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A Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark For Conductivity In Central Appalachian Streams (Final Report)
Citation:
U.S. EPA. A Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark For Conductivity In Central Appalachian Streams (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-10/023F, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
This report provides scientific evidence for a conductivity benchmark in a specific region rather than for the entire United States.
Description:
EPA announced the availability of the final report, A Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams. This report describes a method to characterize the relationship between the extirpation (the effective extinction) of invertebrate genera and salinity (measured as conductivity) and from that relationship derives a freshwater aquatic life benchmark. This benchmark of 300 µS/cm may be applied to waters in Appalachian streams that are dominated by calcium and magnesium salts of sulfate and bicarbonate at circum-neutral to mildly alkaline pH.
URLs/Downloads:
Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams (EPA/600/R-10/023F) (PDF, 276 pp, 11601 KB, about PDF)FR Notice: May 27, 2011
