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Bioassessment
- Upstream vs. downstream studies
- Comparisons to regional reference condition
- Attainment of state biological criteria
- Attainment of site-specific biological criteria
Aquatic biological
assessment is determining the health or integrity of a
water-body by evaluating the aquatic community. The aquatic
community is compared to what would be expected at a similar
site that is not stressed. Biological assessments can be
performed using fish, macroinvertebrate, or periphyton
assemblages, or any combination of the three.
The simplest form of biological assessment is the
traditional upstream vs. downstream approach. Biological data is
collected both upstream and downstream of a potential source of
stress. The site downstream of the potential source of stress is
compared to the upstream site. In this type of biological
assessment, differences between upstream and downstream sites
may be attributed to the source of concern.
Another type of biological assessment is
comparing the biological community of the site or sites of
concern to a regional reference condition. The regional
reference condition refers to the “expected” aquatic community
that is obtained by collecting biological community data from
areas free of major anthropogenic influences. Reference
conditions may be developed on a relatively small scale (e.g.,
several sites within a watershed) up to a relatively large scale
(e.g., many sites across an entire ecoregion).
Some states now have formalized biological
criteria, which requires water-bodies to attain certain numeric or narrative
standards based on the aquatic community reference condition.
Chadwick Division representative project experience:
Arch Minerals, Kentucky
Temperature modeling of a stream and two tributaries in southern
Kentucky, to determine the effects of a proposed coal strip mine on
a resident trout population, specifically proposed canopy removal
and the construction of sediment settling ponds. Collected
site-specific inputs for USFWS instream temperature model (SSTEMP),
including slope, aspect, vegetative canopy estimates, and
established continuous recording temperature monitoring sites.
Temperature changes were predicted using the SSTEMP temperature
model on an annual basis, seasonal basis, and worst case scenario,
and correlated with population data and species temperature
tolerances to predict impacts.
Newmont Mining Company /
Resurrection Mining, Colorado
Continued seasonal monitoring of benthic invertebrate populations,
and annual monitoring of fish populations and fish habitat quality
for sites in the upper Arkansas River / California Gulch drainage
near Leadville, Colorado.
Thompson Creek Mining Company,
Idaho
Molybdenum mine along two tributaries of the Salmon River in central
Idaho. Collect and process biological samples from stations on
Thompson and Squaw Creeks, tributaries of the Salmon River, for an
annual biological monitoring program. This long-term monitoring
program of fish and invertebrate populations was initiated in 1980
and has continued to present.
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FRESHWATER ECOLOGICAL CONSULTING SERVICES