Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for low gradient streams for species richness, composition and polluti

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Ecological Engineering Science to Policy
Hillary S. Tanner, David K. Gattie, and J.
Victoria Collins University of Georgia,
Department of Biological and Agricultural
Engineering
Non-point Source Pollution Policy In Georgia
Georgias water policy is heavily focused on
non-point source pollution. The Georgia
Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) has
instituted national policies such as Erosion and
Sedimentation Controls, Phase I and Phase II
Stormwater Permitting, Total Maximum Daily Load
Programs, Source Water Assessments, and Well Head
Protection Programs to address non-point source
pollution. The GAEPD has also adopted a program
dealing with comprehensive watershed studies or
watershed assessments. Watershed Assessments are
driven by the Clean Water Act (National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System) and focus on
determining watershed health and establishing
measures for watershed protection. Successful
completion of a watershed assessment is a
condition of an NPDES permit for wastewater
treatment plants. A watershed assessment has
several components including assessment,
analysis, and recommendations for watershed
protection. This poster focuses on Ecological
Engineering applications in these components of
watershed assessment studies.
The South Georgia Coastal Plain A Case Study
Analysis
Assessment
Using data from the 20 sites in South Georgia,
percent urban land use (mostly paved areas with
little vegetative cover) was correlated with
overall results of biological and habitat
assessments. While the biological response of
benthic macroinvertebrates to physical habitat at
sub-watershed and watershed scales was not
clearly correlated, there was a clear
relationship between biological response and
urban land use in the 0 to 5 range. These
findings indicated that the most damage to the
stream environment was done in the first stages
of development, from non-urban land use to urban
land use. As land is developed further (higher
urban landuse), biological scores level off
slightly, but still continue to fall, further
emphasizing that initial development causes the
most damage to benthic macroinvertebrate
communities.
Twenty aquatic sites were monitored, within a
1504 km watershed in the Coastal Plain of
Georgia. These sites were sampled to assess
biotic response of benthic macroinvertebrate
populations and communities to changes in habitat
and surrounding land use. The 20 sites ranged
from 1.2 to 37 urbanization (indicated by
impervious surface). Biological response was
measured using metrics (outlined in the U.S.
EPAs
Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for low gradient
streams) for species richness, composition and
pollution tolerance, as well as a composite
benthic macroinvertebrate index. In general,
insects and fish were determined to be less
diverse and abundant, and more tolerant of
pollution while habitat was more degraded in
highly developed areas than those in less
developed areas.
Application
Action
Recommendations for the management of these
Coastal Plain watersheds were developed based on
assessment and analysis of the streams
ecosystems. The recommendations targeted
undeveloped areas, especially those in close
proximity to streams, that may be slated for
development. The focus of these recommendations
was primarily stream protection during the first
stages of construction, including installing,
maintaining, and monitoring erosion and
sedimentation controls, installing and
maintaining vegetated buffers where applicable,
controlling stormwater runoff, and educating
local officials and the general public about
stream and stream bank ecosystems. Other
recommendations were more geared toward
maintaining/improving stream health in areas
already impacted by development.
One of the most important components of a
watershed assessment is taking action to maintain
and improve watershed health. Through the
results and recommendations of the watershed
assessment, local officials can formulate
guiding documents for watershed protection.
These documents must be approved by the GAEPD and
will serve as a component and condition of NPDES
permits for wastewater treatment facilities.
Recently, the case study city incorporated
management recommendations, based on ecological
engineering principles, into their watershed
protection plan. They included improving
aquatic ecosystems, restoring and protecting
wildlife habitat, and educating the general
public involving the environment and ecological
concerns in their watershed.
Session From Science to Policy Ecological
Services Decision Support Systems