Listing Methodology Listing Methodology Aquatic Life q Prepared - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Listing Methodology Listing Methodology Aquatic Life q Prepared for the 303(d) Listing Methodology Meeting P d f h 303(d) Li i M h d l M i Wednesday, September 3, 2014 EDU contacts: Kristy Richardson, Scott Garncarz, and Sarah Wheeler
EDU contacts: Kristy Richardson, Scott Garncarz, and Sarah Wheeler (Listing Methodology) (Listing Methodology) and Chris Theel (MMI and bug guru)
PHOTO: http://communityscience.org/volunteer/biological-monitoring/
Provides quantitative assessment method for
Provides framework for interpreting MMI threshold determining attainment of
aquatic life use
p g into regulatory outcome Offers guidance on factors Utilizes numeric thresholds based on expected/reference Offers guidance on factors which may influence listing decision such as spatial and biological conditions (and their variability) temporal distribution of samples Accounts for warm-water/cold- water and class distinctions Includes process for adding and removing water body from 303(d) li Protects against large declines 303(d) list
2016 – Policy 10-1 revision
process
2014 – LM workgroup to re-
address issues from 2012 and any
process
2012
LM k di d
2013 – WQCD recommended
and WQCC adopted extension of Policy 10-1 through 2016
2012 – LM workgroup discussed
issues; not addressed because LM was cancelled
2010 – Policy 10-1 adopted
A quick review of the MMI as an assessment tool to determine aquatic life use attainment for rivers and streams as described in streams, as described in Policy 10.1
Multi-metric Index - a combination of metrics (eg. richness,
Predator & Predator & shredder shredder taxa taxa % Mayflies % Mayflies taxa taxa Beck’s Beck’s biotic biotic index index
MMI MMI score score (biotype (biotype 2) 2)
Total Total taxa taxa Clinger Clinger taxa taxa
Stream Stream l Site Site slope slope Level IV Level IV
Biotype Biotype
Site Site elevation elevation Level IV Level IV ecoregion ecoregion
1:transition 1:transition 2: mountains 2: mountains 3 l i & 3 l i & 3: plains & 3: plains & xeric xeric
Quantitative Quantitative assessment of assessment of bi l i l bi l i l Determine Determine bi t bi t Comparison Comparison with biotype with biotype-
ti ifi ti biological biological condition condition biotype biotype specific aquatic specific aquatic life threshold life threshold
Collect & preserve bugs
biotype 1 (transition) biotype 2 (mountains) Use EDAS to calculate biotype-specific MMI then compare to threshold Identify and count bugs biotype 3 (plains & xeric)
Range of MMI scores for Range of MMI scores for reference/expected reference/expected
p conditions conditions
100
Attainment Impairment Attainment Impairment Impairment threshold Biotype Attainment threshold 42 1 (transition) 52 42 2 (mountains) 50 22 3 (plains & xeric) 37
The Basic Standards (Reg. 31) classifies waters differently based on the whether the water is capable of sustaining a based on the whether the water is capable of sustaining a wide variety of biota, including sensitive species
Class 1 waters are capable of sustaining a wide variety Class 2 waters are not capable of sustaining this variety Class 2 waters are not capable of sustaining this variety
Range of MMI scores for Range of MMI scores for
g reference/expected reference/expected conditions conditions
100
Attainment (class 2) Attainment Impairment The grey zone ( l 1) (class 1)
Biotype Hilsenhoff Biotic Index Shannon Diversity Index
1 (transition) < 5.4 > 2.4 2 (mountains) < 5.1 > 3.0 3 (plains & xeric) < 7.7 > 2.5
Range of MMI scores for Range of MMI scores for g reference/expected reference/expected conditions conditions
100
>64 high scoring water Attainment Impairment 22
Year 1 Year 2
>22
MMI Output (Single or Duplicate samples)
adapted from Policy 10-1, Figure 1
samples) Single or Average MMI Scores
Duplicate
Single or Duplicate sample?
Single
Class I
g Class I
Assess MMI score against attainment threshold for appropriate biotype Does MMI exceed attainment threshold? Is MMI less than impairment threshold? No Assess MMI score against attainment I i t
Class II
Yes No Yes against attainment threshold for appropriate biotype Do both auxiliary metrics pass? Assess HBI and Shannon Diversity Index metrics against auxiliary Impairment Yes No metrics pass? g y metric thresholds for appropriate biotype Attainment Is MMI less than impairment threshold? Yes No
PROBLEM STATEMENT: Policy 10-1 defines the index period for
sampling as July 1 – Oct. 1, however, there are circumstances when samples collected outside the index period are representative and should be included in period are representative and should be included in assessments due to return flows, irrigation releases, etc.
SOLUTION: The Division will include samples collected within a SOLUTION: The Division will include samples collected within a
few weeks after the recommended sampling season index period for assessments on a case by case basis.
PROBLEM STATEMENT: Policy 10-1 is not clear about how the
Division will assess streams that have differing MMI scores in th t ti t the same representative segment.
SOLUTION: If two different MMI scores are assessed for the same SOLUTION: If two different MMI scores are assessed for the same
calendar year and both are determined to be representative, then the segment will be place on the M&E List. If differing MMI scores are assessed for different calendar years then most MMI scores are assessed for different calendar years, then most recent representative score will be used for listing decisions.
MMI2012 - attainment
2012
M&E MMI impairment M&E List 303(d) List No Listing MMI2012 - impairment MMI2013 - impairment MMI2011 - impairment
PROBLEM STATEMENT: With the adoption of Policy 10-1, the
Policy 98-1 has some inconsistencies in regards to aquatic life assessment.
SOLUTION: The Division will review sediment data and MMI scores
and make listing decisions independently.
S di t P li A ti Lif (MMI) C l i
Sediment Policy Aquatic Life (MMI) Conclusion
attainment impairment listed for aquatic life impairment attainment listed for sediment impairment impairment listed for aquatic life p p q listed for sediment
PROBLEM STATEMENT: Policy 10-1 outlines how high scoring
segments will be considered impaired if MMI scores drop over 22 points. The policy does not, however, explain what constitutes attainment after the segments have been listed due constitutes attainment after the segments have been listed due to the drop.
SOLUTION Th Di i i
ill id t i tt i t if
SOLUTION: The Division will consider a segment in attainment if
MMI scores improve by a minimum of half of the original decline and exceed attainment thresholds.
100
>64 high scoring water Attainment Impairment
24 Year 1 Year 2 Decline > 22 points 24 ≤12 Year 3+
100
>64 high scoring water Attainment Impairment
40 Year 1 Decline > 22 points 40 ≤20 Year 2 Year 3+
100
>64 high scoring water Attainment Impairment
50 Year 1 Decline > 22 points 50 ≤25 Year 2
The grey zone (class 1)
Asses against gray zone metrics Year 3+
(class 1)
PROBLEM STATEMENT: Policy 10-1 does not include language that
explains how a portion of a segment could be listed if the MMI sample does not represent the entire segment.
SOLUTION: Portioning for aquatic life using MMI scores will be
decided on a case-by-case basis following Section D(6)b of the Listing Methodology and must include representative samples Listing Methodology and must include representative samples within the same sampling index period.
No Listing Listing MMI2012 - attainment M&E List List MMI2012 - impairment 303(d) ( ) List
Assumption: Like hydrological conditions
PROBLEM STATEMENT: The Division has determined that there are specific
cases where multiple subsampling and the resulting averaging of MMI scores is appropriate
SOLUTION: Multiple subsampling may be used when the entire single
sample exceeds 360 individuals and one of the following cases applies: 1) The total number of taxa in a single macroinvertebrate sample 1) The total number of taxa in a single macroinvertebrate sample exceeds 45. 2) The dominance of one individual taxon exceeds 75% of the total count in a single macroinvertebrate sample
A subsample as defined in t he cont ext of t he Colorado MMI, is a procedure t o reduce t he individual organism count of a whole sample exceeding 360 individuals, t o a st andardized 300 fixed organism count bet ween 240 and 360 individuals.
Kristy Richardson@state co us CONTACT INFORMATION: Kristy.Richardson@state.co.us Scott.Garncarz@state.co.us Sarah.Wheeler@state.co.us
Collect i t
inverts Does the sample contain >360 individuals? Y No Does the sample contain >45 taxa? Generate MMI Yes Yes contain >45 taxa? Subsample x10 Generate 10 MMI Calculate Average MMI No Is one taxon >75%
Yes No