Alkalinity is a measure of the proton-accepting capacity of a solution.
Total alkalinity is operationally defined as the alkalinity neutralized by titration with a strong acid to the carbonic acid equivalence point. Reach assessments of ecological conditions and bed-sediment and tissue sampling also are conducted at these sites. Bed-sediment study is the assessment of concentrations and distributions of trace elements and hydrophobic organic contaminants in streambed sediment to assess spatial distribution. Benthic Invertebrates are animals without backbones that live in association with streams and lake bottom habitats. Examples are larval insects such as caddisflies and mayflies, and crustaceans such as crayfish.