The Biological Condition Gradient and Tiered Aquatic Life Uses: With Applications in the State of Maine United States Environmental Protection Agency Tiered Aquatic Life Uses Working Group Susan P. Davies Maine Department of Environmental Protection

TALU: Tiered Aquatic Life Uses Stressor Gradient Bio Condition Gradient A Scientific Model Class A/AA “as naturally occurs” Class B “support all indigenous species; no detrimental change” Class C“support indigenous fish (salmonids); maintain structure and function” A Water Quality Standards framework

Ecological Condition Aquatic Life Use Workgroup: Conceptual Model ( from Cairns 1993 ) --- Historical --- recorded condition Increasing human disturbance - - No disturbance - - existing condition (hypothetical) Natural Degraded Severe disturbance - -

TALU: Tiered Aquatic Life Uses Stressor Gradient Bio Condition Gradient A Scientific Model The Scientific Model- Stressor:Response Concepts

Biological Responses Across the Stressor Gradient RESPONSE MEASURE Stressor Gradient [Effect of Human Activity ] LOW HIGH Highly Tolerant Taxa DELT Anomalies (fish) Native Taxa Intolerant Taxa Courtesy of Chris Yoder, CABB HIGH LOW

Stressor Gradient Biological Condition Biointegrity Indicators Stressor Criterion low high lowhigh Biointegrity Criterion from Stevenson

TALU : A Scientific Model Concept #1 The Biological Condition Gradient

Biological Condition Increasing Effect of Disturbance [Stressor gradient] LowHigh 1 Native or natural condition 2 Minimal loss of species; some density changes may occur 3 Some replacement of sensitive-rare species; functions fully maintained 4 Some sensitive species maintained; altered distributions; functions largely maintained 5 6 Tolerant species show increasing dominance; sensitive species are rare; functions altered Severe alteration of structure and function Natural Degraded

Overview of 10 Attributes  Taxonomic composition and tolerance  Attributes I-V  Sensitive-Endemic through Tolerant  Non-native taxa  Attribute VI  Organism condition  Attribute VII  Ecosystem function  Attribute VIII  Physical-biotic interactions  Attributes IX-X

TALU : A Scientific Model Concept #2 The Generalized Stressor Gradient

Stressor Agent(s) Habitat Structure Biological Response Flow Regime Energy Source Biotic Interactions Water Quality & Toxicity Biological Index or metric Stressor Metric This model is an explicit statement of multiple causation The Linkage From Stressor Effects to Ecosystem Response STRESSORSSTRESS/EXPOSURERESPONSE

Fitzpatrick et al. (Wisconsin) and (irrigated) Mebane et al. (Idaho) (irrigated) from Hughes et al TARGET CONDITION STRESSOR CRITERION

Relationship Land Classes and Stream Macroinvertebrates in Maine Number of Mayfly, Stonefly, and Caddisfly Genera preliminary results based on 424 samples n=57n=150n=119n=98

Summary BCG-GSG Framework A conceptually simple framework for holding enormous, user-defined complexity Organizes and prioritizes research needs Enhances communication

TALU: Tiered Aquatic Life Uses Stressor Gradient Bio Condition Gradient A Scientific Model Class A/AA “as naturally occurs” Class B “support all indigenous species; no detrimental change” Class C“support indigenous fish (salmonids); maintain structure and function” A Water Quality Standards framework

Ecological Condition Pass-Fail Aquatic Life Use Scenarios for a Hypothetical State --- Historical --- Increasing human disturbance - - No disturbance - - Natural Degraded - - Severe disturbance Severely Altered --- PASS FAIL One 303d Listing Threshold? 5 6 4

Biological Condition Increasing Effect of Disturbance [Stressor gradient] LowHigh 1 Native or natural condition 2 Minimal loss of species; some density changes may occur 3 Some replacement of sensitive-rare species; functions fully maintained 4 Some sensitive species maintained; altered distributions; functions largely maintained 5 6 Tolerant species show increasing dominance; sensitive species are rare; functions altered Severe alteration of structure and function Natural Degraded NA B C AA A MAINE TALU

Data Analysis and Use Attainment Biological data put into statistical model (30 variable linear discriminant model) Model output is an estimation of strength of association of a sample to four water quality classes Class AClass BClass CNA Biological community: NaturalDegraded

% OF LINEAR MILES Class AA = 6% Class A = 45% Class B = 47% Class C = 2% Designated Aquatic Life Uses in Maine Since 1990 Miles of upgrades= 1,440 Miles of downgrades= 5

Biological Outcome Reducing Discharges from Lincoln Pulp and Paper Company into Penobscot River A B C NA Year Secondary wastewater treatment in place 2,700 1,600 13,600 BOD 5 load kg/day

Relationship Between Impervious Surfaces and Water Quality Attainment in Maine Impervious Surfaces (Portion of Drainage) Aquatic Life Use Attainment ~ 5% ~ 12% preliminary results based on 424 samples

Maine TMDL Target Values for % Impervious Cover Class %IC- demonstrated attainment TMDLWLAMOS AA <6% Doesnotapply A <6%<5%1% B <8%7-10%6-9%1% C <15%10-15%8-13%2% Engineered reduction in effects of stormwater

Maine Classification Attainment

Maine Extensions of TALU: Other Waterbody and Criteria Types Wetland BCG- TALU –Targeted Stream/Wetland monitoring Marine-estuarine –tiered aquatic life standards applied in aquaculture permitting Tiered Nutrient Criteria –Conceptual model: –tiered chemical limits PLUS tiered biological response limits – algae, macroinvertebrates

Susan P. Davies, MDEP BCG Tiers Communicate Condition abcdef Natural Degraded

Acknowledgments Maine DEP Biological Monitoring Program Leon Tsomides, Jeanne DiFranco Tom Danielson, David Courtemanch National TALU Work Group and Steering Committee (including 23 States and Tribes) Susan K. Jackson, USEPA-HECD, Washington, DC