1. Evaluation of Aquatic Ecosystem Health Using a Multi-metric Index of Biological Integrity for Okanagan Streams

2. Benthic invertebrates are sedentary and integrate aquatic impacts (chemical, physical, biological). Integration over long time periods. Benthic invertebrates are a direct measure of the ecosystem to be protected and not surrogate such as a chemical concentration, physical habitat measure etc. Benthic Invertebrates

3. 21 Benthic invertebrate measures or metrics tested for predictable response to increasing environmental disturbance e.g. Decrease in total # taxa Decrease in total # taxa Decrease in plecoptera, ephemeroptera and trichoptera Decrease in plecoptera, ephemeroptera and trichoptera Increase in % tolerants Increase in % tolerants Increase in dominance Increase in dominance Decrease in % predators, clinger, and intolerant taxa Decrease in % predators, clinger, and intolerant taxa Local evaluation or calibration to find metrics which respond within study area. Index of Biological Integrity used in US, Japan, Europe- Fish, Birds and Plants Benthic-Index of Biological Integrity

4. 22 low elevation streams sampled 1999 to 2001 Streams chosen to represent a gradient of conditions from low to high human influence. Candidate streams chosen and ranked thru discussions with agency staff; satellite image interpretation and habitat evaluation using Alaska Stream Condition Index (ASCI) evaluation process Sampled in early October 3 replicate surber samples Sampled in low to moderate gradient riffles Water quality Sediment quality Kelowna Bellevue McDougall Powers Peachland Trepanier Greata Eneas Trout Chute Naramata

5. Okanagan Streams Name ASCI Score LoggedUrbanizationOther Peachland1935.40 Low ag McDougall178<5 <2 (rural) Low ag Chute196<50 BX ups Vernon 158<10 <5 (rural) Low ag Kelowna83highhigh Mod ag BX @ 25 th 71highhighUndergrnd Ellis nr mth 90highHighChannel’d Eneas87highhighAgric

6. Kelowna BX @ 30 th Eneas Trout nr mth Shuttleworth Prairie Ellis Greata Bellevue Powers Trapanier Inkameep x2 Trout ups Shorts Coldstream ups Naramata Shingle Peachland Chute McDougall ups BX ups

7. Perlidae Acroneuria lycoris

8. Ephemerella grandis Ephemerellidae

9. Elmidae sp. Coleoptera

10. Culicidae

11. Limnephilidae larva and case

12. Chloroperlidae Chloroperla coloradensis

13. Megaloptera Sialis sp.

15. Metric Cut-Off Values

16. Okanagan Mulit-metric Score Stream Condition 35-40Excellent 29-34Good 20-28Fair 13-19Poor 8-12 Very Poor 8 Metric Okanagan B-IBI

17. 135Peachland BX @30th Total # Taxa <99-19>1927513.83 Av. # Plecoptera <11-3>33.9501 Av. # Ephemeroptera <2 2- 4.25 >4.254.851.51 % Tolerant taxa >72-7<21.5511.41 # Clinger Taxa <44-8>810.353.91 Total # Long Lived taxa <22-4>44.351.31 # Intolerant Taxa <0.50.5-2>23.3501 % Predators <0.8 0.8- 2.8 >2.82.430.71 Metric Totals 3810

18. Sampling Location8 Metric IBI ScoreStream Condition Peachland Cr d/s PID Intake38Excellent Chute Cr @ Glenfir Rd38Excellent BX Cr nr Pleasant Valley Rd 38 Excellent McDougall Creek @ Shannon L Rd 36 Excellent Coldstream Cr ups Mun. Res. 34 Good Trout Cr ups Mun. Res 32 Good Trepanier Cr @ Hwy 5C overpass 32 Good Bellevue Cr @ Lakeshore Rd. 32 Good Lambly Cr @ Westside Rd 30 Good Greata Cr 29Good Inkameep Cr ups28Fair Inkameep Cr nr mth28Fair Shorts Cr @ park28Fair Powers Cr nr mth24Fair Trout Cr nr Hwy 97 bridge 24 Fair Shingle Cr ups mth22Fair Shuttleworth Cr @ Willow St.20Fair Prairie Cr nr mth18Poor Ellis Cr nr mth18Poor Eneas Cr dns Rosedale16Poor Kelowna Cr ups Pandosy14Poor BX Cr at 30 th Ave10Very Poor

19. B-IBI Next Steps Incorporate August/September 2002 data Multivariate and other analysis of data set Test a Family level B-IBI for more rapid assessment work or stewardship group use Determine utility in compliance monitoring, and stream assessment and restoration programs Reporting to public through SOE, Living Rivers reporting. Collaborative aquatic ecosystem assessments integrating expertise in water quality, habitat/watershed GIS, and aquatic invertebrates.