1. Summary of Biological Assessment Programs and Biocriteria Development for States, Tribes, Territories, and Interstate Commissions: Streams and Wadeable Rivers 2001 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 In-placeUDNone Water Resource Mgmt 5726 Interpret ALU attainment 40613 Narrative Biocriteria in WQS 301119 Narrative Biocriteria/Translator 23928 Numeric Biocriteria in WQS 4947

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

13. 41 in place 16 none Assemblages Used: Fish

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

15. 45 more than 1 assemblage Use of Multiple Assemblages

16. Reference Condition In-placeUDNone Ecoregional40311 Site-specific19136 State-wide or basin-specific 7146

17. Analysis & Assessment In-placeUDNone Biological Metrics 5411 Multivariate22232 Multimetric index4178 Habitat Assessment 5700

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