Summary of Biological Assessment Programs and Biocriteria Development for States, Tribes, Territories, and Interstate Commissions: Streams and Wadeable Rivers 2001 Program Update (EPA-822-R ) Beth Jackson USEPA Office of Environmental Information December 9, 2002

Highlights Overview of EPA’s Bioassessment & Biocriteria Program Project Background & Goals Survey Development Information Collection & Assessment Findings

EPA’s Biological Assessment and Criteria Program Strategy Program Mission: Accelerate adoption of biocriteria into water quality standards by all States/Tribes Mission: FY To better protect aquatic life through the integration of biologically-based assessments and standards into State and Tribal water quality programs

The Biological Assessment and Criteria Program Support successful adoption of biocriteria for streams and rivers (in WQS) by all States and Authorized Tribes Start to implement biocriteria for Lakes and Reservoirs Introduce biocriteria for Estuaries and Coastal Waters Make progress on biocriteria methods for other water bodies

Background Launched effort to update and expand the 1996 summary document (EPA 230-R ) in June 2001 –Supported by EPA’s Biocriteria Team (OW, ORD, OEI, Regional Biocriteria Coordinators) Expanded to include detailed information on: –use of bioassessments within water quality programs; and – use for Aquatic Life Use decision-making Expanded coverage to include federally recognized Tribes, more US territories & Interstate Basin Commissions

Project Goals Determine bioassessment capacity for –determining ALU support, –water quality decision-making (305(b) reporting and 303(d) listings), –developing TMDLs Determine progress made in biocriteria development Illustrate changes and improvements in bioassessment capabilities over the past 5 years

Project Goals, continued Provide an important measure of State/Tribal program advancement and EPA’s technical transfer efforts Allow EPA Biocriteria Team to better focus its WQS and Criteria Strategy Assess technical support needs of States/Tribes

Survey Development Developed 57 question survey –Received input from OWOW, OST, OEI, EPA Regions, Midwest Biodiversity Institute, contractor Addressed 5 critical areas: 1. Programmatic Elements 2. Aquatic Life Use for Decision-Making 3. Field and Lab Methods 4. Data Analysis and Interpretation Procedures 5. Information Management

Information Collection & Assessment Distributed over 75 surveys to States Tribes, Territories and Interstate Basin Commissions Conducted follow-up interviews with responding entities Followed extensive QA/QC to ensure accuracy and quality of responses

Findings 65 entities responded 57 entities have bioassessment programs featured in report 40 entities use bioassessments to determine ALU ~ 475,000 river and streams miles assessed using bioassessments

Use of Bioassessments In-placeUDNone Water Resource Mgmt 5726 Interpret ALU attainment Narrative Biocriteria in WQS Narrative Biocriteria/Translator Numeric Biocriteria in WQS 4947

56 in place 1 under development Assemblages Used: Benthic Macroinvertebrates

41 in place 16 none Assemblages Used: Fish

21 in place 4 under development 32 none Assemblages Used: Periphyton

45 more than 1 assemblage Use of Multiple Assemblages

Reference Condition In-placeUDNone Ecoregional40311 Site-specific19136 State-wide or basin-specific 7146

Analysis & Assessment In-placeUDNone Biological Metrics 5411 Multivariate22232 Multimetric index4178 Habitat Assessment 5700

Progress Made Since entities have Narrative Biocriteria (in WQS): increased by 1 4 entities have Numeric Biocriteria:; increased by 2 Assemblages: –12 more entities using Fish –12 more entities using Macroinvertebrates –17 more using Algae –19 more using more than 1 assemblage