v>EPA
    United States
    Environmental Protection
    Agency
States  and Tribes  Embrace
Bioassessment and  Biocriteria
for  Protecting  Streams and
Small Rivers
                 The miles of streams and small rivers assessed for biological condition
                 increased from 65,000 in 1995 to almost 440,000 in 2001.
   GROWTH OF THE NATION'S PROGRAMS

    • More States, Tribes and other programs are using
    bioassessment and biocriteria than ever before for
    streams and small rivers
      - The number of programs using bioassessment has
      increased from 41 to 57.
      - Puerto Rico and the Nez Perce Tribe have programs
      under development.

   • Use of Bioassessment in Water Resource Management
   programs has increased by more than 20%
      - All 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Ohio
      River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)
      have incorporated bioassessment in their water resource
      management programs for streams and small rivers.
  MAKING PROGRESS WITH EPA SUPPORT

  Since 1987, U.S. EPA has actively supported bioassessment programs
  and the development of biocriteria. A close and cooperative relationship
  between EPA and the state, tribal, territory, and interstate commission
  programs has resulted in more rigorous and standardized biological
  assessments. Significant progress was revealed in a recent study
  jointly conducted by the Office of Water (OW) and the Office
  of Environmental Information (OEI). The detailed findings have
  been published in Summary of Biological Assessment Programs and
  Biocriteria Development for States, Tribes, Territories, and Interstate
  Commissions: Streams and Wadeable Rivers (EPA-822-R-02-048),
  available on EPA's web site at http://www.epa.gov/bioindicators. With
  this major progress on streams and small rivers, states, tribes,
  territories and interstate commissions can begin to focus on developing
  biocriteria for other water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, estuaries,
  large rivers, intermittent and ephemeral streams) for which EPA has
  developed methods and guidance.

  Biological assessments and criteria give the programs a tool for directly
  determining the health of their aquatic life resources, for improving
  aquatic life designated uses, and for setting biocriteria to protect
  those uses. Biocriteria act as the water body "response criteria" and
  complement chemical and other criteria designed to manage pollutants
  and other stressors introduced into the water body.
                                   1995 Bioassessment (52 programs)
                                "' D | »^5 AK | \ n Use (39 states, DC, ORSANCO)
                                              i In Process (AL, AK, AZ, CO, HI, LA, ND, TN,
                                              Puerto Rico, and Nez Perce)
                                              Do Not Use (NV, SD, and UT)
                                     2001 Bioassessment (65 programs)
                                            I D Use (All 50 states, DC, Onelda, Pyramid Late Tribe,
                                            J  DRBC, ICPRB, ORSANCO, SRBC)
                                 D I" Process (Puerto Rico, D Do Not Use (American Samoa, CNMI, Conf. Tribe of
                                   Nez Perce)       Colvtlle Reservation, Semlnole Tribe of FL,
                                              Passamaquoddy Tribe
                                                          D Total Programs
                                                          • Use
                                                          D In Process
                                                          D Do Not Use
                                 1989
1995
2001
                           Figure 1: Growth in Programs Using
                           Bioassessment for Water Quality Management
                           of Streams and Small Rivers.

-------
BlOASSESSMENT

The presence, condition, numbers and types of
fish, insects, algae, plants, and other organisms
provide direct, accurate information about the
health of water bodies. Biological assessments
measure these  factors and are the primary tool
used to evaluate the condition of water bodies.
Because biological communities are affected by
all of the stressors to which they are exposed
over time, bioassessments provide information
on disturbances not always revealed by water
chemistry or other measurements.
    With time and understanding,
  more states, tribes, and territories
  are realizing the benefits of using
   biological information  in their
    water management programs.
       | macroinvertebrates]
      1989
               1995
                      2001
      1989
               1995      2001
                                     1989
                                    combination of 2 or more
                                     1989
                                             1995
                                                     2001
             D Use   D In Process
Do Not Use
Figure 2: Growth by Types of Assemblages Used for
Bioassessment in Streams and Small Rivers.
Bioassessments help states, tribes, and other
programs develop expectations for biological
conditions, particularly for streams and small
rivers. Recent research efforts by ORD to
resolve technical issues such as determining
stream classification and setting reference
conditions has been very helpful to the
states, tribes, and territories. Direct technical
assistance by OW, ORD, and OEI has been
critical to achieving this progress. Substantial
work remains to begin using bioassessment/
biocriteria in other water bodies.
      Use of multiple types of animals and plants
        (assemblages) to assess water bodies has
      increased from 24 in 1989 to 26 in 1995 to
                       45 in 2001!
     Assessment of only one type of animal or plant life
     leads to only 80-85% effectiveness in identifying aquatic
     life use attainment or non-attainment. Assessment of
     a water body's biology can include the analysis of
     macroinvertebrates (insects), periphyton (algae), or fish
     life. EPA recommends the use of two or more of these
     groups of biological assessments.
   Biological Assessment:
   an evaluation of the biological
   condition of a waterbody using
   surveys of the structure and
   function of a community  of
   resident biota.
       Use of macroinvertebrates to assess water
      bodies has increased from 39 in 1989 to 44
                 in 1995 to 56 in 2001!
     Benthic macroinvertebrates are used in all but one
     bioassessment program (Hawaii is developing its
     assessment based on macroinvertebrates), but the use
     offish and algae (periphyton) for evaluation purposes
     is increasing. Use of all types of organisms increased
     between 1995 and 2001 (see Figure 2).

-------
BlOCRITERIA
Biocriteria are either narrative
statements or numeric values that
describe the biological condition of
a water body necessary to protect
an aquatic life use. Aquatic life uses
are the goals for the protection and
restoration of aquatic life. Designated
uses for aquatic life can cover a range of
biological conditions to both protect intact
communities and establish restoration
goals for compromised ecosystems.
      Biological Criteria:  narrative descriptions or numerical
      values of the structure and function of aquatic communities
      in a waterbody necessary to protect the designated aquatic
      life use, implemented in, or through water quality standards.
         Bioassessments and biocriteria give
         States a tool for directly determining
         the health of their aquatic life
         resources, for improving aquatic life
         designated uses, and for setting
         biocriteria to protect those uses.
          These narrative and/or numeric
          biocriteria may be formally adopted
          into water quality standards along with
          an anti-degradation policy intended
          to protect waters from further
          deterioration.
            2001 Narrative Biocriteria in WQS
   Narrative Biocriteria:  written
   statements describing the structure
   and function of aquatic communities
   in a waterbody necessary to protect
   a designated aquatic life use.
                                                                                • A total of 29 national
                                                                                programs have incorporated
                                                                                Narrative Biocriteria into
                                                                                their Water Quality
                                                                                Standards in 2001.
                                                                                   - Of the 29 programs,
                                                                                   22 have also developed
                                                                                   quantitative implementation
                                                                                   procedures or translators for
                                                                                   their narrative criteria to
                                                                                   use in their water quality
                                                                                   management programs.
                                                                                 Sixteen states are in
                                                                                 the process of
                                                                                 developing numeric or
                                                                                 narrative biocriteria.
                                                                                 The greatest increase
                                                                                 in the use of narrative
                                                                                 water quality
                                                                                 standards took place
                                                                                 between 1989 and
                                                                                 1995. Numeric
                                                                                 biocriteria has
                                                                                 increased steadily.
                                                                                                               2001 Numeric Biocriteria in WQS

                                                                                                              • Five programs have incorporated
                                                                                                               Numeric Biocriteria into their Water
                                                                                                               Quality Standards in 2001

                                                                                                              - Ten programs are now in the process of
                                                                                                              developing Numeric Biocriteria
                                                        Numeric Biocriteria: specific quanti-
                                                        tative measures of the structure and
                                                        function of aquatic communities in a
                                                        waterbody necessary to protect a
                                                        designated aquatic life use.
                                                      Maine has just completed
                                                      development of numeric
                                                      biocriteria in their water
                                                      quality standards program.
                                                      Numeric criteria were
                                                      developed for dissolved
                                                      oxygen and bacteria, and
                                                      are designed to measure
                                                      the response of benthic
                                                      macroinvertebrates to
                                                      human influences. Narrative
                                                      criteria cover habitat and
                            aquatic life in rivers and
                            streams. Maine's
                            numeric biocriteria
                            protocol provides a
                            statistically defensible
                            and reproducible
                            decision-making tool for
                            making quantitative
                            determination about
                            attainment of biological
                            water quality standards.
                                            D Total Programs
                                            • Use
                                            D In Process
                                            • Do Not Use
               1995
2001
      Figure 3:  Growth in Programs Using
      Bioassessment to Determine Aquatic Life Use
      Attainment in Streams and Small Rivers.
                                  AQUATIC LIFE USE SUPPORT

                                 Aquatic Life Use Support (ALUS) is a
                                 determination of the ability of a water body to
                                 support aquatic life. ALUS ratings are either fully
                                 supporting, partially supporting, or non-supporting
                                 of aquatic life. Water bodies that cannot fully
                                 support aquatic life are considered impaired and
                                 listed by the states and tribes on their 303(d) list.
   Use of bioassessment to determine
Aquatic Life Use (ALU) attainment has
 increased from 31 States and Tribes in
  1995 to 40 States and Tribes in 2001

                                                      Aquatic Life Use:  a beneficial use designation in which the waterbody provides
                                                      suitable habitat for survival and reproduction of desirable fish, shellfish, and
                                                      other aquatic organisms; classifications specified in state water quality standards
                                                      relating to the level of protection afforded to the resident biological community
                                                      by the state  agency.
Bioassessment can help states and tribes develop the
targeted biological condition for a waterbody. Because
chemical water quality standards alone may not ensure
a healthy biological condition, most states are integrating
biological information in their ALUS attainment
determinations.

In Idaho, for example, the designated aquatic life use of a
waterbody is dependant upon its ability to support the actual
or future use of the waterbody. Water bodies are evaluated
to determine if the quality standards are being achieved
and whether a healthy, balanced biological community is
present. Aquatic Life Use designations are divided into
two types; cold-water ALUs and warm-water ALUs. Three
types of parameters are utilized to determine beneficial use
status: Aquatic Habitat Parameters, Biological Parameters,
and Natural/Reference Conditions. ALUs are also utilized
as part of the determination of TMDLs in Idaho.

-------
                            EXAMPLES OF PROGRESS
          ORSANCO
The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
(ORSANCO) is conducting biological monitoring
of the Ohio River to develop techniques for large
rivers in general and using biological monitoring
assessment and criteria to characterize the Ohio
River's condition. The Commission is in the
process of developing numeric biological criteria,
and expanding its program into the tributaries and
reaches of the Ohio River basin.
     ORSANCO collects data, develops methods, conducts
     sampling and develops assessment indices from the Ohio
     River for the eight states it represents. Their primary
     objective is to determine the extent to which the Ohio River
     will be capable of sustaining fish and other aquatic life.
     Both macroinvertebrates and fish are used by ORSANCO
     to assess the Ohio River basin.
     ORSANCO's narrative biocriteria are supported by the
     numeric biocriteria that are being developed.
             ONEIDA NATION OF  WISCONSIN
   The Oneida Nation has recently made
   great strides to implement a bioassessment
   program. In 1999, the Tribe began to
   sample macroinvertebrates and utilize their
   findings. A formal biological monitoring
   program was established in 2000, including
   qualitative sampling and the development
   of standardized operating procedures. Future
   plans include sampling of invertebrates and
   fish. The Tribe has included biocriteria in its
   WQS.
• Previous to initiation of its formal biological monitoring
  in 2000, the Tribe established an onsite aquatic
  invertebrate taxonomy laboratory. Best management
  practices have been tested and Standard Operating
  Procedures have been developed.
  The Tribe uses both macroinvertebrates and fish to assess
  its water bodies.
  Bioassessment data is being used to assess the aquatic
  resources,  determine the cause and effect of pollution, for
  monitoring, and for watershed based management.
              OREGON
   Oregon has an extensive history in the use of
   biological data in water quality assessments.
   The program has grown since the early
   1990's. Oregon's primary objectives are to
   identify trends in stream conditions and
   biological assemblages, identify the primary
   chemical and physical parameters impairing
   biological assemblages, assess the effectiveness
   of restoration projects and management
   activities designed to improve stream conditions,
   and help standardize protocols for biological
   assessments throughout the state and region.
     The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
     (DEQ) sets water quality standards to protect "beneficial
     uses" such as recreation, fish habitat, drinking water
     supplies, and aesthetics. DEQ monitors water quality
     with regular sampling of more than 50 rivers and streams
     in the 18 designated river basins found in Oregon.
     Multiple assemblages are used by Oregon to assess water
     bodies.
     Narrative criteria were adopted in Oregon's water quality
     standards and are applied using a numeric approach.

-------
I
55
\

           01
           CD
          if
EPA Office of Water
Washington DC 20460
EPA-822-F-03-005
June 2003
                                                                 VERMONT
Vermont has been conducting aquatic biological health
assessments since the early 1970s. From 1985 to
2001, approximately 1,500 stream assessments were
completed using macroinvertebrates and/or fish from
more than 900 wadeable stream reaches. Two Vermont-
specific fish community Indexes of Biotic Integrity
have been developed. Revisions in 2000 introduced
the concept of reference-site conditions for assessment
of biological condition. Vermont's program utilizes a
biocondition gradient to establish tiered aquatic life
uses classifications.
                                       The Vermont Department of Environmental
                                       Conservation (VTDEC) collaborates with academic
                                       institutions, neighboring states, special groups, and
                                       volunteer monitors in their research.
                                       Multiple assemblages are used by Vermont to assess
                                       its water bodies.
                                       VTDEC uses narrative tiered biocriteria that is
                                       independent of the Water Quality standards. Numeric
                                       criteria are found within the VTDEC procedural
                                       documents.
              BlOASSESSMENT PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

 EPA's Office of Water declared the following goals and objectives for the biocriteria program:
Biocriteria/bioassessments will be used in ongoing
regulatory programs.
Biocriteria/bioassessments will be used to assess the
effectiveness of water quality management efforts.
Bioassessment data and biocriteria will be used to
better communicate the health of the Nation's waters.
                                      All states/tribes will use bioassessments/biocriteria to
                                      evaluate the health of aquatic life in all water bodies.
                                      Bioassessment data will be used by all states/tribes to
                                      better define aquatic life uses.
                                      Numeric biocriteria will be adopted in all state/tribal
                                      water quality standards to protect aquatic life uses.
               Office of Water
        Office of Science and Technology
             Susan Jackson (202) 566-1112
             William Swietlik (202) 566-1129
             Treda Smith (202) 566-1128
             Tom Gardner (202) 566-0386
             Kellie Kubena (202) 566-0448
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
             Chris Faulkner (202) 566-1185
             Laura Gabanski (202) 566-1179
             Doreen Vetter (202) 566-1379
                                          Office of Environmental Information
                                             OFFICE OF
                                             ENVIRONMENTAL
                                             INFORMATION
                                                                        Wayne Davis (410) 305-3030
                                                                        Elizabeth Jackson (202) 566-0626
                                          Office of Research and Development
                                                       Susan Cormier (513) 569-7995
                                                       Sue Norton (202) 564-3246
                                                       Steve Paulsen (541) 754-4428
                                                       Glenn Suter (513) 569-7808
                                  Printed on chlorine free 100% recycled paper with
                                  100% post-consumer fiber using vegetable-based ink.

-------