Report on Biological & Water Quality Monitoring in the East Branch DuPage Watershed: 2011 DuPage River-Salt Creek Work Group August 28, 2013 Chris O. Yoder Center for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria Midwest Biodiversity Institute Columbus, OH

DuPage-Salt Creek Work Group Goals  Verify low D.O. segments & determine effectiveness of abatement and mitigation efforts  Comprehensive assessment of biological assemblages – establish baseline for comparison to future conditions in response to management  Determine extent of nutrient enrichment  Identify and prioritize stream segments where restoration will have greatest benefits  Support TMDL development and nutrient criteria  Determine roll of potential stressors at the local reach scale

The Development of a Biological Assessment Plan for the DuPage and Salt Creek Watersheds DuPage-Salt Creek Work Group March 7, 2006 Chris O. Yoder Center for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria Midwest Biodiversity Institute Columbus, OH

!( !( ! ( ! ( !( !( ! ( !( ! ( !( !( !( !( ! ( !( ! ( !( ! ( !( !( !( ! ( !( ! ( !( ! ( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( " / 6 # V # V #V #V #V #V #V #V EB 05 EB 01 EB 10 EB 08 EB 07 EB 04 EB 03 EB 29 EB 25 EB 23 EB 26 EB 44 EB 19 EB 30 EB 12 EB 31 EB 32 EB 40 EB 43 EB 06 EB 17 EB 11 EB 14 EB 13 EB 22 EB 24 EB 42 Alt. EB 21 EB 36 EB 37 EB 33 EB 35 EB 34 EB 39 EB 38 EB 41 EB 15 Bloomingdale-Reeves Glendale Heights Glenbard - Lombard Glenbard WWTP Downers-Grove Woodridge Bolingbrook #2 Bolingbrook #1 Spatial sampling design is critical for accurately detecting impairments and providing data at the same scale at which restoration is applied.

Fish Assemblage Macroinvertebrates Periphyton (Use Community Level Data From At Least Two) Physical Habitat Indicators Channel morphology Flow Substrate Quality Riparian Chemical Quality Indicators pH Temperature Conductivity Dissolved O 2 For Specific Designated Uses Add the Following: HUMAN/WILDLIFE CONSUMPTION Base List: Metals (in tissues) Organics (in tissues) CORE INDICATORS AQUATIC LIFE Base List: Ionic strength Nutrients, sediment Supplemental List: Metals (water/sediment) Organics (water/sediment) Chlorophyll a RECREATIONAL Base List: Fecal bacteria Ionic strength Supplemental List: Other pathogens Organics (water/sed.) Chlorophyll a WATER SUPPLY Base List: Fecal bacteria Ionic strength Nutrients, sediment Supplemental List: Metals (water/sediment) Organics (water/sed.) Other pathogens Chlorophyll a Core indicators are measured routinely – independent of assessment & management questions Supplemental indicators are added depending on designated uses, study area setting, and monitoring objectives and questions

E. Branch DuPage Bioassessment: 2011 Survey  21 mainstem & 15 tributary sites sampled for fish, macroinvertebrates, and QHEI in  7 mainstem sites sampled for fish and QHEI in 2012 to follow-up Churchill Woods dam removal.  Fish sampled with MBI methods – pulsed D.C. methods; 3 person crew.  Macroinvertebrates sampled with IEPA methods.  Water chemistry at all sites (37); sediment chemistry at 23 sites; continuous monitoring at 5 sites.  Data analyzed using IEPA indices and either Illinois WQS or IPS thresholds.  Stressor analysis accomplished to determine principal causes & sources of biological impairments.

What is a Bioassessment?  Bioassessment  Bioassessment – a systematic assessment of the aquatic resource using biological indicators AND chemical/physical indicators in a supporting role.  Reasonably available tools and criteria exist to assess and evaluate this for all waterbody types.  Biocriteria  Biocriteria – numerical benchmarks for determining attainment of a goal expressed in the definition of an aquatic life designated use in the state WQS. Bioassessment is the essential implementation tool for a TALU based approach

Invertebrate organisms contribute vital functions in an aquatic ecosystem including energy flow, conversion, and production. This assemblage is the longest used indicator group. Numerous techniques and approaches have been developed.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates Active Sampling Methods Examples Net-based methods (including kicks, dips, jabs, sweeps, & picks) Picking Grabsamplers Scrubbing substrates DomeSampler

We followed IEPA methods for field collections & lab processing

Fish are a widely identifiable component of aquatic systems and are valued for their recreational uses. Most species, however, are more obscure, and comprise the second most endangered group.

Illinois DNR “electric seine” MBI pulsed D.C. electrofishing methods

The Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI)  Substrate - types, origin, quality, embeddedness QHEI Includes Six Major Categories of Macrohabitat Source: The Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (Rankin 1989)  Instream Cover – types and quantity  Channel Quality – sinuosity, development, stability  Riparian – width, quality, bank stability & quality  Pool/Run/Riffle – depth, current types, embedded- ness, morphology  Gradient – local gradient (fall per unit distance)

Illinois EPA Fish Index of Biotic Integrity

Illinois EPA IBI Narrative Evaluations General Use Attainment Threshold

Illinois EPA Macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity

Illinois EPA Macroinvertebrate IBI Narrative Ranges General Use Attainment Threshold

Chemical/Physical Field Procedures Water column grab sampling Depth integrated sampler Automatic composite samplers Time-of-travel dye injection

Ohio EPA Chemical Effluent & Exposure Sampling Procedures Permitted Discharges are Sampled for a Variety of Chemicals - This Provides Data to Determine Pollutant Loads Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing is Performed Primarily on Effluents Biochemical Markers (Biomarkers) are Useful for Discerning Problem Pollutants Fish Tissue Analysis Reveals Bioaccumulative Pollutants and Risks to Human and Wildlife Health

Environmental Indicator ".. a measurable feature which singly or in combination provides managerially and scientifically useful evidence of ecosystem quality, or reliable evidence of trends in quality." ITFM (1995)

Types of Environmental Indicators: How Each is Used Makes a Difference 1.Stressor Indicators (pollutant loadings, land use, habitat) – best used to indicate impacts 2.Exposure Indicators (e.g., chemical-specific, biomarkers, toxicity tests) – best used to indicate risk of harm or undesirable changes 3. performance end-point Response Indicators (e.g., biological community condition) – best used to indicate whole effects and as a performance end-point Problems occur when indicators are used as surrogates outside their most appropriate role

USGS Grove

Effluent Data from WWTPs

Bollingbrook WWTP 3 rd Quarter Effluent

E. Branch Nitrate-N 2011 vs. 2007

E. Branch Total Phosphorus 2011 vs. 2007

E. Branch Daytime D.O vs The consequences of nutrient enrichment are frequently indirect affecting instream processes such as photosynthesis and respiration.

E. Branch Total Nitrate-N Mainstem vs. Tribs.

E. Branch Total Phosphorus Mainstem vs. Tribs.

E. Branch Mainstem Chlorides IPS derived thresholds were used in lieu of current IEPA WQS to judge effects to aquatic life. Chloride is an example of a parameter with an outdated criterion.

E. Branch Chlorides Mainstem vs. Tribs.

E. Branch Habitat 2007, 2011, & 2012

E. Branch Macroinvertebrates 2007 vs. 2011

E. Branch Fish 2007, 2011, & 2012

Incremental improvement in fish IBI due to improved habitat resulting from Churchill Woods dam removal.

E. Branch DuPage Watershed: Major Observations Incremental improvement in QHEI and fIBI following Churchill Woods dam removal. D.O. regime exhibited wider nutrient related diel swings in 2011 vs Nitrate-N highly elevated in 2011 vs Elevated nutrients primarily in mainstem. Elevated chlorides in 2011 vs watershed wide. Biological assemblages mostly fair-poor throughout watershed – multiple causes.