35th Street Corvallis, Oregon 97333 Bryce, Sandra A., David P. Larsen, Robert M. Hughes, and Philip R. Kaufmann.
Aquatic monitoring aims to assess the condition of aquatic habitats and biota.
To make statements about condition, the range of human activities and the risks they pose to aquatic ecosystems must be identified. Assessing relative risk and placing sample sites on a human disturbance gradient is necessary for interpreting biological response and distinguishing human disturbance from natural controls in aquatic systems. We describe a process that used readily available sources, such as topographic maps, aerial photographs, and field information, to identify and prioritize stream reach and watershed stressors for 102 streams in the mid-Appalachian region of the United States. The resulting risk index scores were consistent with measures of stream condition based on water chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrates.