Algae, macroinvertebrates, and fish have been collected from more than 60 sites since the inception of the Kentucky RBP program. Algae samples were collected from each station using both artificial substrates and natural substrates to obtain biomass and relative abundance information, respectively. DEP collects macroinvertebrates from artificial substrates and all available natural substrate habitats at each monitoring location. Macroinvertebrate data analysis for wadable streams is accomplished by using a multi-metric approach. A base core of four metrics are always used.
Additional metrics vary, depending on type of impact or ecoregion.
A minimum of six metrics are used for each analysis. Warm water aquatic habitat use support is reflected if there are no alternatives in community structure or function, and if habitat conditions are relatively undisturbed. Locations are considered partially supporting uses when survey information indicates that community structure is slightly altered, that functional feeding components are noticeably influenced, and available habitats reflect alterations or reductions. Survey reaches are considered not supporting if survey information reflects sustained alterations in community structure, taxa richness and functional feeding groups, or if available habitats are severely reduced. Twelve community attributes are used to categorize fish communities as excellent, good, fair, poor, very poor, or no fish present.