miller Trunk Hwy
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: 218-720-4249
Fax: 218-720^328
Daniel Dauer
Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529
Phone: 252-504-7594
Fax: 757-683-5283
Richard Davis
Director
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
1350 I Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: 202-789-6025
Fax: 202-789-6190
Christopher Deacutis
Chief Scientist
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
PO Box 27, UR.I Bay Campus
South Ferry Rd
Narragansett, RI02882
Phone: 401-874-6217
Fax: 401-874-6899
Gregory Denton
Environmental Program Manager
TN Department of Environment and Conservation
7th Floor, L & C Annex, 401 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37243-1534
Phone: 615-532-0699
Fax: 615-532-0046
Richard Denton
Monitoring & EMAP Manager
Utah Division of Water Quality
288 North 1460 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84010
Phone: 801-538-6055
Fax: 891-538-6016
Edward Dettmann
Research Environmental Scientist
US EPA NHEERL
ATLANTIC ECOLOGY DIVISION
27 Tarzwell Drive
' Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3039
Fax: -(401-782-3030
Kimber DeVerse
Water Quality Workgroup Facilitator
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit
73-4786 Kanalani Street
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: 808-329-6881 x210
Fax: 808-329-2597
6
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Paul Devine
Coastal Engineer
RD Instruments
9855 Business Park Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
Phone: 858-693-1178 x 3011
David Diamond
Director
Missouri Resource Assessment
Partnership (MoRAP)
4200 New Haven Rd.
Columbia, MO 65201
Phone: 573-876-1862
Fax: 573-876-1863
Ellen Dickey
Environmental Scientist
DE Dept. of Natural Resources & Environmental
89 Kings Hgwy.
Dover, DE. 19901
Phone: 302-739-4771
Fax: 302-739-3491
Douglas Drake
Aquatic Biologist
Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality
2020 SW Fourth Ave.
Portland, OR 97201
Phone: 503-229-5350
Fax: 503-229-6957
Kenneth Dzinbal
Manager, Environmental Monitoring & Trends Section
Wasington Dept. of Ecology
PO Box 47710
Olympia, WA 98504-7710
Phone: 360-407-6672
Fax: 360-407-6884
Mike Edmondson
303(d)/305(b) Program Manager
Idaho DEQ
1410 N. Hilton
Boise, ID 83706
Phone: 208-373-0102
Fax: 208-373-0576
Michael Ell
Environmental Scientist
North Dakota Department of Health
1200 Missouri Ave
Bismarck, ND 58506-5520
Phone: 701-328-5214
Fax: 701-328-5200
Taylor Ellis
Environmental Monitoring Assistant Mgr.
Narragansett Bay Commission
1 Service Road
Providence, RI 02905
Phone: 401-461-8848
Fax: 401-461-0170
Nancy Ellwood
Executive Director
Mill Creek Watershed Council
4106 Summerdale Lane
Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: 513-563-8800
Erich Emery
Biological Programs Manager
ORSANCO
5735 Kellogg Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45228
Phone: 513-231-7719
Fax: 513-231-7761
7
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Virginia Engle Steven Ferraro
US EPA Research Aquatic Biologist
1 Sabine Island Dr. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 2111 S.E. Marine Science Drive
Phone: 850-934-9200 Newport, OR 97365-5260
Fax: 850-934-9201 Phone: 541-867-4048
Fax: 541-867-4049
Thomas Fontaine
Director, Western Ecology Division
US Environmental Protection Agency
200 Southwest 35th Street
Corvallis, OR 97333
Phone: 541-754-4603
Fax: 547-754-4614
Chris Franks
Water Quality Technician
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma
PO Box 1283
Miami, OK 74355
Phone: 918-542-6609
Fax: 918-542-3684
Laura Gabanski
US EPA '
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, MC 4503T
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 220-566-1179
Katie Gaines
Water Quality Officer
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
127 West Oneida
Seneca, MO 64865
Phone: 918-666-2435 ext. 304
Fax: 918-666-1590
David Gann
Environmental Program Specialist
Department of Environmental Quality, WQD
707 N. Robinson
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1677
Phone: 405-702-8198
Fax: 405-702-8101
Jonathan Garber
US EPA - Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Dr.
Narragansett, RI02882
Phone: 401-782-3001
Fax:401-782-3139
Paul Garrison
Research Scientist
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
1350 Femrite Dr.
Madison, WI 53716
Phone: 608-221-6365
Fax: 608-221-6353
Bobbie Gaskin
Environmental Programs Specialist
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
3800 N. Classen Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Phone: 405-530-8800
Fax: 405-530-8900
8
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Robert Ginsburg
Professor
University of Miami, RSMAS
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy.
Miami, FL 33149
Phone: 305-361-4875
Fax: 305-361-4094
Tim Gleason
USEPA, ORD, NHEERL
Atlantic Ecology Division
Scott Goodin
Environmental Specialist
MO Dept of Natural Resources
PO Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-1300
Fax: 573-526-1146
Diane Gould
Biologist
US Environmental Protection Agency
1 Congress Street CME
Boston, MA 02114
Phone:617-918-1569
Fax: 617-918-0569
Brian Gray
Statistician
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, USGS
2630 Fanta Reed Road
La Crosse, WI 54603
Phone: 608-781-6234
Fax: 608-783-6066
Holly Greening
Senior Scientist
Tampa Bay Estuary Program
100 8th Ave SE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: 727-893-2765
Fax: 727-893-2767
Peter Grevatt
Chief, Monitoring Branch
US EPA Office of Water
1200 PA Ave. NW, MC 4503-T
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-566-1925
Fax: 202-566-1333
Michael Griffith
Research Ecologist
EPA, National Center for Environmental
Assessment
26 W. Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Phone: 513-569-7034
Fax: 513-569-7916
Dominic Guadagnoli
Technical Assistant / Water Quality Biologist
Georgia Department
Natural Resources-Coastal Resources Division
One Conservation Way-Suite 300
Brunswick, GA 31520
Phone: 912-264-7218
Fax: 912-262-3143
Lynette Guevara
Environmental Scientist
NM Surface Water Quality Bureau
1190 St. Francis Drive, PO Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Phone: 505-827-2904
Fax: 505-827-0160
9
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Joseph Gully
Senior Biologist
County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles
1965 Workman Mill Rd
Whittier, CA 90601
Phone: 562-699-0405 x3060
Fax: 562-695-7267
Stephen Hale
Ecologist
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3048
Fax: 401-782-3030
Gregory Hall
Lieutentant
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
15 Mohegan Ave
New London, CT 06320
Phone: 860-867-6371
Fax: 617-627-3443
Robert Hall
USEPA
75 Hawthorne St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone:415-972-3430
Fax: 415-947-3537
Jawed Hameedi
NOAA
1305 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-713-3028, xl70
Fax: 301-713-4388
JoAnn Hanowski
Sr. Research Fellow
University of MN-Duluth
5013 Miller Trunk Hwy
Duluth.MN 55811
Phone:218-720-4311
Fax: 218-720-4328
James Harrington
Environmental Scientist
California Dept. of Fish and Game
2005 Nimbus Rd
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Phone: 916-456-5613
Fax: 916-985-4301
Rebecca Harris
Program Coordinator
Tufts Center for Conservation Medicine
Wildlife Medicine Bldg.
200 Westboro Rd. TUSVM
North Grafton, MA 01536
Phone: 508-887-4933
Fax: 508-839-7946
James Harvey
Biologist
U.S. EPA/ORD
1 Sabine Island Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Phone: 850-934-9237
Fax: 850-934-9201
James Harvey
Boy Scouts of America
2963 Coral Strip Pkwy
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
Phone: 850-932-3054
10
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Linda Harwell
US EPA
1 Sabine Island Dr.
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Phone: 850-934-9200
Fax: 850-934-9201
Gretchen Hayslip
Aquatic Biologist
US EPA
1200 Sixth Ave.,"OEA-095
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-553-1685
Fax:206-553-0119
Daniel Heggem
Environmental Research Scientist
Landscape Ecology Branch US EPA
944 E. Harmon Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: 702-798-2278
Fax: 702-798-2208
Mary Herring
Environmental Biologist
NC Division of Water Quality
DWQ/DENR 1621 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Phone: 919-733-6946
Fax: 919-733-9959
Brian Hill
US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division
6201 Congdon Blvd.
Duluth, MN 55804
Phone: 218-529-5224
Fax: 218-529-5003
Janet Hashimoto
Chief, Monitoring and Assessment Office
US EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne St. (WTR-2)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415-972-3452
Fax: 415-947-3435
Steven Hedtke
Acting, Director for NHEERL
NHEERL
B205-01
RTP, NC 27711
Phone: 919-541-0479
Fax: 919-541-4621
Karl Hermann
Senior Analyst
EPA Region 8
999 18th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-312-6628
Fax: 303-312-6897
Jason Hill
Regional TMDL Coordinator
VADEQ
3019 Peters Creek Rd
Roanoke, VA 24019
Phone: 540-562-6724
Fax: 540-562-6860
David Hoagland
GIS Technician
Kootenai Tribe 6f Idaho
P.O Box 1269
Bonner Ferry, ID 83805
Phone: 208-267-3519, ext 547
Fax: 208-267-2960
11
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Joie Horn
Environmental Scientist I
Alabama Dept. of Environmental Management
2204 Perimeter Rd.
Mobile, AL 36615-1131 "
Phone: 251-450-3400
Fax: 251-479-2593
Betsy Horton
Project Manager '
CH2M HILL
115 Perimeter Center Place, Ste 700
Atlanta, GA 30346
Phone: 770-604-9182x353
Fax: 770-604-9183
Paul Horvatin
Program Manager
USEPA, Great Lakes National Program Office
77 West Jackson St. G-17J
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone:312-353-3612
Fax: 312-353-2018
Jeff Hyland
Ecologist
NOAA/NOS, Center for Coastal Health
and Biomolecular Research
219 Fort Johnson Rd
Charleston, SC 29412-9110
Phone: 843-762-8652
Fax: 843-762-8700
Nancy Immesberger
Research Scientist
New Jersey DEP
401 East State Street (PO409)
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: 609-984-3327
Fax: 609-292-0697
Mark Jakubauskas
Research Scientist
Kansas Biological Survey
2101 Constant Ave.
Lawrence, KS 66047
Phone: 785-864-1508
Fax: 785-864-1534
Anthony Janicki
President
Janicki Environmental, Inc.
1155 Eden Isle Drive NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33704
Phone: 727-895-7722
Fax: 727-895-4333
Tara Janosh
Student
Roger Williams School of Law
8 Doire Road
Cumberland, RI02864
Phone: 401-333-0151
Fax: 401-254-4570
Arthur Johnson
Monitoring Program Supervisor
Massachusetts DEP - Division of Watershed Mgmt.
627 Main Street 2nd Floor
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: 508-767-2873
Fax: 508-791-4131
Thomas Johnson
Environmental Scientist
USEPA Region 8
999 18th St, Ste 300
Denver, CO 80202-2466
Phone: 303-312-6226
Fax: 303-312-6897
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Kenneth Jones Seva Joseph
Senior Scientist Environmental Specialist
EPA/ORD/NERL NM Environment Dept., S
944 E. Harmon Surface Water Quality Bureau
Las Vegas, NV 89119 1190 Saint Francis Dr.
Phone: 702-798-2671 Santa Fe, NM 87502
Fax: 702-798-2233 Phone: 505-827-0573
Fax: 505-827-0160
Sukgeun Jung David Justice
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory Environmental Specialist 1
1 Williams St. P.O. Box 38 Cherokee Nation
Solomons, MD 20688-0038 PO Box 948
Phone: 410-326-7269 Tahlequah, OK 74464
Fax: 410-326-7318 Phone: 918-458-5496
Fax: 918-458-5499
Pam Jutte
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
217 Ft. Johnson Rd. PO Box 12559
Charleston, SC 29422
Phone: 843-953-9074
Fax: 843-953-9820
Neil Kamman
Environmental Scientist
VTDEC-Water Quality
103 S Main 10N
Waterbury, VT 05671-0408
Phone: 802-241-3795
Howard Kator
Associate Professor
VA Institute of Marine Science
P.O.Box 1346
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
Phone: 804-684-7341
Fax: 804-684-7186
Paul Kazyak
Ecological Assessment Program Chief
Maryland DNR
Tawes State Office Bldg., C-2
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-260-8607
Fax: 410-260-8620
Druscilla Keenan
Water Quality Standards Specialist
U.S. EPA Region 10
1200 6th Ave. MS-134
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-553- 1219
Fax: 206-553-0165
Valerie Kelly
Graduate Research Assistant
Oregon State University
Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife
104 Nash Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-3803
Phone: 541-754-4784
Fax: 541-754-4716
13
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Greg Kelly
Director, Research Services
SoBran Inc.
c/o USEPA 26W Martin Luther King Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Phone: 513-569-7420
Fax: 513-5697554
Janet Keough
Acting Director
U.S. EPA, Mid-Continent Ecology Division
6201 Cogodon Blvd.
Duluth, MN 55810
Phone: 218-529-5010
Fax: 218-529-5015
Rodney Kime
Water Pollution Biologist HI
Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection
P.O. Box 8467
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: 717-783-7964
Fax: 717-772-3249
Grace Klein-MacPhee
Associate Marine Research Scientist
URI/GSO
Narragansett Bay Campus
Narragansett, RI02882-1197
Phone: 401-874-6175
Kathleen Knox
Senior Management Advisor
Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA
(7501C) 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 703-308-8290
Fax: 703-308-4776
John Kelly
Chief, Ecosystem Assessment Research Branch
US EPA, Mid-Continent Ecology Division
6201 Congdon Blvd,
Duluth, MN 55804
Phone: 218-529-5199
Fax: 218-529-5003
John Kiddon
USEPA/ORD/NHEERL/AED
27 Tarzwell Dr
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3044
Fax: 401-782-3030
Scott Kishbaugh
Environmental Engineer II
NYS Dept., Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 4th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-3502
Phone: 518-402-8282
Fax: 518-402-9029
Greg Kloxin
Technical Writer
Oklahoma Conservation Commission
PO Box 53134
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
Phone: 405-522-4500
Fax: 405-522-4770
Heather Lamberson
Project Engineer
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
1955 Workman Mill Rd.
Whittier,'CA 90601
Phone: 562-699-7411 ext.2828
Fax: 562-908-4293
14
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
James Latimer
Research Physical Scientist
US E.P.A. NHEERL
ATLANTIC ECOLOGY DIVISION
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI02882
Phone: 401-782-3167
Fax: 401-782-3030
Andrew K. Leight
Fisheries Biologists
National Ocean Service
904 South Morris Street
Oxford, MD 21654
Phone: 410-226-5193
Fax: 410-226-5925
Gary Lester
President
EcoAnalysts, Inc.
105 East Second Street, Suite #1
Moscow, ED 83843
Phone: 208-882-2588x21
Fax: 208-883-4288
James Lin
Environmental Engineer
US EPA
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. (7507C)
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 703-308-9591
Fax: 703-305-6309
Roberto LI an so
Senior Scientist
Versar, Inc.
9200 Rumsey Road
Columbia, MD 21045
Phone: 410-740-6052
Fax:410-964-5156
David Lawes
Environmental Advisor
Makah Tribe
PO Box 115
Neah Bay, WA 98357
Phone: 360-645-3151
Fax: 360-645-2660
Anna Maria Leon Guerrero
Biologist
Guam Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 22439 GMF
Barrigada, Guam 96921
Phone: 671-475-1658/9
Fax: 671-477-9402
Yaqin Li
Environmental Analyst
CT Dept. of Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-424-3292
Fax: 860-4244055
Joseph Li Vol si
US EPA - Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Dr.
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3163
Suzanne Lussier
Research Aquatic Biologist
USEPA
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3157
Fax: 401-782-3030
15
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
John Macauley
US EPA
1 Sabine Island Dr.
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Phone: 850-34-9353
Fax: 850-934-2403
Ronald MacGillivray
Environmental Toxicologist
Delaware River Basin Commission
25 State Police Drive
West Trenton, NJ 08628
Phone: 609-883-9500x252
Fax: 609-883-9522
Tom Malone
Director, Ocean.US Office
Ocean.US Office, Integrated and Sustained Ocean
2300 Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201-3667
Phone: 703-588-0849
Fax: 703-588-0872
Edward Martinko
Director/Professor
, Kansas Biological Survey
University of Kansas
2101 Constant Avenue, Higuchi Hall
Lawrence, KS 66047-3759
Phone: 785-864-1505
Fax: 785-864-1534
Amanda Mays
Environmental Program Manager
The Council of State Governments
PO Box 11910
Lexington, KY 40578
Phone: 859-244-8236
Fax: 859-244-8001
Michael McDonald
EMAP Director
NHEERL
B205-01
RTP, NC 27711
Phone: 919-541-7973
Fax: 919-541-4621
Mason McWatters
Environmental Tech
QuapawTribe of Oklahoma
PO Box 765
Quapaw, OK 74363
Phone: 918-542-1853
Fax: 918-540-2885
Brian Melzian
US EPA - Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Dr.
Narragansett, RI02882
Phone: 401-782-3188
Glenn Merritt
Freshwater Ecologist
Washington State Department of Ecology
PO Box 47710
Olympia, WA 98504-7710
Phone: 360-407-6777
Fax: 360-407-6884
Elizabeth Mills
Program Analyst
NOAA
1305 East-West Hwy. SSMC4 #10168
Silver Springs, MD 20910
Phone: 310-713-3155
Fax: 301-713-4012
16
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
William Milstead
Inventory & Monitoring Coordinator
National Park Service
105 Coastal Institute in Kingston
Kingston, RI02881
Phone: 401-874-4603
Fax: 401-874-4561
Richard Moore
Hydrologist
US Geological Survey
361 Commerce Way
Pembroke, NH 03275
Phone: 603-226-7825
Fax: 603-226-7894
John Motta
Environmental Monitoring Manager
Narragansett Bay Commission
1 Service Road
Providence, RI 02905
Phone: 401-461-8848
Ellen Natesan
AAAS Risk Policy Fellow
USEPA
806 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, MD 20851
Phone: 202-564-3283
Matthew Nicholson
Atlantic Ecology Division,
National Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory, U. S. EPA
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-9655
Fax: 401-782-3030
David Montagne
Senior Environmental Scientist
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
1955 Workman Mill Rd
Whittier, CA 90601
Phone: 562-699-7411 ex 2805
Fax: 562-908-4293
Daniel Mosley
Environmental Specialist
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
P.O. Box 256
Nixon, NV 89424
Phone: 775-574-0101 xll
Fax: 775-574-1025
Wayne Munns
US EPA - Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Dr
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3017
Fax: 401-782-3139
Mary Nelson
Monitoring& Assessment Program Mgr.
Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality
1410 N.Hilton
Boise, ID 83706
Phone: 208-373-0173
Fax: 208-373-0576
Brien Nicolau
Assistant Director
Center for Coastal Studies
6300 Ocean Drive NRC3200
Corpus Chrsiti, TX 78412
Phone: 361-825-5807
Fax: 361-825-2770
17
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Barbara Nowicki
Coordinator, URI Coastal Fellows Program
University of Rhode Island
136 Woodward Hall
Kingston, RI02881
Phone: 401-874-7829
Fax: 401-874-4385
Robert Nuzzi
Marine Biologist
Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services
County Center
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: 631-852-2082
Fax: 631-852-2743
Eugene Olmi
Director
NOAA Coastal Services Center
2234 South Hobson Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: 843-740-1216
Fax: 843-740-1297
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta
Associate Director of Science
US EPA - Western Ecology Division
200 SW 35th Street
Corvallis, OR 97333
Phone: 541-754-4602
Fax: 541-754-4614
Randy Pahl
Technical Coordinator
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
333 West Nye Lane
Carson City, NV 89706
Phone: 775-687-9453
Fax: 775-687-5856
Alex Nunez
Natural Resource Specialist
Center for Coastal Studies
6300 Ocean Drive NRC3200
Corpus Chrsiti, TX 78412
Phone: 361-825-5869
Fax: 361-825-2770
Tom O'Connor
Physical Scientist
NOAA N/SCI1
1305 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-713-3028
Fax: 301-713-4388
Robin OMalley
Senior Fellow and Program Director
The H. John Heinz HI
Center for Science, Economic
1001 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 735 S
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 202-737-6307
Fax: 202-737-6410
Cheryl Ormston
Technical Writer
Oklahoma Conservation Commission
PO Box 53134
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
Phone: 405-522-4500
Fax: 405-522-4770
Scott Palmer
Water Quality Specialist
Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma
PO Box 765
Quapaw, OK 74354
Phone: 918-542-1853
Fax: 918-540-2885
18
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Gladys Parks
Logistics Coordinator
The Council of State Governments
2760 Research Park
Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-244-8018
Fax: 859-244-8066
John Paul
NHEERL
B205-01
RTP, NC 27711
Phone:919-541-3160
Fax: 919- 541-4621
Ann Pembroke
Vice President
Normandeau Associates, Inc.
25 Nashua Rd.
Bedford, NH 03110
Phone: 603-472-5191
Fax: 603-472-7052
Dana Peterson
Research Assistant
Kansas Biological Survey - KARS Program
2101 Constant Avenue
Lawrence, KS 66047
Phone: 785-864-1510
Fax: 785-864-1534
Monty Porter
Streams/Rivers Monitoring Coordinator
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
3800 N. Classen Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Phone: 405-530-8933
Fax: 405-530-8900
Valerie Partridge
WA Coastal EMAP Project Coordinator
Washington State Department of Ecology
300 Desmond Dr. SE, P. O. Box 47710
Olympia, WA 98504
Phone: 360-407-7217
Fax: 360-407-6884
Marguerite Pelletier
Biologist
US EPA NHEERL AED
27 Tazwell Drive
Narragansett, RI02882
Phone: 401-782-3131
Fax: 401-782-3030
Carol Pesch
Research Aquatic Biologist
US E.P.A. NHEERL
ATLANTIC ECOLOGY DIVISION
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone:401-782-3081
Fax: 401-782-3030
Greg Pond
Supervisor
Ecological Support Section,
KY Division of Water
14 Reilly Rd.
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-3410
Fax: 502-564-0111
Blair Prusha
Environmental Biologist
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
3420 Cotton Mill Dr. Apt. 304
Raleigh, NC 27612
Phone: 919-733-6946
Fax: 919-733-9959
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Marguerite Purnell
Director
Fishers Island Conservancy
5 Old Litchfield Road
Washington, CT 06793
Phone: 860-868-6624
Fax: 860-868-6042
Jason Ramming
Water Quality Specialist
Oklahoma Conservation Commission
PO Box 698
Hinton, OK 73047
Phone: 405-542-3204
Fax: 405-542-3231
Richard Raynie
Coastal Resources Scientist Manager
Louisiana Dept. Natural Resource
Coastal Restoration Division
PO Box 44027
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4027
Phone: 225-342-9436
Fax: 225-242-3632
Steven Rego
Biologist
US EPA NHEERL
ATLANTIC ECOLOGY DIVISION
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI02882
Phone: 401-782-3177
Fax: 401-782-3030
Mugabe Robert
Senior Analyst(Data Processing and Modeling)
Water Resources Management Department
P.O.Box 19 Entebbe Uganda
Kampala, Uganda 256
Phone: +256 41 321342
Fax: +256 41 321368
Keith Robinson
Hydrologist
US Geological Survey
361 Commerce Way
Pembroke, NH 03275
Phone: 603-226-7809
Fax: 603-226-7894
Norm Rubinstein
US EPA - Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Dr
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3012
Fax: 401-782-3139
Joseph Salata
Senior Analyst
EPA Long Island Sound Office
888 Washington Blvd., Suite 6-5
Stamford, CT 06904-5253
Phone: 203-977-1541
Fax: 203-977-1546
Edward D. Santoro
Monitoring Coordinator
Delaware River Basin Commission
25 State Police Drive
West Trenton, NJ 08628
Phone: 609-883-9500
Fax: 609-883-9522
Susan Saupe
Cook Inlet RCAC
910 Highland Avenue
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone: 907.283.7222
Fax: 907.283.6102
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Geoffrey Scott
NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCEHBR
219 Ft. Johnson Road
Charleston, SC 29412-9110
Phone: 843-762-8508
Fax: 843-762-8700
Tony Shaw
Aquatic Biologist
Dept. Environmental Protection
400 Market St
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8467
Phone: 717-783-3862
Fax: 717-772-3249
Erica Shelby
Ecologist II
AR Dept. of Environmental Quality
8001 National Dr
Little Rock, AR 72119
Phone:501-682-0668
Fax: 501-682-0910
Trey Simmons
Graduate Student
Utah State University
AWER Department, 5210 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5210
Phone: 435-797-3525
Fax: 435-797-1871
Gail M. Sloane
Environmental Manager
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 3525
Tallahassee, F1 32399-2400
Phone: 850-245-8512
Fax: 850-245-7571
Eric Smith
Professor
Statistics Department
Hutcheson Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Phone: 540-231-7929
Fax: 540-231-3863
Lisa Smith
US EPA
1 Sabine Island Dr.
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Phone: 850-934-9200
Fax: 850-934-9201
Alex Soto
EMAS Admisitrator
Guam EPA
P.O. Box 22439 GMF
Barrigada, Guam 96921
Phone: 671-475-1650
Fax: 671-477-9402
John Sparkman
Environmental Specialist II
Cherokee Nation
PO Box 948
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Phone:918-458-5496
Fax:918-458-5499
Sarah Spaulding
US Geological Survey/BRD
US EPA Region 8, 999 18th St.
Denver, CO 80202-2466
Phone: 303-312-6212
Fax: 303-312-6409
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Robert Spehar
Aquatic Biologist
U.S. EPA, Mid-Continent Ecology Division-Duluth
3069 Lismore Road.
Duluth, MN 55804
Phone: 218-529-5123
Fax: 218-529-5003
Sara Stevens Nerone
Science Information Coordinator
NPS
38 Asa Pond Rd
Wakefield, RI02879
Phone: 401-8744548
Fax: 401-874-4561
Charles Strobel
Research Biologist
U.S. EPA
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3180
Fax: 401-782-3030
Kevin Summers
US EPA
1 Sabine Island Dr
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Phone: 850-934-9200
Fax: 850-934-9201
William Swietlik
Program Manager
US EPA, Office of Water, OST/HECD
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (4304T)
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-566-1129
Fax:202-566-1139
Marilyn ten Brink
Supervisory Physical Scientist
US EPA NHEERL
ATLANTIC ECOLOGY DIVISION
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3078
Fax: 401-782-3030
Ralph Tiner
Regional Wetland Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
300 Westgate Center Drive
Hadley, MA 01035
Phone: 413-253-8620
Fax: 413-253-8482
Phil Trowbridge
Coastal Scientist
NH Estuaries Project / NHDES
P.O. Box 95
Concord, NH 03302-0095
Phone: 603-271-8872
Fax: 603-271-7894
Holly Tucker
Environmental Specialist
Ohio EPA
4675 Homer Ohio Lane
Groveport, OH 43125
Phone: 614-836-8777
Fax: 614-836-8795
N Scott Urquhart
Professor
Department of Statistics
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1877
Phone: 970-491-3834
Fax: 970-491-7895
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Thomas Uva
Director of Planning, Policy and Regulation
Narragansett Bay Commission
1 Service Road
Providence, RI02905
Phone: 401-461-8848
Vinton Valentine
Postdoctoral Scientist
The Ecosystems Center
Marine Biological Laboratory
7 MBL Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Phone: 508-289-7727
Fax: 508-457-1548
Peter Van Metre
Hydrologist
U.S. Geological Survey
8027 Exchange Drive
Austin, TX 78754
Phone: 512-927-3506
Karen Vargas
Bioassessment Coordinator/ Environmental Scientist
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
333 W. Nye Lane
Carson City, NV 89706
Phone: 775-687-9457
Fax: 775-687-5856
Henry Walker
U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, AED
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02879
Phone: 401-782-3134
Fax: 401-782-3030
Lexia Valdes
Post-doctoral Research Associate
Institute of Marine Sciences
University of NC at Chapel Hill
3431 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
Phone: 252-726-5816 x230
Fax: 252-726-2426
Robert Van Dolah
Director
SC Marine Resources Research Institute
P.O. Box 12559
Charleston, SC 29412
Phone: 843-953-9819
Fax: 843-953-9820
Rick Van Remortel
Senior Research Scientist
Lockheed Martin Environmental Services
1050 E. Flamingo Rd. Suite E120
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: 702-897-3295
Fax: 702-897-6640
Cathy Walker
Environmental Scientist
Narragansett Bay Commission
1 Service Road
Providence, RI 02905
Phone: 401-461-8848
Fax: 401-461-0170
Sherry Wang
Environmental Program Manager
TN Dept. of Environmental Conservation-
WPC
401 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-532-0656
Fax: 615-532-0046
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2004 EMAP Symposium Participant List
Danna Washbourne
Environmental Specialist II
Osage Nation
P.O. Box 1495
Pawhuska, OK 74056
Phone:918-287-5406
Fax: 918-298-2322
Howard Weiss
Senior Marine Scientist
Project Oceanology
1084 Shennecossett Rd., Avery Pt.
- Groton, CT 06340
Phone: 860-445-9007
Fax: 860-449-8008
Cathleen Wigand
US EPA - NHEERL
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: 401-782-3090
Fax: 401-782-3030
Ron Williams
Environmental Specialist III
FL Dept. of Environmental Protection
1639 Casa Bianca Rd.
Monticello, FL 32344
Phone: 850-997-1349
Thomas Wilton
Environmental Specialist Senior
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace Bldg., 502 E. 9th St.
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Phone: 515-281-8867
Fax: 515-281-8895
Steve Winkler
Environmental Scientist IV
St Johns River Water Management District
4049 Reid St., PO Box 1429
Palatka, FL 32178
Phone: 386-329-4543
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