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WV R-EMAP STUDY: MULTIPLE-OBJECTIVE SAMPLING DESIGN FRAMEWORK
Citation:
Cincotta, D., N E. Detenbeck, F A. Fulk, AND F H. McCormick. WV R-EMAP STUDY: MULTIPLE-OBJECTIVE SAMPLING DESIGN FRAMEWORK. Presented at Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program 2002 Conference, Kansas City, MO, May 8-11, 2002.
Description:
A multi-objective sampling design has been implemented through Regional Monitoring and Assessment Program (R-EMAP) support of a cooperative agreement with the state of West Virginia. Goals of the project include: 1) development and testing of a temperature-adjusted fish IBI for the Central Appalachian Plateau and Western Alleghany Plateau ecoregions of West Virginia, 2) development of a watershed classification system and application to a probabilistic watershed-based sampling framework, and 3) prediction of stream thermal regime class from watershed characteristics. The watershed classification framework is based on empirically-derived hydrologic thresholds related to land-cover (watershed storage as lakes and wetlands) and land-use (agriculture, mining, and urban/residential development). Watershed storage has been related to hydrologic regime (e.g., stable vs flashy) and degree of sensitivity to nonpoint source pollution. Incorporation of a watershed classification system into a probabilistic sampling design will allow the state of WV not only to summarize ecological condition at the ecoregion scale based on the distribution of fish IBIs and habitat quality, but also to predict probability of impairment for other sites based on watershed characteristics. This is an abstract or a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.