2003 National Biocriteria Workshop Modules course examines how biological

							APP 101 BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS AND CRITERIA AND THEIR APPLICATION IN WATER PROGRAMS
Course Presenters and Contributors William Swietlik, Ellen McCarron, Mick Micacchion, Dave Courtemanch, Chris Mebane
March 31 - April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP101_01 1

APP 101

Introduction

Presented by William Swietlik, USEPA Office of Water, Office of Science & Technology
March 31 - April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP101_01 2

Take Home Concepts
Upon completion of this course, you will understand a variety of ways biological assessments and criteria can be applied in water programs. Examples from States will illustrate for you what you could potentially do in your own programs.

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Purpose of Presentation
1.

2. 3.

INTRODUCTION: Examine possible applications of biological assessments and criteria in water programs CASE STUDIES: Look at examples Question and answer session

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Can Bioassessments/Biocriteria Be Used in Water Programs, including Regulatory Programs?

Sure……….

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Terminology
■

Bioassessments– an evaluation of the biological condition of a water body using surveys of the structure and function of the community of resident biota of the waterbody.

■

Biocriteria– (scientific) quantified values representing the biological condition of aquatic communities in waterbodies.

■

Biocriteria– (regulatory) narrative descriptions or numerical values of the biological condition necessary to protect the designated aquatic life use, implemented in, or through water quality standards.
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March 31 - April 4, 2003

The Water Quality Management Cycle
1 Determine Protection Level Review / Revise State W QS 8 Measure Progress Modify TMDL if Needed 2 Conduct W Q Assessment (a) Monitor W ater Quality (b) Identify Impaired Waters

7 Monitor and Enforce Compliance Self-Monitoring Agency Monitoring Enforcement

Biological Assessments and Criteria Can Play a Role in Every Step

3 Establish Priorities Rank / Target Waterbodies

6 Establish Source Controls Point Source Permits NPS Programs §401 Certification

4 Evaluate WQS for Targeted Waters Reaffirm / Revise W QS

5 Define and Allocate Control Responsibilities TMDL / WLA / LA

Ways to Use Biological Assessments and Criteria
Basic monitoring and assessment tool Indicator:
• Degradation • Restoration

Use Attainment:
• 305(b) report • 303(d) list

TMDLs:
• TMDL endpoint/indicator of success
March 31 - April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP101_01 8

Ways to Use Biological Assessments and Criteria
Permitting: (Internal/External)
NPDES Permitting (402) • Wastewater • Stormwater
– – – – – – Monitoring condition Above and below assessments Control effectiveness Program effectiveness Action level or trigger Re-issuance impact assessment

Wetland Permitting (404/401)
March 31 - April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP101_01 9

Ways to Use Biological Assessments and Criteria
Superfund Benchmarks Enforcement Actions:
• Assessment of damage • Time of recovery • Penalty factor

Mitigation target/indicator Water Quality Standards!

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Caution!!
Biocriteria can be used in a variety of ways in permitting programs, but have not typically been used as effluent limits directly in permits, as are chemical and whole effluent water quality criteria.

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What’s the cause??

When Biocriteria for a waterbody are exceeded, the stressor(s) causing such should be identified and controlled in the most appropriate manner.
March 31 - April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP101_01 12

Stressor Identification
Identifying unknown causes of biological impairment

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Examples
1. 2. 3.

Florida Program Ohio Program Maine Program

4. Rock Creek Enforcement Case– Washington, DC (Written report and summary in handouts --See Poster)
March 31 - April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP101_01 14

APP 101 Florida’s Bioassessment Program Applications

Ellen McCarron Russ Frydenborg Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Mission Statement
Provide cost-effective and accurate ecological information to enable legally defensible environmental decisions

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Bioassessment Program Steps
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Classify environments (e.g., regionalization) Standardize sampling methods Develop assessment approach (IBI) Perform biological surveys Select metrics (positive biological signals) Incorporate Quality Assurance activities Incorporate training and testing (certification) 8. Integrate into programs 9. Report results (Ecosummaries) 10. Revise biocriteria
3

1. Classify environments (regionalization)

“Northeast” (Peninsula)

Panhandle

Peninsula

Bioregions of Florida

Ecoregion 76 not included

2. Standardize methods
Dipnet Sampling

Stream Bioassessments (SCI + BioRecon)
• Habitat Assessment Procedures • Physical/Chemical Characterization

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3. Develop assessment approach (IBI)
Stream Condition Index (20 dip net sweeps - macroinverts) BioRecon (4 dip net sweeps - macroinverts) Lake Condition Index (ponar grabs) Floristic Quality Index (macrophytes) Wetlands Condition Index (vegetation, macroinvertebrates, algae)

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4. Perform bioassessments

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5. Select metrics
35
Non-Outlier Max Non-Outlier Min 75% 25% Median Outliers

25

SCI
15 5

<= 1.5

(1.5,2]

(2,2.5]

(2.5,3]

>3

Human disturbance

Components of the Stream Condition Index (SCI)
Response to disturbance Taxa Richness EPT Index % Contribution Dominant Taxon Florida Index # Chironomidae % Filter-feeders % Diptera
March 31 – April 4, 2003

Decrease Decrease Increase Decrease Decrease Decrease Increase
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National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_02

Recalibrating SCI tool:
• Leska Fore – Statistical Design, Inc. • First draft due spring ‘03 • 10 metrics for SCI

March 31 – April 4, 2003

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6. Incorporate QA

Bioassessment Program Quality Assurance Activities at FDEP
Habitat Assessment Testing (Certification) SCI/BioRecon field audits Taxonomic Round Robins Intra-DEP Variability Studies Ongoing taxonomic manual updates Expert taxonomic verifications
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_02 14

% Correct 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0
An al ys t

Ba nk s D en so n Ke nt Pl uc hi no Bu tts R ay R ut te r W al to n Bu te ra Es py H ey n Q ui nt an R ic ha a rd Sc so hm n itt R (m ile ar y in e on ly ) M or ga n Th om St ro Th m om ps on

% Taxa Correct

Taxonomic RR Results

Analyst

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7. Training & Testing Program
DEP - ongoing, continuous training Consultants Water Management Districts County and City Governments Regulated Industries

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8. DEP Programs Using Bioassessments
App 1 - TMDL App 2 - Springs Initiative App 3 - Point Source Studies App 4 - Ambient Monitoring App 5 - RCRA (Hazardous Waste) App 6 - Forestry BMP Effectiveness App 7 - Mitigation Studies
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_02 17

Application 1: TMDL Program
Impaired Waters Rule - Ch. 62-303, F.A.C. Collect biological, habitat, and water quality data to support FDEP’s Impaired Waters Rule and TMDL Program
De-listing tool Listing tool Verification tool Tool to evaluate watershed remediation

2 SCIs or Biorecons to list or de-list
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_02 18

Application 2: Florida Springs Program Pictured: Ichetucknee Springs

What’s Different about Springs?
More constant flow More alkaline (higher pH) water Better transparency More submerged aquatic vegetation Lower dissolved oxygen at boil Nitrate-nitrite levels increasing
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_02 20

Health of Spring-Dominated Streams Compared with Reference Sites
30

Stream Condition Index

Excellent B B Good

25 20

Poor 15 10 5 0

SCI Panhandle

SCI Peninsula

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Springs Protection Strategy
Classification: Regional Model Springs
Represent regional geologic/biological functions and forms basis for understanding range of human threats •Groundwater withdrawals •Ditching/draining to sinks •Water quality alterations: toxics, nutrients, other •Habitat alterations: recreational impacts, siltation, plant overgrowth, exotics •BMPs, education •Land use/activity restrictions •Purchase of critical areas •In situ restoration
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Threat Identification

Corrective Action

Application 3: Point Source Program Fifth Year Inspections (NPDES)

Toxics Bioassay Chemistry

Bioassessment

Control (upstream) site “A” Test (downstream) site “B” WWTP pipe discharge

Control Site A

Test Site B

Application 4: Ambient Monitoring Program
• Probabilistic network • 5-year rotating basin program

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Ambient Monitoring Program – cont.
• Selected tools = Stream Condition Index, and Floristic Quality Index • To describe condition of individual rotating basins (yearly) • To describe statewide conditions (5 years) -- 305(b) report • To report on effectiveness of all water programs going on both statewide and in each basin
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_02 29

Application 5: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
• Joint endeavor by DEP Waste Division

and Water Division • SCI tool requested by Waste Mgt. Division
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_02 30

RCRA Site

Hazardous Waste (RCRA) Studies
Concern: leachate from waste sites impacting aquatic systems Designed ecological assessments with Waste Management staff Answers the question: Is leachate affecting nearby stream communities?
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_02 32

Application 6: Effectiveness of Forestry Best Management Practices
• Joint project between Florida DEP, Florida Department of Agriculture and the silviculture industry. • Purpose: to determine if forestry BMPs, when properly applied, protect aquatic biota in adjacent streams
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_02 33

Examples of forestry BMPs
Undisturbed buffer zone (SMZ) Site preparation to prevent erosion Control fertilizers and pesticides Design roads/drainage easements for minimum erosion/deposition

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Experimental Design
1996 1997, 1998 C Re fe re nc e Site B A Flow Flow Silviculture with BMPs Pro po s ed Silvic ulture Are a C B A Tes t Site C B A Tes t Site

Before Silviculture Activities

C B A

After Silviculture Activities

Re fe re nc e Site

San Julia SCI Results
35 30

Exce lle nt
25

Good
20

15

10

Cle a rcutting (3 & 4-96), S ite P re p (9-96), Replanting (1-97)

No s ig nifica nt time o r tre atme nt differe nce s
5

0

R 96

T 96

R 97

T 97

R 98

T 98

Application 7: Wetland Mitigation Program
• Reclaimed phosphate streams

• Wetland restoration sites

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9. Reporting

10. Develop or revise biocriteria
• Integrate into Tiered Aquatic Life Use System (TALUS)

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Tiered Aquatic Life Uses: Draft Conceptual Framework
CWA Integrity Objective

natural

First Task: Identify common pattern of biological response to human disturbance

1. Gradient encompasses range Biological of possible conditions, and, Condition CWA 101(a) Uses: 2. Articulates Aquatic Life Protection scientifically defensible and Propagation Goals benchmarks in context of CWA
Not meeting CWA 101(a) uses for protection & propagation of aquatic life

Low

Human Disturbance

High

Tiered Aquatic Life Use Conceptual Model: Draft Biological Tiers Condition of the Biotic Community 1
Natural structure and function of biotic community maintained

2
[Specific to Ecotype]

Minimal changes in structure & function

3 4

Evident changes in structure and minimal changes in function Moderate changes in structure and minimal changes in function Major changes in structure & moderate changes in function

5

6
LOW

Severe changes in structure & function HIGH

Human Disturbance Gradient

Conclusions
FDEP Bioassessment Program provides practical support for a variety of FDEP programs QA and training are critical for demonstrating legal defensibility

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It’s all about clean water for future generations!

APP 101 Use of Biological Information and Biocriteria in Maine’s Water Quality Program
Presented by David Courtemanch, Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Why Use Biocriteria? Because they tell us things that other criteria don’t.
• Provides a direct measure of goal attainment - measure of impact • Integrates water quality information from multiple stressors for an extended time frame
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05 2

So Why Aren’t Biocriteria Used?
• Complexity of the information biomonitoring is extremely data rich • Perceived conflict with existing criteria • Cause and source may not be apparent low enforcement value • No readily available models
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05 3

Maine Uses Biocriteria for the Following Purposes
• • • • Standards (including antidegradation) Assessment Reporting - 305(b) and 303(d) Wastewater permitting - NPDES, State, TMDLs, Stormwater? • Site permitting • 401 (Hydro) certification • Enforcement
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05 4

Assessment and Reporting
• 305(b) - 121 (28%) of 425 waterbody segments in 2002 305(b) report have biological criteria used in assessment • 303(d) - 42 (36%) of 117 listed river and stream segments are based on biological criteria
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05 5

General Schematic of Permitting
Test of aquatic life use attainment Monitoring

No

Yes

Total Maximum Daily Load

Permit

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Using Biocriteria to Set Permit Conditions Case: Presumpscot River, Maine highly flow regulated with pulp and paper, municipal and stormwater wasteloads
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05 7

Presumpscot River
• TMDL evaluation determined impact from low oxygen, low flow and high suspended solids. • Stressor Identification Evaluation (SIE) identified TSS as the primary agent • State lacked AWQC for solids • Importation of biocriteria/solids data from another river to set permit limits
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05 9

Aquatic Life Attainment Based on Prorated TSS Loading
TSS (lbs/day)
Non-attainment

5400

3000
Class C Attainment Mill #1 Mill #2 Mill #3
10

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National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05

Incorporation of biocriteria as permit limits! Case: Aquaculture permitting for marine waters
• Pen culture - production facility, waste treatment system, and receiving water are all the same water • Establishment of impact zones • Establishment of biomonitoring based warning criteria and impact criteria
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05 11

“supports all indigenous species…without detrimental change”
Warning 0 to –100mV Visible, patchy Tolerant taxa >80% dominance Sensitive taxa >50% reduction Taxa richness >25% reduction
March 31 – April 4, 2003

Metric Redox Beggiatoa

Impact <-100mV >50% coverage Report Report Report
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National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05

Using Biocriteria in Water Quality Certification Edwards Dam, Kennebec River
• Good water quality except aquatic life goals not attained due to degraded habitat • Impoundment prevented migration, impaired indigenous fish populations • Certification used to force decision for dam removal
March 31 – April 4, 2003 National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05 14

Kennebec River - Edwards Dam
Taxa Richness
60

∗ ∗
92 C B 99

∗

30

00
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National Biological Assessment and Criteria Workshop, APP 101_05

For More Information
• Biomonitoring Web Site
– http://www.state.me.us/dep/blwq/docmonitoring/biomonitoring /index.htm

• Fifteen Year Retrospective
– http://www.state.me.us/dep/blwq/docmonitoring/biomonitoring /biorep2000.htm

• E-mail
– BioME@maine.gov

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