Biological assessments are useful in evaluating the integrity of the estuarine system.
Traditional biological indicators such as algal blooms and fish kills can signify water quality problems that chemical and toxicological monitoring may have missed or underestimated. DMF would be the lead agency responsible for developing and maintaining the response network. The information collected would be used to establish a database to help develop management strategies concerning algal blooms, fish and shellfish kills, and outbreaks of fish and shellfish diseases. The response network program would incorporate relevant experts with the technical expertise necessary to collect appropriate data for studying each type of environmental stress indicator. The network would standardize the investigation and reporting of these environmental stress indicator events by preparing protocols and standardized reporting sheets so that causes and trends are reliably documented.