A bioassessment approach for mid-continent great rivers: The Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio (USA)

Theodore R. Angradi; D. W. Bolgrien; T. M. Jicha; M. S. Pearson; B. H. Hill; D. L. Taylor; E. W. Schweiger; L. Shepard; A. R. Batterman; M. F. Moffett; C. M. Elonen; L. E. Anderson

doi:10.1007/s10661-008-0327-1

A bioassessment approach for mid-continent great rivers: The Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio (USA)

Theodore R. Angradi, D. W. Bolgrien, T. M. Jicha, M. S. Pearson, B. H. Hill, D. L. Taylor, E. W. Schweiger, L. Shepard, A. R. Batterman, M. F. Moffett, C. M. Elonen, L. E. Anderson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

The objectives of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program for Great River Ecosystems (EMAP-GRE) are to (1) develop and demonstrate, in collaboration with states, an assessment program yielding spatially unbiased estimates of the condition of mid-continent great rivers; (2) evaluate environmental indicators for assessing great rivers; and (3) assess the current condition of selected great river resources. The purpose of this paper is to describe EMAP-GRE using examples based on data collected in 2004-2006 with emphasis on an approach to determining reference conditions. EMAP-GRE includes the Upper Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Ohio River. Indicators include biotic assemblages (fish, macroinvertebrates, plankton, algae), water chemistry, and aquatic and riparian physical habitat. Reference strata (river reaches for which a single reference expectation is appropriate) were determined by ordination of the fish assemblage and examination of spatial variation in environmental variables. Least disturbed condition of fish assemblages for reference strata was determined by empirical modeling in which we related fish assemblage metrics to a multimetric stressor gradient. We inferred least disturbed condition from the y-intercept, the predicted condition when stress was least. Thresholds for dividing the resource into management-relevant condition classes for biotic indicators were derived using predicted least disturbed condition to set the upper bound on the least disturbed condition class. Also discussed are the outputs of EMAP-GRE, including the assessment document, multimetric indices of condition, and unbiased data supporting state and tribal Clean Water Act reporting, adaptive management, and river restoration.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	425-442
Number of pages	18
Journal	Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Volume	152
Issue number	1-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0327-1
State	Published - 2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgement We thank Marlys Cappaert, CSC Corporation, Corvallis, OR, and her data team for IM support. Tatiana Nawrocki, Matt Starry, Roger Meyer, and Jesse Adams, CSC Corporation, Duluth, MN, provided GIS support. Tony Olsen supervised the creation of the survey design. Discussions with John Van Sickle were useful. Comments by Greg Peterson, Thom Whittier, and Mary Ann Starus improved the manuscript. We are especially indebted to the field crews who collected the data and the laboratory staff that processed the samples. The research described herein has been funded wholly by the U.S. EPA. It has been subjected to review by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents reflect the views of the agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Keywords

Bioassessment
EMAP
Great rivers
Indicator
Least disturbed condition
Missouri River
Ohio River
Reference condition
Stressors
Upper Mississippi River

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access

10.1007/s10661-008-0327-1

OpenUrl availability

Full text

Cite this

Angradi, T. R., Bolgrien, D. W., Jicha, T. M., Pearson, M. S., Hill, B. H., Taylor, D. L., Schweiger, E. W., Shepard, L., Batterman, A. R., Moffett, M. F., Elonen, C. M., & Anderson, L. E. (2009). A bioassessment approach for mid-continent great rivers: The Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio (USA). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 152(1-4), 425-442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0327-1

Angradi, TR, Bolgrien, DW, Jicha, TM, Pearson, MS, Hill, BH, Taylor, DL, Schweiger, EW, Shepard, L, Batterman, AR, Moffett, MF, Elonen, CM & Anderson, LE 2009, 'A bioassessment approach for mid-continent great rivers: The Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio (USA)', Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 152, no. 1-4, pp. 425-442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0327-1

@article{1b1f5f2fc39743d191ea8aefcd102e87,

title = "A bioassessment approach for mid-continent great rivers: The Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio (USA)",

abstract = "The objectives of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program for Great River Ecosystems (EMAP-GRE) are to (1) develop and demonstrate, in collaboration with states, an assessment program yielding spatially unbiased estimates of the condition of mid-continent great rivers; (2) evaluate environmental indicators for assessing great rivers; and (3) assess the current condition of selected great river resources. The purpose of this paper is to describe EMAP-GRE using examples based on data collected in 2004-2006 with emphasis on an approach to determining reference conditions. EMAP-GRE includes the Upper Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Ohio River. Indicators include biotic assemblages (fish, macroinvertebrates, plankton, algae), water chemistry, and aquatic and riparian physical habitat. Reference strata (river reaches for which a single reference expectation is appropriate) were determined by ordination of the fish assemblage and examination of spatial variation in environmental variables. Least disturbed condition of fish assemblages for reference strata was determined by empirical modeling in which we related fish assemblage metrics to a multimetric stressor gradient. We inferred least disturbed condition from the y-intercept, the predicted condition when stress was least. Thresholds for dividing the resource into management-relevant condition classes for biotic indicators were derived using predicted least disturbed condition to set the upper bound on the least disturbed condition class. Also discussed are the outputs of EMAP-GRE, including the assessment document, multimetric indices of condition, and unbiased data supporting state and tribal Clean Water Act reporting, adaptive management, and river restoration.",

keywords = "Bioassessment, EMAP, Great rivers, Indicator, Least disturbed condition, Missouri River, Ohio River, Reference condition, Stressors, Upper Mississippi River",

author = "Angradi, {Theodore R.} and Bolgrien, {D. W.} and Jicha, {T. M.} and Pearson, {M. S.} and Hill, {B. H.} and Taylor, {D. L.} and Schweiger, {E. W.} and L. Shepard and Batterman, {A. R.} and Moffett, {M. F.} and Elonen, {C. M.} and Anderson, {L. E.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgement We thank Marlys Cappaert, CSC Corporation, Corvallis, OR, and her data team for IM support. Tatiana Nawrocki, Matt Starry, Roger Meyer, and Jesse Adams, CSC Corporation, Duluth, MN, provided GIS support. Tony Olsen supervised the creation of the survey design. Discussions with John Van Sickle were useful. Comments by Greg Peterson, Thom Whittier, and Mary Ann Starus improved the manuscript. We are especially indebted to the field crews who collected the data and the laboratory staff that processed the samples. The research described herein has been funded wholly by the U.S. EPA. It has been subjected to review by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents reflect the views of the agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1007/s10661-008-0327-1",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "152",

pages = "425--442",

journal = "Environmental Monitoring and Assessment",

issn = "0167-6369",

publisher = "Springer Netherlands",

number = "1-4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A bioassessment approach for mid-continent great rivers

T2 - The Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio (USA)

AU - Angradi, Theodore R.

AU - Bolgrien, D. W.

AU - Jicha, T. M.

AU - Pearson, M. S.

AU - Hill, B. H.

AU - Taylor, D. L.

AU - Schweiger, E. W.

AU - Shepard, L.

AU - Batterman, A. R.

AU - Moffett, M. F.

AU - Elonen, C. M.

AU - Anderson, L. E.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgement We thank Marlys Cappaert, CSC Corporation, Corvallis, OR, and her data team for IM support. Tatiana Nawrocki, Matt Starry, Roger Meyer, and Jesse Adams, CSC Corporation, Duluth, MN, provided GIS support. Tony Olsen supervised the creation of the survey design. Discussions with John Van Sickle were useful. Comments by Greg Peterson, Thom Whittier, and Mary Ann Starus improved the manuscript. We are especially indebted to the field crews who collected the data and the laboratory staff that processed the samples. The research described herein has been funded wholly by the U.S. EPA. It has been subjected to review by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents reflect the views of the agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The objectives of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program for Great River Ecosystems (EMAP-GRE) are to (1) develop and demonstrate, in collaboration with states, an assessment program yielding spatially unbiased estimates of the condition of mid-continent great rivers; (2) evaluate environmental indicators for assessing great rivers; and (3) assess the current condition of selected great river resources. The purpose of this paper is to describe EMAP-GRE using examples based on data collected in 2004-2006 with emphasis on an approach to determining reference conditions. EMAP-GRE includes the Upper Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Ohio River. Indicators include biotic assemblages (fish, macroinvertebrates, plankton, algae), water chemistry, and aquatic and riparian physical habitat. Reference strata (river reaches for which a single reference expectation is appropriate) were determined by ordination of the fish assemblage and examination of spatial variation in environmental variables. Least disturbed condition of fish assemblages for reference strata was determined by empirical modeling in which we related fish assemblage metrics to a multimetric stressor gradient. We inferred least disturbed condition from the y-intercept, the predicted condition when stress was least. Thresholds for dividing the resource into management-relevant condition classes for biotic indicators were derived using predicted least disturbed condition to set the upper bound on the least disturbed condition class. Also discussed are the outputs of EMAP-GRE, including the assessment document, multimetric indices of condition, and unbiased data supporting state and tribal Clean Water Act reporting, adaptive management, and river restoration.

AB - The objectives of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program for Great River Ecosystems (EMAP-GRE) are to (1) develop and demonstrate, in collaboration with states, an assessment program yielding spatially unbiased estimates of the condition of mid-continent great rivers; (2) evaluate environmental indicators for assessing great rivers; and (3) assess the current condition of selected great river resources. The purpose of this paper is to describe EMAP-GRE using examples based on data collected in 2004-2006 with emphasis on an approach to determining reference conditions. EMAP-GRE includes the Upper Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Ohio River. Indicators include biotic assemblages (fish, macroinvertebrates, plankton, algae), water chemistry, and aquatic and riparian physical habitat. Reference strata (river reaches for which a single reference expectation is appropriate) were determined by ordination of the fish assemblage and examination of spatial variation in environmental variables. Least disturbed condition of fish assemblages for reference strata was determined by empirical modeling in which we related fish assemblage metrics to a multimetric stressor gradient. We inferred least disturbed condition from the y-intercept, the predicted condition when stress was least. Thresholds for dividing the resource into management-relevant condition classes for biotic indicators were derived using predicted least disturbed condition to set the upper bound on the least disturbed condition class. Also discussed are the outputs of EMAP-GRE, including the assessment document, multimetric indices of condition, and unbiased data supporting state and tribal Clean Water Act reporting, adaptive management, and river restoration.

KW - Bioassessment

KW - EMAP

KW - Great rivers

KW - Indicator

KW - Least disturbed condition

KW - Missouri River

KW - Ohio River

KW - Reference condition

KW - Stressors

KW - Upper Mississippi River

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=63749109167&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=63749109167&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10661-008-0327-1

DO - 10.1007/s10661-008-0327-1

M3 - Article

C2 - 18483771

AN - SCOPUS:63749109167

SN - 0167-6369

VL - 152

SP - 425

EP - 442

JO - Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

JF - Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

IS - 1-4

ER -

A bioassessment approach for mid-continent great rivers: The Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio (USA)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access

OpenUrl availability

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this