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DEVELOPMENT OF A METHOD FOR DETERMINING PHOSPHORUS NUTRIENT CRITERIA IN STREAMS AND RIVERS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION
Citation:
Wang, N. AND S M. Cormier. DEVELOPMENT OF A METHOD FOR DETERMINING PHOSPHORUS NUTRIENT CRITERIA IN STREAMS AND RIVERS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION. Presented at North American Benthological Society, La Crosse, WI, June 3-8, 2001.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this research project is to provide methods, tools and guidance to Regions, States and Tribes to support the TMDL program. This research will investigate new measurement methods and models to link stressors to biological responses and will use existing data and knowledge to develop strategies to determine the causes of biological impairment in rivers and streams. Research will be performed across multiple spatial scales, site, subwatershed, watershed, basin, ecoregion and regional/state.
Description:
Nutrient enrichment of phosphorus and nitrogen is the second most cited cause for impairment of streams and rivers in the U.S. There is a need to develop stream nutrient criteria to control nutrient loadings. Since biotic metrics can assess the overall impact of nutrient enrichment to streams and rivers, they may provide a scientific basis for setting nutrient criteria. The overall objective of this study was to develop and compare methods, using biotic metrics, for determining target nutrient concentrations that protect the biotic integrity of the majority of streams from nutrient enrichment. Data from the U.S. EPA EMAP sampling program in the mid-Atlantic region was used. Relationships between biotic metrics and phosphorus concentrations in the streams and rivers were analyzed. EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) were found to be one of the most suitable biotic metrics sensitive to phosphorus enrichment. Reference sites that have little disturbance in biological communities from nutrient enrichment were then identified based on EPT taxa. For demonstration purposes, specific numeric nutrient target concentrations for rivers and streams in the mid-Atlantic region were developed and compared. The nutrient criteria developed are comparable to the threshold values for eutrophication found in the literature.