Listing Methodology Listing Methodology Aquatic Life q Prepared for the 303(d) Listing Methodology Meeting P d f h 303(d) Li i M h d l M i Wednesday, September 3, 2014 EDU contacts: Kristy Richardson, Scott Garncarz, and Sarah Wheeler (Listing Methodology) (Listing Methodology) and Chris Theel (MMI and bug guru) PHOTO: http://communityscience.org/volunteer/biological-monitoring/
Policy 10.1 y List ing Met hodology g gy Provides quantitative Provides framework for assessment method for interpreting MMI threshold p g determining attainment of into regulatory outcome aquatic life use Offers guidance on factors Offers guidance on factors Utilizes numeric thresholds which may influence listing based on expected/reference decision such as spatial and biological conditions (and temporal distribution of their variability) samples Accounts for warm-water/cold- Includes process for adding and water and class distinctions removing water body from 303(d) li 303(d) list Protects against large declines
Hist orical perspect ive 2016 – Policy 10-1 revision process process 2014 – LM workgroup to re- address issues from 2012 and any others others 2013 – WQCD recommended and WQCC adopted extension of Policy 10-1 through 2016 2012 – LM workgroup discussed LM k di d 2012 issues; not addressed because LM was cancelled 2010 – Policy 10-1 adopted
Aquatic life use Aquatic life use attainment A quick review of the MMI as an assessment tool to determine aquatic life use attainment for rivers and streams as described in streams, as described in Policy 10.1
What is an MMI? What is an MMI? Multi-metric Index - a combination of metrics (eg. richness, composition tolerance) that are responsive to stress composition, tolerance) that are responsive to stress, ecologically meaningful and offer diverse and non-redundant community information y Predator & Predator & shredder shredder taxa taxa taxa taxa Beck’s Beck’s % Mayflies % Mayflies biotic biotic index index MMI MMI Clinger Clinger score score Total taxa Total taxa (biotype (biotype taxa taxa 2) 2)
What is a Biot ype? What is a Biot ype? - predictor variables are used to assign site to a biotype group Stream Stream slope slope l Site Site Site Site Level IV Level IV Level IV Level IV elevation elevation ecoregion ecoregion Biotype Biotype 1:transition 1:transition 2: mountains 2: mountains 3 l i 3 l i 3: plains & 3: plains & & & xeric xeric
Met hod for assessing aquat ic Met hod for assessing aquat ic life use at t ainment Quantitative Quantitative Comparison Comparison assessment of assessment of Determine Determine with biotype- with biotype - biological biological bi l bi l i i l l bi t bi t biotype biotype specific aquatic specific aquatic ifi ifi ti ti condition condition life threshold life threshold biotype 1 (transition) Use EDAS to calculate Collect & preserve bugs biotype-specific MMI biotype 2 (mountains) then compare to threshold Identify and count bugs biotype 3 (plains & xeric)
MMI as measuring st ick MMI as measuring st ick Range of MMI scores for Range of MMI scores for reference/expected reference/expected p conditions conditions MMI MMI -> 0 100 Impairment Impairment Attainment Attainment Impairment threshold Biotype Attainment threshold 42 1 (transition) 52 42 2 (mountains) 50 22 3 (plains & xeric) 37
Prot ect ion of diverse biot a and Prot ect ion of diverse biot a and sensit ive species The Basic Standards (Reg. 31) classifies waters differently based on the whether the water is capable of sustaining a based on the whether the water is capable of sustaining a wide variety of biota, including sensitive species Class 1 waters are capable of sustaining a wide variety Class 2 waters are not capable of sustaining this variety Class 2 waters are not capable of sustaining this variety
MMI as measuring st ick MMI as measuring st ick Range of MMI scores for Range of MMI scores for g reference/expected reference/expected conditions conditions MMI -> 0 100 Attainment (class 2) Impairment Attainment The grey zone ( l (class 1) 1)
Class 1 wat ers - t he grey zone Class 1 wat ers t he grey zone met rics Hilsenhoff Biotic Shannon Diversity Biotype Index Index 1 (transition) < 5.4 > 2.4 2 (mountains) < 5.1 > 3.0 3 (plains & xeric) < 7.7 > 2.5 • Pass both metrics -> attainment • Pass one metric only -> impairment • Pass neither metric -> impairment
Prot ect ion of high scoring wat ers Prot ect ion of high scoring wat ers Range of MMI scores for Range of MMI scores for g reference/expected reference/expected conditions conditions MMI -> 0 100 >64 high scoring water Impairment Attainment >22 22 Year 1 Year 2
MMI Output (Single or Flowchart: MMI Comparison Duplicate samples) samples) wit h Aquat ic Life Thresholds Average Duplicate MMI adapted from Policy 10-1, Figure 1 Scores Single or Single or Duplicate sample? Single g Assess MMI score Does MMI Is MMI less than Class I Class I against attainment exceed impairment No or II? threshold for attainment threshold? appropriate biotype threshold? Class II Yes No Yes Assess MMI score against attainment against attainment I Impairment i t threshold for Assess HBI and appropriate biotype Shannon Diversity Index metrics Yes Do both auxiliary No against auxiliary g y metrics pass? metrics pass? metric thresholds for appropriate Is MMI less than biotype impairment threshold? No Attainment Yes
Problems and S Problems and S olut ions olut ions 1.Extension of Sampling season 1.Extension of Sampling season PROBLEM STATEMENT: Policy 10-1 defines the index period for sampling as July 1 – Oct. 1, however, there are circumstances when samples collected outside the index period are representative and should be included in period are representative and should be included in assessments due to return flows, irrigation releases, etc. SOLUTION: The Division will include samples collected within a SOLUTION: The Division will include samples collected within a few weeks after the recommended sampling season index period for assessments on a case by case basis.
Problems and S Problems and S olut ions olut ions 2. Aquatic life samples that differ in 2. Aquatic life samples that differ in attainment PROBLEM STATEMENT: Policy 10-1 is not clear about how the Division will assess streams that have differing MMI scores in the same representative segment. th t ti t SOLUTION: If two different MMI scores are assessed for the same SOLUTION: If two different MMI scores are assessed for the same calendar year and both are determined to be representative, then the segment will be place on the M&E List. If differing MMI scores are assessed for different calendar years then most MMI scores are assessed for different calendar years, then most recent representative score will be used for listing decisions.
MMI 2012 - attainment 2012 M&E M&E 303(d) No List List Listing MMI MMI 2012 - impairment impairment MMI 2013 - impairment MMI 2011 - impairment
Problems and S Problems and S olut ions olut ions 3. Inconsistencies with Sediment Policy 3. Inconsistencies with Sediment Policy PROBLEM STATEMENT: With the adoption of Policy 10-1, the Policy 98-1 has some inconsistencies in regards to aquatic life assessment. SOLUTION: T he Division will review sediment data and MMI scores and make listing decisions independently.
Problems and S Problems and S olut ions olut ions 3. Inconsistencies with Sediment Policy 3. Inconsistencies with Sediment Policy S di Sediment Policy t P li Aquatic Life (MMI) A ti Lif (MMI) C Conclusion l i attainment impairment listed for aquatic life impairment attainment listed for sediment impairment p impairment p listed for aquatic life q listed for sediment
Problems and S Problems and S olut ions olut ions 4. High Quality Water Drop 4. High Quality Water Drop PROBLEM STATEMENT: Policy 10-1 outlines how high scoring segments will be considered impaired if MMI scores drop over 22 points. The policy does not, however, explain what constitutes attainment after the segments have been listed due constitutes attainment after the segments have been listed due to the drop. SOLUTION Th Di i i SOLUTION: The Division will consider a segment in attainment if ill id t i tt i t if MMI scores improve by a minimum of half of the original decline and exceed attainment thresholds.
Recovery of high scoring wat ers Recovery of high scoring wat ers MMI -> 0 100 >64 high scoring water Impairment Attainment 24 24 Year 1 Year 2 ≤ 12 Decline > 22 points Year 3+
Recovery of high scoring wat ers Recovery of high scoring wat ers MMI -> 0 100 >64 high scoring water Impairment Attainment 40 40 Year 2 ≤ 20 Year 1 Decline > 22 points Year 3+
Recovery of high scoring wat ers Recovery of high scoring wat ers Class 1 or class 2 waters? Class 2 Class 1 Class 1 MMI -> 0 100 >64 high scoring water Impairment Attainment 50 50 Year 2 Asses against gray zone metrics The grey ≤ 25 Year 1 Decline > 22 points zone (class 1) (class 1) Year 3+
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