WESTERN PILOT

Purpose of the Western Pilot• Advance the science of ecosystem monitoring

for western ecological systemsfor western ecological systems– indicators

reference conditions– reference conditions– designs

assessment methods– assessment methods• Build State capacity for long-term monitoring

– monitoring tools– analytical capability– partnerships

Objectives of the Western Pilot• Demonstrate indicators and designs for

measuring environmental progressg p g– unbiased estimates of condition of ecological

resources – comparative ranking of stressors– tools for biocriteria

• Demonstrate the value of survey based monitoring developed by EMAPmonitoring developed by EMAP– apply to real problems of Regional/State

interestinterest

Geographic Scope of the Western PilPilot

• EPA Regions 8– States of North Dakota, South Dakota,

Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah• EPA Region 9g

– States of Arizona, Nevada, California• EPA Region 10EPA Region 10

– States of Oregon, Idaho and Washington

Ecological Resources of the WesternEcological Resources of the Western Pilot

• Coastal systems (estuaries and coastal )waters)

• Surface water systems (rivers and streams)• Landscapes

Components of the Western Pilot• Coastal

– conditions of estuaries by state– focus areas chosen by EPA regional offices

• Surface waters– conditions of rivers and streams by State– focus areas chosen by EPA regional officesfocus areas chosen by EPA regional offices

• Landscapesland cover atlas for the West– land cover atlas for the West

– quantification of relationship between landscape indicators and aquatic conditionlandscape indicators and aquatic condition

– focus areas chosen by EPA regional offices

Region 8 Focus Areas

• TBD

Region 9 Focus Areas

• TBD

Region 10 Focus AreasRegion 10 Focus Areas

• Coastal– Tillamook Bay and north coast of Oregon

• Surface WatersSurface Waters– Deschutes and John Day basins

Tillamook Bay watersheds (STAR grant)– Tillamook Bay watersheds (STAR grant)• Landscapes

D h b i– upper Deschutes basin – north coast of Oregon (Newport to Seaside)

Example Coastal Indicatorsp

• Fish communityFish community• Fish pathology

i h i i i• Fish tissue contamination• Benthic community• Sediment contamination (e.g. metals, organics)

• Water physio-chemical (nutrients temperatureWater physio chemical (nutrients, temperature, alkalinity dissolved oxygen, heavy metals, depth)

Example Surface Water IndicatorsExample Surface Water Indicators

• Fish assemblageg• Fish tissue contamination• Macroinvertebrate assemblage• Macroinvertebrate assemblage• Periphyton• Physical habitat (e.g. riparian characteristics, woody

debris, canopy cover, gradient)• Water physio-chemical (e.g. nutrients, temperature,

alkalinity dissolved oxygen, heavy metals)

Example Landscape Indicators

• Riparian indicators– land cover along streams– disturbance (e.g. grazing)

• Watershed indicators– land use and cover – upland erosion– natural cover diversityu cove d ve s y– impervious surfaces– population densitypopulation density

Value of Improved Approaches to i iMonitoring

• Monitoring for resultsMonitoring for results– GPRA objectives

T ti• Targeting– most important areas– most important stressors

• Support development of biocriteria• Support for specific assessments

– 305 (b) reporting( ) p g

Example Geographic TargetingPoor Fish Integrity

Western AppalachiansValleyRidge & Blue RidgeNorth-Central Appalachians

0 20 40 60 80 100% Stream Length

All

% Stream Length

Key Elements of the EMAP ApproachKey Elements of the EMAP Approach

• Ecological (i e biological) resources• Ecological (i.e., biological) resources• Direct measures of condition• “Integrated” condition• Reference conditions• Surveys for unbiased results• Ranking of stressors• Ranking of stressors• Spatial comparisons

Survey Design AdvantagesSurvey Design Advantages• Guarantees representation and inference toGuarantees representation and inference to

systems of interest• Adapted to resource characteristics• Adapted to resource characteristics• Adjusts sample sizes to meet precision

i trequirements • Adaptable to temporal and spatial scales of

resolution

Lessons from Mid Atlantic Pilot

• True ORD/Regional partnerships necessary– Internal Regional and ORD commitment top to

bottom (long-term)• Biological and habitat indicators compliment

current chemical monitoring, can be used now and are economical

• Sound environmental characterization can drive management decisions and influence public perceptionsp p p

Lessons from Mid Atlantic Pilot (cont.)( )• Statistical surveys are very important to

setting goals and meas ring progresssetting goals and measuring progress

• Expanding use of environmental indicatorsExpanding use of environmental indicators and statistical surveys changed the view of relative riskrelative risk

• Long-term outlook essential

• Partnership/stakeholders involvement is iti lcritical

Benefits of EMAP Approach pp

• Improved estimates of population sizep p p• Expectations differ from reality• Scientifically sound reference conditions• Scientifically sound reference conditions• Scientifically sound regional assessments• Scientifically sound cross regional assessments • Improved 305 (b) reportingp ( ) p g• Tools for landscape characterization and

assessmentsassessments

Improved Estimates of Population Sizep pOregon Coho Salmon

• Historic long term monitoring of spawning suggests minimal problem 35

4045

TraditionalProbability

problem • Historic survey biased• Salmon populations continue

i20253035

to decline• Survey results more

accurately reflect populations 51015

y p p• State program modified based

on probability design0

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Expectations Differ from Realityp y

Salmonid Species

29%

49% 7%49%

15%

7%

No salmonid spp.1 salmonid spp.2 salmonid spp.>2 salmonid spp.

Scientifically Sound Reference Conditions

Expert opinion compared to probabilityp p p p y

100 25

e Pe

rcen

t

60

80

EPT

Tax

a

15

20

Cum

ulat

ive

20

40

Probability S itesN

umbe

r of

5

10

Num ber o f EPT Taxa

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 350

yExpert O pin ion R eference S ites

0

ExpertO pin ion

ReferenceS ites

ProbabilityS ites

ReferenceSet o f

ProbabilityS ites

Mid Atlantic streams

Scientifically Sound Regional A tAssessments

Stream Conditions in Mid-Atlantic Highlands

Introduced Fish

Biological Quality

Impaired

Ranking of Stressors

Nutrient

Shoreline Habitat

Introduced Fish24%

Acid Deposition

In-Stream Habitat

Enrichment

42%34%

0 10 20 30 40 50

Acid MineDrainage

Acid Deposition

UnimpairedMarginal 0 10 20 30 40 50

Percent of Stream Miles

pMarginal

Scientifically Sound Cross Regional A tAssessments

Benthic conditions in Estuaries

Louisianian Province Virginian Province

Degraded 30 ± 6%

Degraded18 ± 8%

Undegraded70 ± 6% Undegraded

82 ± 8%

Scientifically Sound Cross Regional AssessmentsAssessments

Ranking of stressorsLouisianian Province Virginian Province

Unknown Metals

Louisianian Province Virginian Province

Unknown10%

Low Dissolved

Habitat14%

e s42% Unknown

39%

Low Dissolved Oxygen

49%

Low Dissolved Oxygen

2%

Toxicity4%

Contaminants28%

BothContaminants

10%2%

%

Improved 305 (b) ReportingD lDelaware

Traditional 305(b) Report -Chemical Evidence, Aggregation of Existing Data

New Report -Chemical Evidence, Probability Survey

Not Supporting

13%

Fully Supporting24%

Fully Supporting

87%

Not Supporting76%

Fully Supporting

New Report -Biological Evidence,

Probability Survey

13%

Not Supporting

87%

Tools for Landscape Characterization and Assessmentand Assessment

WESTERN PILOT

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