Publication Summary

This technical appendix presents details about the assessment methods and sampling locations used to develop the report, Conditions of Fresh Waters in Washington State for the Year 2003 (see "Related Publications" below).

This technical appendix presents details about the assessment methods and sampling locations used to develop the report, Condition of Fresh Waters in Washington State for the Year 2003.

Seven analyses are presented:

1. The Stream Water Quality Index, derived from eight variables collected from the long-term river and stream monitoring stations measured in water year 2003.

2. Trends in the Stream Water Quality Index, derived from data collected from the long-term river and stream monitoring stations over the last 10 years.

3. Assessments of the support of aquatic life uses, based on water quality data collected at basin monitoring stations in water year 2003.

4. Assessments of compliance with water quality standards for temperature, based on continuous measurements collected at basin monitoring stations during the summer of 2003.

5. Reductions in fecal coliform bacteria levels needed to meet sanitary standards established to protect swimmers, estimated for the basin and long-term river and stream monitoring stations measured in water year 2003.

6. An Index of Biological Integrity derived from stream macroinvertebrate data collected in 2003 was applied to assess the biological health of streams, and it was compared to measured water quality conditions.

7. A listing of all the specific locations where invasive exotic aquatic weeds have been identified by Ecology since 1994.