report on biological & water quality monitoring in the east branch dupage watershed: 2011
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Report on Biological & Water Quality Monitoring in the East Branch DuPage Watershed: 2011 . DuPage River-Salt Creek Work Group August 28, 2013. Chris O. Yoder Center for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria Midwest Biodiversity Institute Columbus, OH. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Report on Biological & Water Quality Monitoring in the East Branch DuPage
Watershed: 2011
DuPage River-Salt Creek Work GroupAugust 28, 2013
Chris O. YoderCenter for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria
Midwest Biodiversity InstituteColumbus, OH
DuPage-Salt Creek Work Group Goals Verify low D.O. segments & determine effectiveness
of abatement and mitigation efforts
Comprehensive assessment of biological assemblages – establish baseline for comparison to future conditions in response to management
Determine extent of nutrient enrichment
Identify and prioritize stream segments where restoration will have greatest benefits
Support TMDL development and nutrient criteria
Determine roll of potential stressors at the local reach scale
The Development of a Biological Assessment Plan for the DuPage and
Salt Creek Watersheds
DuPage-Salt Creek Work GroupMarch 7, 2006
Chris O. YoderCenter for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria
Midwest Biodiversity InstituteColumbus, OH
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EB 05
EB 01
EB 10EB 08
EB 07
EB 04EB 03
EB 29EB 25
EB 23
EB 26
EB 44
EB 19
EB 30
EB 12
EB 31
EB 32
EB 40
EB 43
EB 06
EB 17
EB 11 EB 14EB 13
EB 22
EB 24
EB 42 Alt.EB 21
EB 36
EB 37
EB 33
EB 35
EB 34EB 39
EB 38
EB 41
EB 15
Bloomingdale-Reeves
Glendale Heights
Glenbard - Lombard
Glenbard WWTP
Downers-Grove
Woodridge
Bolingbrook #2Bolingbrook #1
Spatial sampling design is critical for accurately detecting impairments and providing data at the same scale at which restoration is applied.
• Fish Assemblage • Macroinvertebrates • Periphyton(Use Community Level Data From At Least Two)
Physical Habitat Indicators• Channel morphology • Flow• Substrate Quality • Riparian
Chemical Quality Indicators• pH • Temperature• Conductivity • Dissolved O2
For Specific Designated Uses Add the Following:
HUMAN/WILDLIFE CONSUMPTIONBase List:• Metals (in tissues)• Organics (in tissues)
CORE INDICATORS
AQUATIC LIFEBase List:• Ionic strength• Nutrients, sedimentSupplemental List:• Metals (water/sediment)• Organics (water/sediment)• Chlorophyll a
RECREATIONALBase List:• Fecal bacteria• Ionic strengthSupplemental List:• Other pathogens• Organics (water/sed.)• Chlorophyll a
WATER SUPPLYBase List:• Fecal bacteria• Ionic strength• Nutrients, sedimentSupplemental List:• Metals (water/sediment)• Organics (water/sed.)• Other pathogens• Chlorophyll a
Core indicators are measured routinely – independent of
assessment & management questions
Supplemental indicators are added depending on
designated uses, study area setting, and monitoring objectives and questions
E. Branch DuPage Bioassessment: 2011 Survey
21 mainstem & 15 tributary sites sampled for fish, macroinvertebrates, and QHEI in 2011.
7 mainstem sites sampled for fish and QHEI in 2012 to follow-up Churchill Woods dam removal.
Fish sampled with MBI methods – pulsed D.C. methods; 3 person crew.
Macroinvertebrates sampled with IEPA methods. Water chemistry at all sites (37); sediment chemistry
at 23 sites; continuous monitoring at 5 sites. Data analyzed using IEPA indices and either Illinois
WQS or IPS thresholds. Stressor analysis accomplished to determine
principal causes & sources of biological impairments.
What is a Bioassessment?
Bioassessment – a systematic assessment of the aquatic resource using biological indicators AND chemical/physical indicators in a supporting role.
Reasonably available tools and criteria exist to assess and evaluate this for all waterbody types.
Biocriteria – numerical benchmarks for determining attainment of a goal expressed in the definition of an aquatic life designated use in the state WQS.
Bioassessment is the essential
implementation tool for a TALU based approach
Invertebrate organisms contribute vital functions in an aquatic ecosystem including energy flow, conversion, and production.
This assemblage is the longest used indicator group. Numerous techniques and approaches have been developed.
Benthic Macroinvertebrates Active Sampling Methods Examples
Net-based methods (including kicks, dips, jabs, sweeps, & picks)
Picking
Grab samplers
Scrubbing substrates Dome
Sampler
We followed IEPA methods for field collections & lab
processing
Fish are a widely identifiable component of aquatic systems and are valued for their recreational uses. Most species, however, are more obscure, and comprise the second most endangered group.
Illinois DNR “electric seine”
MBI pulsed D.C. electrofishing
methods
The Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI)
Substrate - types, origin, quality, embeddedness
QHEI Includes Six Major Categories of Macrohabitat
Source: The Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (Rankin 1989)
Instream Cover – types and quantity Channel Quality – sinuosity, development, stability Riparian – width, quality, bank stability & quality Pool/Run/Riffle – depth, current types, embedded-
ness, morphology Gradient – local gradient (fall per unit distance)
Table 3. Ten metrics selected for inclusion in revised Illinois IBIs. Metrics in bold type are new to
Illinois IBIs; four others are slight variants of previous metrics.
Metric Name Description Species-richness metrics NFSH Number of native fish species NSUC Number of native sucker species (i.e., in family Catostomidae) NSUN Number of native sunfish species (i.e., in family Centrarchidae) INTOL Number of native intolerant species NMIN Number of native minnow species (i.e., in family Cyprinidae) NBINV Number of native benthic invertivore species Trophic- or reproductive-structure metrics SBI Proportion of individuals of species that are specialist benthic invertivores GEN Proportion of individuals of species that are generalist feeders LIT0T Proportion of individuals of species that are obligate coarse-mineral-substrate
spawners and not "tolerant" (i.e., excludes creek chub and white sucker) Tolerance metric PRTOL Proportion of tolerant species
Illinois EPA Fish Index of Biotic Integrity
Prior IBI-score Range
Class
Description
51 - 60
A
Unique Aquatic Resource (Exceptional)
41 - 50
B
Highly Valued Aquatic Resource (Good)
31 - 40
C
Moderate Aquatic Resource (Fair)
21 - 30
D
Limited Aquatic Resource (Poor)
< 21
E
Restricted Aquatic Resource (Very Poor)
Illinois EPA IBI Narrative Evaluations
General Use Attainment Threshold
Metric Response to Stress Best Value Coleoptera taxa Decrease 5
Ephemeroptera taxa Decrease 10.2 Total Taxa Decrease 46
Intolerant taxa Decrease 9 MBI Increase 4.9
Percent Scraper Decrease 29.6 Percent EPT Decrease 74
Illinois EPA Macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity
Index Score
Lower Upper Boundary Boundary Comparison to Reference Narrative
73 100 >75th percentile Exceptional 52.7 72.9 >25th percentile Good 26.4 52.6 bisect 25th percentile (upper) Fair
0 26.3 bisect 25th percentile (lower) Poor
Illinois EPA Macroinvertebrate IBI Narrative Ranges
General Use Attainment Threshold
Chemical/Physical Field ProceduresChemical/Physical Field Procedures
Water column grab samplingWater column grab sampling Depth integrated samplerDepth integrated sampler
Automatic composite samplersAutomatic composite samplers Time-of-travel dye injectionTime-of-travel dye injection
Ohio EPA Chemical Effluent & Exposure Sampling Ohio EPA Chemical Effluent & Exposure Sampling ProceduresProcedures
Permitted Discharges are Sampled for Permitted Discharges are Sampled for a Variety of Chemicals - This Provides a Variety of Chemicals - This Provides Data to Determine Pollutant LoadsData to Determine Pollutant Loads
Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing is Performed Primarily on Effluentsis Performed Primarily on Effluents
Biochemical Markers (Biomarkers) are Biochemical Markers (Biomarkers) are Useful for Discerning Problem Useful for Discerning Problem PollutantsPollutants
Fish Tissue Analysis Reveals Fish Tissue Analysis Reveals Bioaccumulative Pollutants and Risks Bioaccumulative Pollutants and Risks to Human and Wildlife Healthto Human and Wildlife Health
Environmental Indicator
". . a measurable feature whichsingly or in combination provides managerially and scientifically useful evidence of ecosystem quality, or reliable evidence of trends in quality."
ITFM (1995)
Types of Environmental Indicators: How Each is Used Makes a Difference
1. Stressor Indicators (pollutant loadings, land use, habitat) – best used to indicate impacts
2. Exposure Indicators (e.g., chemical-specific, biomarkers, toxicity tests) – best used to indicate risk of harm or undesirable changes
3. Response Indicators (e.g., biological community condition) – best used to indicate whole effects and as a performance end-point
Problems occur when indicators are used as surrogates outside their most appropriate role
10
100
1000200720112007 sample2011 sample
Flow
(cfs
)
Date
May June July August September
USGS Gage @Downers Grove
Mean September Flow (MGD)
Glendale Heights STP
Glenbard STP
Bloomingdale-Reeves WRF
Bolingbrook STP#1
Downers Grove SD WTC
Woodridge STP
8%
27.7%
8.02%
5.78%
25.8%
24.8%
Effluent Data from WWTPs
Bollingbrook WWTP 3rd Quarter Effluent
0
2
4
6
8
10
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Bolingbrook STP - 3Q
FLO
W (M
GD)
0.01
0.1
1
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Bolingbrook STP - 3Q
NH 3-N
(mg/
l)
0
2
4
6
8
10
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Bolingbrook STP - 3Q
CBO
D 5 (mg/
l)
0
5
10
15
20
25
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Bolingbrook STP - 3Q
TSS
(mg/
l)
0
2
4
6
8
10
May
/22
Jun/
28
Aug/
3
Sep/
9
Oct
/16
Army Trail Road - EBAT - 2009
Diss
olve
d O
xyge
n (m
g/l)
Daily
Min
imum
Date
3.5 mg/l Never-to-be-Exceeded Criteria (Aug-Feb)5.0 mg/l Never-to-be-Exceeded
Criteria (Mar-Jul)
0.1
1
10
100
0510152025
20112007N
itrat
e +
Nitr
ite N
itrog
en (m
g/l)
River Mile
Bloomingdale-ReevesGlendale Glenbard
DownersGrove Woodbridge
Bollingbrook
Churchill Woods Dam(removed Feb. 2011)
Former impoundment
E. Branch Nitrate-N 2011 vs. 2007
0.01
0.1
1
10
0510152025
20112007
Tota
l Pho
spho
rus (
mg/
l)
River Mile
Bloomingdale-ReevesGlendale Glenbard
DownersGrove Woodbridge
Bollingbrook
Churchill Woods Dam(removed Feb. 2011)
Former impoundment
E. Branch Total Phosphorus 2011 vs. 2007
E. Branch Daytime D.O. 2007 vs. 2011
0
5
10
15
20
0510152025
year2007year2011M
ean
(Max
) Diss
olve
d O
xyge
n (m
g/l)
River Mile
Bloomingdale-Reeves
Glendale Glenbard
DownersGrove Woodbridge
Bollingbrook
Churchill Woods Dam(removed Feb. 2011)
Former impoundment
The consequences of nutrient enrichment are frequently indirect affecting instream processes such as photosynthesis and respiration.
0.1
1
10
Tribs - 2011Mainstem - 2011Tribs - 2007Mainstem - 2007
2011
Tota
l Nitr
ate-
N (m
g/l)
2007
E. Branch Total Nitrate-N Mainstem vs. Tribs.
0.01
0.1
1
10
Tribs - 2011Mainstem - 2011Tribs - 2007Mainstem - 2007
2011
Tota
l Pho
spho
rus (
mg/
l)
2007
E. Branch Total Phosphorus Mainstem vs. Tribs.
E. Branch Mainstem Chlorides
0
50
100
150
200
250
0510152025
year2007
year2011
Tota
l Chl
orid
e (m
g/l)
RIVER MILE
Bloomingdale-ReevesGlendale Glenbard
DownersGrove Woodbridge
Bollingbrook
Churchill Woods Dam (removed)
Fish
Macros
IPS derived thresholds were used in lieu of current IEPA WQS to judge effects to aquatic life. Chloride is an example of a parameter with an outdated criterion.
100
1000
Tribs - 2011Mainstem - 2011Tribs 2007Mainstem - 2007
2011To
tal C
hlor
ide
(mg/
l)
2007
E. Branch Chlorides Mainstem vs. Tribs.
0
20
40
60
80
100
0510152025
year2007year2011year2012
QH
EI
RIVER MILE
Churchill Woods Dam(removed Feb. 2011)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Very PoorFormer impoundment
Bloomingdale-ReevesGlendale Glenbard
DownersGrove
Woodbridge
Bollingbrook# 1 & #2
Glenbard(Lombard)
E. Branch Habitat 2007, 2011, & 2012
0
20
40
60
80
100
0510152025
year2007
year2011
Mac
roin
vert
ebra
te IB
I
RIVER MILE
Fair
Good
PoorChurchill Woods Dam (removed Feb. 2011)Former impoundment
*
Bloomingdale-ReevesGlendale Glenbard
DownersGrove
Woodbridge
Bollingbrook# 1 & #2
Glenbard(Lombard)
E. Branch Macroinvertebrates 2007 vs. 2011
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0510152025
year 2007year 2011year 2012
Fish
IBI
RIVER MILE
Fair
Good
Poor
Churchill Woods Dam(removed Feb. 2011)
Former impoundment
Bloomingdale-ReevesGlendale Glenbard
DownersGrove
Woodbridge
Bollingbrook# 1 & #2
Glenbard(Lombard)
E. Branch Fish 2007, 2011, & 2012
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2007 fIBI 2011 fIBI 2012 fIBI
Fish
IBI
Fair
Good
Poor
East Branch Dupage River Upper Mainstem RM 23.5-19.0
FIBI Trend
Year
Incremental improvement in fish IBI due to improved habitat resulting from Churchill Woods dam removal.
E. Branch DuPage Watershed: Major Observations
• Incremental improvement in QHEI and fIBI following Churchill Woods dam removal.
• D.O. regime exhibited wider nutrient related diel swings in 2011 vs. 2007.
• Nitrate-N highly elevated in 2011 vs. 2007.• Elevated nutrients primarily in mainstem.• Elevated chlorides in 2011 vs. 2007
watershed wide.• Biological assemblages mostly fair-poor
throughout watershed – multiple causes.