Summary of Biological Assessment Programs and Biocriteria Development: Streams and Wadeable Rivers

1. Summary of Biological Assessment Programs and Biocriteria Development for States, Tribes, Territories, and Interstate Commissions: Streams and Wadeable Rivers2001 Program Update(EPA-822-R-02-048) Beth Jackson USEPA Office of Environmental Information December 9, 2002

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

3. EPA’s Biological Assessment and Criteria Program Strategy Program Mission: Accelerate adoption of biocriteria into water quality standards by all States/Tribes Mission: FY 2002- 2005 To better protect aquatic life through the integration of biologically-based assessments and standards into State and Tribal water quality programs

4. 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

5. Background • Launched effort to update and expand the 1996 summary document (EPA 230-R-96-007) 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Use of Bioassessments

12. Assemblages Used: Benthic Macroinvertebrates 56 in place 1 under development

13. Assemblages Used: Fish 41 in place 16 none

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

15. Use of Multiple Assemblages 45 more than 1 assemblage

16. Reference Condition

17. Analysis & Assessment

18. Progress Made Since 1995 • 30 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