Assessing Ecological Risk in Watersheds: A Case Study of Problem Formulation in the Big Darby Creek Watershed, Ohio, Usa

Cormier, Susan M.; Smith, M. Brewster; Norton, Susan B.; Neiheisel, Tim

doi:10.1897/1551-5028(2000)019<1082:aeriwa>2.3.co;2

Cited by 22 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The Eastern Corn Belt Plains ecoregion of Ohio, USA ( Fig. 1; see discussion in [6]) was selected as a study location to take advantage of the large amount of biological monitoring data collected in a consistent manner and made available by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The study was confined to one ecoregion to minimize some of the natural factors that may confound responses to stressors.…”

Section: Data Setmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can biological assessments discriminate among types of stress? A case study from the Eastern Corn Belt Plains ecoregion

Norton

Cormier

Smith

et al. 2000

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-We investigated the feasibility of using the structure of fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities to distinguish among major types of stressors (e.g., siltation, nutrient enrichment, and stream structural degradation) using spatially and temporally matched data on stressors and responses. The 19 stressor variables addressed stream chemistry and in-stream habitat and included biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, and components of the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index. The 42 response variables addressed fish and invertebrate community structure and included many of the component metrics of the Index of Biological Integrity and the Invertebrate Community Index as well as variables specifically calculated for this project. All data were collected between 1988 and 1994 by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency in the Eastern Corn Belt Plains ecoregion. Prior to analysis, variables were transformed to near normality, and variables significantly correlated with drainage area were fit to regression models and the resulting residuals used in the analyses. Multivariate analyses included factor and discriminant analysis. The first six stressor factors explained 69% of the variation. Discriminant functions formed using the response variables significantly separated site clusters classified into high, medium, and low categories along stressor gradients. Both fish and macroinvertebrate variables were important in distinguishing site categories. For example, percentage Tanytarsini midges and percentage Glyptotendipes were important in distinguishing sites having high and low BOD. Percentage darters was associated with sites having high scores for stream corridor structure and low concentrations of inorganic nutrients, and percentage roundbodied suckers was associated with sites having low BOD and low concentrations of zinc and lead. These results indicate that diagnostic models may be developed that will be useful for site-specific and regional assessments.

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Section: Data Setmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can biological assessments discriminate among types of stress? A case study from the Eastern Corn Belt Plains ecoregion

Norton

Cormier

Smith

et al. 2000

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…A map of the Big Darby watershed is included in Cormier et al [1]. In the Big Darby watershed during the historical period of interest (late 1970s to 1990s), more than 157 sites were evaluated for fish assemblage status, whereas benthic macroinvertebrates were assessed at approximately 60 sites.…”

Section: Site Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Big Darby watershed, a high-quality warm-water stream system in central Ohio, USA, is one of five sites nationwide selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to demonstrate approaches to geographically based risk assessment [1]. The watershed is a national and state scenic river and was one of the original 12 locations designated by The Nature Conservancy as a Last Great Place in the Western Hemisphere [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To measure attainment of this goal, stakeholders selected the diversity and abundance of fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and molluscs as indicators of stream community condition. The rationale for the selection of these indicators is described in detail in the accompanying problem formulation document [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The percent of fish with DELT anomalies was significantly lower in the Big Darby mainstem than in Hellbranch Run, perhaps due to a heavier concentration of point and nonpoint source toxic contaminants in the latter system. The second hypothesis of interest for the Big Darby watershed risk assessment was a test of changes in the watershed over time [1]. Because insufficient data were available to consider the entire watershed, evaluation focused on the mainstem of Big Darby Creek.…”

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Using Historical Biological Data to Evaluate Status and Trends in the Big Darby Creek Watershed (Ohio, Usa)

Schubauer‐Berigan¹,

Smith²,

Hopkins³

et al. 2000

Environ Toxicol Chem

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Abstract-Assessment of watershed ecological status and trends is challenging for managers who lack randomly or consistently sampled data, or monitoring programs developed from a watershed perspective. This study investigated analytical approaches for assessment of status and trends using data collected by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency as part of state requirements for reporting stream quality and managing discharge permits. Fish and benthic macroinvertebrate metrics collected during three time periods (1979-1981, 1986-1989, 1990-1993) were analyzed for the mainstem of Big Darby Creek, a high-quality warm-water stream in central Ohio, USA. Analysis of variance of transformed metrics showed significant differences among time periods for six fish metrics. In addition, significant positive linear trends were observed for four metrics plus the index of biotic integrity score, and negative linear trends for two fish metrics. An analysis of a subset of sites paired by location and sampled over the three periods reflected findings using all available data for the mainstem. In particular, mean estimates were very similar between the reduced and full data sets, whereas standard error estimates were much greater in the reduced subset. Analysis of serial autocorrelation patterns among the fish metrics over the three time periods suggests changes in the nature of stressors over time. A comparison within the most recent time period showed significantly better condition for Big Darby Creek mainstem than for Hellbranch Run (the easternmost subwatershed), after adjusting for watershed size. The consistency of paired and nonrandomized results suggested that either type of data might be judiciously used for this watershed assessment. Results indicated that overall biological condition of the mainstem of the Big Darby Creek watershed has significantly improved since the early 1980s.

show abstract

Using historical biological data to evaluate status and trends in the Big Darby Creek watershed (Ohio, USA)

Schubauer‐Berigan

Smith

Hopkins³

et al. 2000

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Assessment of watershed ecological status and trends is challenging for managers who lack randomly or consistently sampled data, or monitoring programs developed from a watershed perspective. This study investigated analytical approaches for assessment of status and trends using data collected by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency as part of state requirements for reporting stream quality and managing discharge permits. Fish and benthic macroinvertebrate metrics collected during three time periods (1979–1981, 1986–1989, 1990–1993) were analyzed for the mainstem of Big Darby Creek, a high‐quality warm‐water stream in central Ohio, USA. Analysis of variance of transformed metrics showed significant differences among time periods for six fish metrics. In addition, significant positive linear trends were observed for four metrics plus the index of biotic integrity score, and negative linear trends for two fish metrics. An analysis of a subset of sites paired by location and sampled over the three periods reflected findings using all available data for the mainstem. In particular, mean estimates were very similar between the reduced and full data sets, whereas standard error estimates were much greater in the reduced subset. Analysis of serial autocorrelation patterns among the fish metrics over the three time periods suggests changes in the nature of stressors over time. A comparison within the most recent time period showed significantly better condition for Big Darby Creek mainstem than for Hellbranch Run (the easternmost subwatershed), after adjusting for watershed size. The consistency of paired and nonrandomized results suggested that either type of data might be judiciously used for this watershed assessment. Results indicated that overall biological condition of the mainstem of the Big Darby Creek watershed has significantly improved since the early 1980s.

show abstract

Assessing Ecological Risk in Watersheds: A Case Study of Problem Formulation in the Big Darby Creek Watershed, Ohio, Usa

Cited by 22 publications

References 32 publications

Can biological assessments discriminate among types of stress? A case study from the Eastern Corn Belt Plains ecoregion

Can biological assessments discriminate among types of stress? A case study from the Eastern Corn Belt Plains ecoregion

Using Historical Biological Data to Evaluate Status and Trends in the Big Darby Creek Watershed (Ohio, Usa)

Using historical biological data to evaluate status and trends in the Big Darby Creek watershed (Ohio, USA)

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