# Presentation: 215676

## Randy Bruins and ORD Scientist Panel

Regional Science Workshop on Headwaters and Associated Wetlands In the Mid-Atlantic Highlands Region
June 20-21, Philadelphia, PA

- Regional Science Workshop on Headwaters and Associated Wetlands In the Mid-Atlantic Highlands Region
- June 20-21, Philadelphia, PA

***ORD Research on Headwater Streams and Isolated Wetlands******Framework and Overview***

## Session Goals

- Provide overview of research
- Isolated wetlands
- Headwater streams
- Clarify, add detail (Q & A with Panel)
- Set up breakout group discussions on research to meet program and regional needs

## Topics

- Policy questions driving research
- Generalized research framework
- Overview of ongoing and planned ORD projects as they relate to research framework

## Policy questions

- Where are HS-IW actually located?  How many are there? unmapped = unprotected
- What legal authorities apply to the protection of HS-IW? Clean Water Act: connectivity? water quality role? designated uses? Endangered Species Act? species supported? locations?

## Policy questions

- What condition are HS-IW in?status & trends?  reference?
- What is the downstream significance of activities that disturb HS-IW?  What about activities to restore HS-IW?Permit evaluations?  319 grant evaluations?Alternative futures?

## Research Framework

- Generic to needs for both headwaters and isolated wetlands
- Presents idealized progression of research tasks

## See handout.

## Classification and Mapping Methods

**Classification and Mapping Methods**

**Areal Assessments**

**Assessment Methods**

**Issue-based**
**Assessments**

**Model Development & Application**

- Develop (or adapt) and validate simulation models relating HS-IW status to downstream ecosystem services

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- Apply models for restoration design, impact assessment, futures analysis

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- ____________________
- * Use of different colors is only for clarity

## Headwater Stream (HS) Research: Ongoing and Proposed

**Classification and Mapping Methods**

**Areal Assessments**

**Assessment Methods**

**Issue-based**
**Assessments**

**Model Development & Application**

- Develop (or adapt) and validate simulation models relating HS-IW status to downstream ecosystem services

- 11

- Apply models for restoration design, impact assessment, futures analysis

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**Headwater Stream (HS) Research: ****Ongoing**** ****and**** ****Proposed**
**Expected Products and Dates (ORD Division)**

**Hydrologic Landscape****Regions as stream ****chemistry predictors ****(WED)**

**2006 HS Field Operations ****Manual (EERD)**
**2006 Coho salmon success ****in HS habitats (WED)**
**2007 Flow Permanence ****Indicators (EERD) **
**2007 Biogeochemical ****indicators of land use (ERD)**
**2010 Rapid Functional ****Assessment Methods (EERD)**

**2007 LIDAR detection of urban ****impacts on HS channels (ESD) **
**2008 WQ study of headwaters ****and MTM/VF (EERD)**
**2008***** *****TDS impacts on aquatic ****invertebrates (MED, R3)**
**2010 Functions of forested and ****mined streams (EERD, ERD, R3)**
**Ecological processes ****in ag ditches (REMAP-MED)**
***Date?***** Urban stormwater****impacts on headwaters (WSWRD)**

**Development of HS****condition Indices? ****(RARE/RM?)**

***Date*****? MTM/VF mitigation effectiveness (R4, ERD, EERD)**
**2011 Functional assessment of a restored ag ditch (EERD/WSWRD)**
***Date?***** Implement and assess urban stormwater BMPs  (STD)**

**South Dakota ****intermittent stream ****reference site ****selection ****(REMAP-WED)**

**Develop, verify HS****mapping methods ****(EERD, ESD)**

**Structural comparison of ****forested and mined streams****(REMAP-EERD)**

**2008, 2009 Models predicting stream biota based on watershed characteristics (ERD) **
**2008 Models predicting stream biota based on stream network characteristics (WED)**

## Isolated Wetland Research: Ongoing

**Assessment Methods**

**Issue-based**
**Assessments**

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**Isolated Wetland Research: ****Ongoing**
**Expected Products and Dates (ORD Division)**

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