Ecological Engineering: Science to Policy

1. HBI vs. %-Urban 9 8.5 8 7.5 7 HBI 6.5 r = 0.77 6 5.5 EPT vs. %-Urban 12 5 10 r = 0.88 4.5 8 4 EPT 6 0 10 20 30 40 4 %-Urban Landuse 2 0 0 10 20 30 40 %-Urban Landuse Ecological Engineering: Science to Policy Hillary S. Tanner, David K. Gattie, and J. Victoria Collins University of Georgia, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Non-point Source Pollution Policy In Georgia Georgia’s water policy is heavily focused on non-point source pollution. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) has instituted national policies such as Erosion and Sedimentation Controls, Phase I and Phase II Stormwater Permitting, Total Maximum Daily Load Programs, Source Water Assessments, and Well Head Protection Programs to address non-point source pollution. The GAEPD has also adopted a program dealing with comprehensive watershed studies or watershed assessments. Watershed Assessments are driven by the Clean Water Act (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) and focus on determining watershed health and establishing measures for watershed protection. Successful completion of a watershed assessment is a condition of an NPDES permit for wastewater treatment plants. A watershed assessment has several components including assessment, analysis, and recommendations for watershed protection. This poster focuses on Ecological Engineering applications in these components of watershed assessment studies. The South Georgia Coastal Plain: A Case Study Analysis Assessment Using data from the 20 sites in South Georgia, percent urban land use (mostly paved areas with little vegetative cover) was correlated with overall results of biological and habitat assessments. While the biological response of benthic macroinvertebrates to physical habitat at sub-watershed and watershed scales was not clearly correlated, there was a clear relationship between biological response and urban land use in the 0% to 5% range. These findings indicated that the most damage to the stream environment was done in the first stages of development, from non-urban land use to urban land use. As land is developed further (higher % urban landuse), biological scores level off slightly, but still continue to fall, further emphasizing that initial development causes the most damage to benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Twenty aquatic sites were monitored, within a 1504 km watershed in the Coastal Plain of Georgia. These sites were sampled to assess biotic response of benthic macroinvertebrate populations and communities to changes in habitat and surrounding land use. The 20 sites ranged from 1.2% to 37% urbanization (indicated by impervious surface). Biological response was measured using metrics (outlined in the U.S. EPA’s Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for low gradient streams) for species richness, composition and pollution tolerance, as well as a composite benthic macroinvertebrate index. In general, insects and fish were determined to be less diverse and abundant, and more tolerant of pollution while habitat was more degraded in highly developed areas than those in less developed areas. Application Action Recommendations for the management of these Coastal Plain watersheds were developed based on assessment and analysis of the streams’ ecosystems. The recommendations targeted undeveloped areas, especially those in close proximity to streams, that may be slated for development. The focus of these recommendations was primarily stream protection during the first stages of construction, including: installing, maintaining, and monitoring erosion and sedimentation controls, installing and maintaining vegetated buffers where applicable, controlling stormwater runoff, and educating local officials and the general public about stream and stream bank ecosystems. Other recommendations were more geared toward maintaining/improving stream health in areas already impacted by development. One of the most important components of a watershed assessment is taking action to maintain and improve watershed health. Through the results and recommendations of the watershed assessment, local officials can formulate guiding documents for watershed protection. These documents must be approved by the GAEPD and will serve as a component and condition of NPDES permits for wastewater treatment facilities. Recently, the case study city incorporated management recommendations, based on ecological engineering principles, into their watershed protection plan. They included: improving aquatic ecosystems, restoring and protecting wildlife habitat, and educating the general public involving the environment and ecological concerns in their watershed. Session: From Science to Policy: Ecological Services Decision Support Systems