ALABAMA S BIOLOGICAL CONDITION GRADIENTS

Transcription

1 1 ALABAMA S BIOLOGICAL CONDITION GRADIENTS Lisa Huff-ADEM Susan Jackson-USEPA Ben Jessup, Jeroen Gerritsen and Jen Stamp- Tetra Tech, Inc. Pat O Neil-Geological Survey of Alabama and many, many more NA BCG Columbiana, AL Jan 28-30, 2014 SWPBA Asheville North Carolina 9 November 2016 CP BCG Columbiana, AL Apr 21-23, 2015

2 2 Alabama s BCG: Outline Alabama: The River State Monitoring challenges that led us to the BCG The BCG Framework BCG Components Calibrating the BCG Example of AL BCG Models NA BCG Columbiana, AL Jan 28-30, 2014 BCG vs MMI Current and Future Uses CP BCG Columbiana, AL Apr 21-23, 2015

3 3 Alabama: The River State Ecoregions of Alabama Landuse overlaying ecoregional boundaries

4 Monitoring Challenges Establishing reference conditions Indices are calibrated using least-impaired reference reaches within ecoregions This is the benchmark for unimpaired waters Wide-spread, historical disturbances and lack of least-impaired reference conditions within entire ecoregions Protecting best-available conditions and restoring least-impaired conditions Since 2004, ADEM funding programs have concentrated on 303d-listed streams Protection and restoration thresholds One threshold for impairment: 303d list One threshold for success : removed from 303d list

5 Biological Condition Gradient What is the BCG? A scientific framework for characterizing biological response to anthropogenic stress Method for classifying biological communities on one true condition scale. Da Two components of BCG

6 BCG Biological and Ecological Attributes Assigned each taxon to one of six attributes I. Historically documented, sensitive, long-lived, regionally endemic taxa II. III. IV. Highly sensitive or specialist taxa Sensitive and common taxa Each Taxa of intermediate tolerance V. Tolerant taxa VI. VII. VIII. IX. Non-native taxa Organism condition Ecosystem Function Spatial and temporal extent of detrimental effects X. Ecosystem Connectivity

7 Schematic of Biological Condition Gradient Natural Variability 1 Natural structure and function of biotic community maintained 2 Minimal changes in structure & function 3 Evident changes in structure and minimal changes in function Biological Condition Major changes in structure & moderate changes in function 4 Moderate changes in structure & minimal changes in function 5 Severe changes in structure & function 6 Increasing Level of Stressors

8 BCG Calibration Assemble data: Taxa reference table Final taxa lists Basic site information Site class Watershed area Ecoregion Gradient Summer flow Habitats present Watershed condition information ADEM s Disturbance Gradient

9 BCG Dataset Macroinvertebrates Fish

10 BCG Dataset Macroinvertebrates Fish

11 Calibration Workshops Location: 4-H Center, Columbiana, AL North AL BCG: January 28-30, 2014 adem.alabama.gov BCG Calibration AL Coastal Plain BCG: April 21-23, 2015 Sponsored by US EPA Headquarters Supported and hosted by ADEM and GSA Focused on macroinvertebrate and fish communities of North Alabama streams using data collected by ADEM (bugs) and GSA (fish)

12 BCG Calibration Workshops: Fish State agencies ADEM GSA ADCNR Federal agencies USFWS TVA Industry: APC Universities/museums/aquariums TN Aquarium Stakeholder groups TNC MB NEP Independent Consultants Midwest Biodiversity Institute Facilitators: Jeroen Gerritsen, Jen Stamp

13 BCG Calibration Workshops: Bugs State agencies/tribes ADEM MS DEQ NC DENR TN DEC MS Band of Choctaw Federal agencies USEPA R4 USEPA Gulf Breeze USGS Facilitator Ben Jessup Universities/museums/aquariums Auburn U (Museum of Natural History) U of Alabama U of N Alabama U of W Alabama Clarion University (Former GSA) FL A&M University Independent Consultants Donald Ray

14 adem.alabama.gov BCG Calibration Workshops: Taxa Attribute Ratings Assigned all taxa in complete ADEM bug and GSA fish datasets a BCG attribute 660 bug taxa and 219 fish taxa

15 adem.alabama.gov BCG Calibration Workshops: Taxa Attribute Ratings

16 adem.alabama.gov BCG Calibration Workshops: Taxa Attribute Ratings

17 adem.alabama.gov BCG Calibration Workshops: Taxa Attribute Ratings

18 Each workshop participant independently assigned samples to a BCG level ~120 sites each community during each workshop Capture biologist rules /reasoning Tools: adem.alabama.gov BCG Calibration Workshops: Site Ratings Taxa lists with BCG Attributes Minimal site information (affect expectation, but independent of condition)

19 adem.alabama.gov

20 adem.alabama.gov BCG Models Tests metric/taxonomist rules against BCG taxonomist/model rankings Select metrics that predict BCG site rankings Both select metrics that respond to different types of watershed disturbance

21 adem.alabama.gov Multi-metric Index Development Based on percentile of reference condition

22 adem.alabama.gov Multi-metric Index Development Based on percentile of reference condition

23 adem.alabama.gov BCG Calibration Based on one scale of true condition

24 adem.alabama.gov BCG Model vs MMI Indices DIFFERENCES: Calculation of final score and rating: MMI is generally a sum or average of score for each individual metric Adv: Can do math, easily understandable Disadv: Can dampen signal of each independent metric BCG sets criteria for each BCG Level, and the measures degree of membership to each level. It is a cascade. Adv: Better reflects reality of different indicators responding to different kinds West of Fork stress Choctawhatchee R at Dale County Road 60 Disadv: Harder to explain and understand; do not, under any circumstances, mention FUZZY LOGIC to managers, engineers, or biological non-believers.

25 adem.alabama.gov BCG Models: Macroinvertebrates Based on site ratings Test/review: validation datasets Recalibrate: BCG homework, Conference calls Models 2 Macroinvert Models North AL Coastal Plain

26 adem.alabama.gov BCG Model: ACCESS Application

27 Translating the BCG into Narrative Ratings

28 Biological Condition Gradient Levels Translating the BCG into Narrative Ratings Excellent Excellent- Good Goodexcellent Goodfair Fairgood Good Narrative Ratings Fair Fairpoor Poorfair Poor Poor-very poor Very poorpoor Very Poor N/A

29 Translating the BCG into Narrative Ratings MMI Score Ecoregion 71 MMI vs BCG Site Ratings BCG

30 Current use of BCG True measure of reference condition for each region of the state Develop and confirm macroinvertebrate and fish indices, tolerance values and characteristics Network of Alabama biologists Other outcomes: Discussion of Mussel BCG AL and MS Blackbelt

31 Next Steps Additional Tools to rank and prioritize watersheds for protection and restoration AL Healthy Watersheds Assessment AL Recovery Potential Screening Tool

32 Advantages of BCG, HWI, RPS Set achievable restoration goals Impaired waters Restore least-impaired and threatened waters Protect waters in good or excellent biological condition BCG: True measure of where reference condition lies for each region of the state Better estimate of overall water quality Incorporating BCG into HWI, biological condition comparable across state boundaries

33 Resources and Contacts BCG: USEPA A practitioner s guide to the Biological Condition Gradient: A framework to describe incremental change in aquatic ecosystems. EPA-842-R USEPA. Washington, DC Jackson.Susank@epa.gov HWI: USEPA Identifying and Protecting Healthy Watersheds: Concepts, Assessments, and Management Approaches. EPA-841-B USEPA. Washington, DC Norton.Douglas@epa.gov RPS: Norton.Douglas@epa.gov