# Presentation: 467394

## ORD’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program

## EMAP Overview

- State and EPA monitoring needs
- Monitoring research questions
- ORD’s EMAP approach
- Selected major accomplishments
- EMAP’s new geographic research areas
- Western Pilot
- Coastal Initiative

## Monitoring Aquatic Resources

- 3.6 million miles of streams  (19%)
- 41.7 million acres of lakes (40%)
- 303 million acres of wetlands (3%)
- 61,000 miles of coastline (6%)
- 40,000 square miles of estuaries (72%)

## Conventional Monitoring

- > $650M/y spent on environmental monitoring by Federal Government
- Most is targeted to individual chemicals and to physical conditions at specific sites
- Point source problems have been greatly reduced

## Unanswered Monitoring Questions

- How much of our state/national aquatic ecosystems are healthy?
- Are we targeting the right problems to make a difference?
- How do we measure trends in the condition of aquatic ecosystems?
- How do we determine this in a cost-effective, scientifically-defensible, and credible way?
- How do we aggregate this information from the local to the state to the national levels?

## EMAP’s GOAL

- Build the scientific basis, and the local, state, and tribal capacity, to monitor for status and trends in the condition of the Nation’s aquatic ecosystems
- Cost-effective
- Scientifically-defensible and representative
- Quantifiable trends
- Supports performance-based management (GPRA)

## Why an EMAP Approach?

- _Only_ statistically-valid approach to determining  state and national aquatic ecosystem condition
- uses biological indicators (e.g., fish and benthic community structure) as integrators of aquatic ecosystem condition
- establishes measurable baselines for health of aquatic ecosystems and assesses trends in condition
- reduces costs and identifies most important areas and stressors
- provides monitoring designs for consistent aggregation of data from local to national levels
- Already being used by states for improved assessments and better decision-making

## EMAP Design Components

- Multi-Tier Monitoring Designs** **- scale defined design that allows aggregation and interpretation of monitored data

## Sound Scientific Basis for EMAP Approach

- Publications
- >600 peer reviewed EMAP publications
- Recent peer review by Ecological Society of America and American Statistical Association
- “...panel strongly supports the use of probability-based sample designs...GIS-based approaches provide important pattern and connectivity information...REMAP demonstration programs have put EMAP at the forefront of having solid data from both probability sampling and a GIS-based design...”(ESA and ASA 1998)
- Integrated with STAR Grants Program to maximize use of university research

## EMAP’s Proof of Concept:  Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA)

- Large-scale, regional monitoring feasible
- Biological and landscape indicators developed and tested
- Statistically-based sampling design for regional resources developed and tested
- First assessments of regional environmental condition:
- An Ecological Assessment of the United States
-     Mid-Atlantic Region:  A Landscape Atlas
-     (EPA 600/R-97/130)
- Condition of the Mid-Atlantic Estuaries
-     (EPA 600-R-98-147)
- Mid-Atlantic Highlands State of the Streams
-    (EPA XXX-R-00-XX)

## Cost Effectiveness of EMAP Approach

-  Alabama monitoring costs 25% less, with more and better information
-  Eutrophication of NE US lakes
- 2756 non-random lakes censused (Rohm et al. 1995)
-  EMAP reached same conclusion with only 344 lakes

- 40%

- 20%

- Clear Lakes

- EMAP estimates (95% CI)

- Rohm et al.

- State Capacity Building

**States adopting EMAP designs**

**States evaluating EMAP design **

**States considering EMAP design **

## Environmental Decisions Using EMAP Science

- Region 3 - Mountain-top removal mining impacts
- Maryland - State of the Streams Report
- Oregon - Revised coho salmon assessment program
- Maine - Fish consumption advisory for Mercury

## EMAP Research

- EMAP

- Indicators

- Geographic
- Surveys

- Remote
- Sensing

- Index Sites

- - Biocriteria
- - STAR

- - MRLC
- - Landscape
-    Atlas
- - STAR

- - REMAP
- - MAIA
- - Western Pilot
- - Coastal Initiative

- - Acid Rain Effects
-    (TIME/LTM)
- - STAR

## EMAP Research

- EMAP

- Indicators

- Geographic
- Surveys

- Remote
- Sensing

- Index Sites

- - Biocriteria
- - STAR

- - MRLC
- - Landscape
-    Atlas
- - STAR

- - REMAP
- - MAIA
- - Western Pilot
- - Coastal Initiative

- - Acid Rain Effects
-    (TIME/LTM)
- - STAR

## EMAP Index Sites

- STAR
- CISNet
- EaGL Programs
- Reference sites
- Biocriteria
- R-EMAP
- Western Pilot

## EMAP Research

- EMAP

- Indicators

- Geographic
- Surveys

- Remote
- Sensing

- Index Sites

- - Biocriteria
- - STAR

- - MRLC
- - Landscape
-    Atlas
- - STAR

- - REMAP
- - MAIA
- - Western Pilot
- - Coastal Initiative

- - Acid Rain Effects
-    (TIME/LTM)
- - STAR

## Indicator Research in EMAP

- Indicator Development - finding characteristics of the environment that can be measured and related to the biological condition of a resource
- Streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, estuaries, coral reefs
- Classification - meaningful groupings within resource types and/or ecosystem types to allow better statistical design and analysis
- Multi-Tier Monitoring Designs** **- scale defined statistical design that allows aggregation and interpretation of monitoring data

## Stream Conditions in MAHA

- Percent of Stream Miles

- 55%

- 17%

- 28%

**Watershed Disturbance**

- High

- Moderate

- Low

**Ranking of Stressors**

## Resource Classification

- Stressor(s)

- Indicator(s)

- small

- medium

- large

- Lake
- size

- ALL

## Ecosystem Classification

- Stressor(s)

- Lake Indicator(s)

- mountain

- highlands

- Ecosystem
- type

- Coastal

## EMAP Research

- EMAP

- Indicators

- Geographic
- Surveys

- Remote
- Sensing

- Index Sites

- - Biocriteria
- - STAR

- - MRLC
- - Landscape
-    Atlas
- - STAR

- - REMAP
- - MAIA
- - Western Pilot
- - Coastal Initiative

- - Acid Rain Effects
-    (TIME/LTM)
- - STAR

## Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics

**Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics**

## Agriculture on Slopes >3% in MAIA

## Dam Sites - Western Pilot

## Mining Sites - Western Pilot

## EMAP Research

- EMAP

- Indicators

- Geographic
- Surveys

- Remote
- Sensing

- Index Sites

- - Biocriteria
- - STAR

- - MRLC
- - Landscape
-    Atlas
- - STAR

- - REMAP
- - MAIA
- - Western Pilot
- - Coastal Initiative

- - Acid Rain Effects
-    (TIME/LTM)
- - STAR

## Slide 28

## A statistically significant improvement in turbidity from the 1994-95 to 1997-98 sampling for the Big Blue, Republican, Loup, Niabrara and White river basins.

## MAIA - Integrated Assessment

## EMAP’s New Geographic Research 

- Western Pilot - ecosystems with greatest uncertainties
- Develop baselines for environmental resources in western states (like MAIA)
- Products:  Landscape atlas, condition of western streams and estuaries, biological reference conditions (stream invertebrates, fishes, etc.)
- Coastal 2000 Initiative - national estuarine health
- First attempt to assess health of a single aquatic resource nationwide
- Demonstrate and transfer technology to improve states’ coastal monitoring

- Western Pilot

- Coastal 2000

- MAIA

## Slide 32

## Components for Western Pilot

- Core activities for the West
- Information Management
- Design/analysis
- Landscape
- Major field components
- Westwide streams study
- Critical assessment areas in each Region
- Western Estuaries

## EMAP Information Management

- Support environmental assessments for Western Pilot and Coastal Initiative at the local, state, regional and national levels
- Establish long-term archival of EMAP data in STORET
-  Make data publicly available and useable to others
- Help develop data systems that will be sustainable by groups in the region

## EMAP Design - Western Pilot

- Sites selected for Western Pilot

## Western Pilot Landscape Indicators

- Watershed scale indicators
**Human use index (U)**
**Agriculture on steep slopes**
**Natural cover type index**
** ****Population density**
** ****Roads crossing streams**
- Riparian indicators
-  **% of stream miles w/ different types of land cover**
- Biophysical indicators
-  **Average slope of watershed**
** ****Palmer Drought Severity Index**

## Western Pilot Streams

- Statistically-based sampling of Western streams and rivers
- Unbiased and representative sampling
- Uses aquatic biological systems as integrators of stresses
- Data can be aggregated from local to state and national levels
- Cost-effective and better information

**Notes:**
In 1999, we established design for WP:
Major obstacle is the large error rates in our “frame” - EPA’s River Reach File, RF3. Many “perennial” streams are actually intermittent.  Many “non-perennial” streams are either non-existent or dry.
Major field effort in 1999 is site evaluation:  we’ve taken a very dense sample of sites and are comparing how RF3 classifies them vs. what’s really on the ground. Two objectives of this effort:
1. Determine a sample of streams to be visited by field crews in 2000;
2. More precise estimates of stream “resource” (number of stream miles in perennial and non-perennial classes in each states).

## Surface Water Indicators

- Fish assemblage
- Fish tissue contamination
- Periphyton
- Macroinvertebrate assemblage
- Physical habitat (e.g. riparian characteristics, woody debris, canopy cover, gradient)
- Water physio-chemical (e.g. nutrients, temperature, alkalinity dissolved oxygen, heavy metals)

## Westwide Stream Sampling 

- Western states’ stream samples
-  900 total locations plus 15% revisits
- 12 states
- 18 ecologically-distinct western regions (ecoregions)
- Major western river systems
- 150 locations plus 15% revisits
- Integrated with USGS chemistry network
- Develop criteria for ecological reference sites to allow ecosystem health comparisons
- 20 sites sampled per ecoregion
- Improve Unified Watershed Assessments

## EMAP Biocriteria Goals

- Work with OW to standardize “process” for developing biological reference conditions
- Demonstrate “process” in the west

## Western Pilot Estuaries

- Statistically-based sampling of Western Estuaries
- Unbiased and representative sampling (>700 sites)

## Western Estuaries

-  Intensive sampling in focus areas

## Estuarine Indicators

- Fish assemblage
- Fish pathologies
- Fish tissue contamination
- Submerged vegetation
- Benthic invertebrate assemblage
- Sediments (e.g. grain size, TOC, chemistry, toxicity)
- Water column (e.g. nutrients, temperature, salinity, depth, dissolved oxygen, pH, chlorophyll)

## Western Estuaries

- Use aquatic biological systems as integrators of stresses
- Aggregate data from local to state and regional levels
- Cost-effective and better information

**Notes:**
In 1999, we established design for WP:
Major obstacle is the large error rates in our “frame” - EPA’s River Reach File, RF3. Many “perennial” streams are actually intermittent.  Many “non-perennial” streams are either non-existent or dry.
Major field effort in 1999 is site evaluation:  we’ve taken a very dense sample of sites and are comparing how RF3 classifies them vs. what’s really on the ground. Two objectives of this effort:
1. Determine a sample of streams to be visited by field crews in 2000;
2. More precise estimates of stream “resource” (number of stream miles in perennial and non-perennial classes in each states).

## Products from Western Pilot

- Landscape Database for Western US
- Baseline Condition of Streams
- 12 State Stream Reports
- 3 EPA Regional State of Streams Reports
- Western US State of Streams Report
- Baseline Condition of Estuaries
- 3 State Estuaries Reports
- 2 EPA Regional State of Estuaries
-     Reports
- State of Pacific Estuaries Report

## EMAP Western Pilot Partnerships

- Implemented through existing agencies and resource management groups
- States:  California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota
- Tribes:  TBD
- Federal Agencies:  NOAA, USGS

## Coastal Initiative

- National demonstration of a comprehensive, integrated estuarine monitoring program
- Approach similar to Western Pilot
- Statistical sampling of coastal estuaries
- Focus on biological indicators for baseline condition assessment
- Data aggregated from local levels to state and national levels (>1750 samples across US)
- 24 states and Puerto Rico
- 13 ecological coastal provinces sampled

## Coastal Provinces in Initiative

- Columbian

- Californian

- Louisianian

- West Indian

- Carolinian

- Virginian

- Acadian

- Insular Province

- West Indian Province

## Condition of Estuarine Resources

**Both**

**Degraded Biology**

**Degraded Use**

**Undegraded**

## Stressors Associated with Degraded Biological Condition

- Louisianian Province

- Virginian Province

- Contaminants 28%

## Products from Coastal Initiative

- Condition of Estuaries Reports for 24 states and Puerto Rico
- 7 EPA Regional State of Estuaries Reports
- Baseline Condition of all US Estuaries
- Change in Condition of Estuaries Report
- Comparison of current data and historic EMAP estuarine data to demonstrate ability to detect subtle trends

## EMAP Coastal 2000 Partnerships

- Implemented through existing monitoring programs of coastal agencies and resource management groups
- States:  California, Oregon, Washington, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
- Tribes:  Seminole, Miccosukee, others
- Federal Agencies:  NOAA, USGS

## <footer>

- <date/time>

- Aquatic Ecosystem Monitoring

- Landscape

- STAR

- Estuaries

- Near-Shore
- Coastal

- Streams

- Reservoirs

- Large Rivers

- Lakes

- Wetlands

- R-EMAP

- Landcover

- YEAR

- National Monitoring
- Framework for
- Streams and Estuaries

- Streams

- Surface Waters for Western U.S.

- National

**MRLC ‘00**

**MRLC ‘92**

**WP**

**WP**

**National**

- National

- WP

- ‘00

- ‘01

- ‘05

- ‘04

- ‘03

- ‘02

- ‘07

- ‘06

- Coastal

**WP**

**WP**

- Analysis

**WP**

**WP**

-               Timeline for major EMAP research components, including field work and analysis.
-               By 2007 we intend to have a national monitoring framework for streams and estuaries.

**WP**

**MRLC**

- - field sampling ends

- - Western Pilot

- - National remotely sensed land cover

- National

- - Nationwide Assessment

## EMAP Contribution

- Developing scientific basis and infrastructure for states and tribes to monitor the condition of their aquatic ecosystems
- Cost effective monitoring designs for states, that can be summed nationally
- Scientifically-defensible and representative
- Trends in ecosystem condition quantified
- Supports GPRA performance-based management
- Basis for better public decisions at all levels

## Next Steps

- Complete Western Pilot and Coastal Initiative in partnership with States and Regions
- Develop statistical monitoring designs for Great Lakes and Great Rivers
- Move design to watershed framework
- Improve designs and analyses (STAR)
- Develop new and better indicators (STAR)
- productivity
- wetlands
- coral reefs