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Ecological Condition of Streams in Eastern and Southern NevadaEPA R-EMAP Muddy-Virgin River Project
Citation:
Hare, L., D. Heggem, R. Hall, AND P. Husby. Ecological Condition of Streams in Eastern and Southern NevadaEPA R-EMAP Muddy-Virgin River Project. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-14/256, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
The goal of the the Muddy-Virgin River Project was to assess the water quality and biotic integrity of perennial and intermittent streams over a one year sampling period for the Muddy-Virgin River Project Area, using a combination of macroinvertebrates, physical habitat measurements, water and sediment chemistry, and sediment metabolism. The objectives of the Muddy-Virgin River Project Area R-EMAP were to describe the condition of surface waters, relate ecological conditions to ecological stressors and examine relative risks to streams within the Area.
Description:
The report presents data collected during a one year study period beginning in May of 2000. Sampling sites were selected using a probability-based design (as opposed to subjectively selected sites) using the USEPA River Reach File version 3 (RF3). About 37 sites were sampled. This study has provided a substantial baseline data set for the Basin. While the percentage of impacted streams varied, many of stream reaches studied in the Basin were assessed to be in a “most-disturbed” condition. We recommend that a next step for ecological condition analysis should be a landscape ecology approach which would focus on the spatial relationships as related to the ecological processes of the landscape, and which should provide a comprehensive basis for identifying and evaluating current and historical land use practices. Further, because riparian function is heavily influenced by the condition of adjacent and upland ecosystems, we recommend that riparian Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) assessments be considered in environmental and water management decisions for a more sustainable ecosystem for the Muddy-Virgin River Project Area.