Washington State Department of Ecology

Publication Summary

Title

Biological Assessment of Small Streams in the Coast Range Ecoregion & the Yakima River Basin

Month-Year Published

January 1999

Online Availability

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Short Description

The Washington State Department of Ecology examined 78 first-order through third-order streams in the Yakima River Basin and the Coast Range Ecoregion, using methods developed for the national Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP).

(Also see abstract below)

Publication Number

99-302

Author(s)

Merritt, G.

Print Availability

Request from the program.

Number of pages

59 + app (132 total)

Keywords

assessment, basin, biological, Coast Range, environmental, fish, monitoring, pH, river, stream, stream bioassessment, water

Subject Waterbodies

Skokomish River, S.F., Big River, Crooked Creek, N.F., Unnamed Creek, Twin Creek, west, Cook Creek, Porter Creek, N.F., Satsop River, M.F., Cloquallum Creek, Fall River, Canon River, Mill Creek, Salmon Creek, upper, Pine Creek, Dunn Creek, Palix River, Salmon River, N.F., Delezene Creek, Herman Creek, east branch, Elochoman River, Grays River, E.F., Kitma Creek, Three Prune Creek, Salmon River, Ziegler Creek, Rock Creek, Williams Creek, Camp Creek, Hoquiam River, Little North River, Naselle River, Deadfall Creek, Duckabush River, Pysht River, S.F., Pysht River, Bone River, Jungle Creek, Teanaway River, W.F., Little Naches River, M.F., County Creek, Swauk Creek, Cedar Creek, Jack Creek, Cle Elum River, Box Canyon Creek, Teanaway River, M.F., Naneum Creek, Fish Creek, Yesmowit Creek, Woodcamp Canyon Creek, Toppenish Creek, N.F., Walter Creek, Manastash Creek, S.F., Soda Springs Creek, Bethel Creek, Clear Creek, Panther Creek, Green Canyon Creek, Cooke Creek, Dry Creek, Kusshi Creek, Days Creek, Toppenish Creek

Related Publications

Title

Relationship

Instream Biological Assessment Monitoring Protocols: Benthic Macroinvertebrates

similar topic

Abstract

Long Description

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) examined 78 first-order through third-order streams in the Yakima River Basin and the Coast Range Ecoregion, using methods developed for the national Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP).

To help develop water quality biological criteria Ecology examined a modified benthic index of biological integrity (B-IBI) and four fish assemblage metrics. We grouped sites into 15 classes based on ecoregion, wetted width, and geomorphology and estimated site quality using physical habitat data. We then compared the B-IBI against habitat quality and concluded that the B-IBI could provide useful descriptions of biological integrity, but that the EMAP-derived invertebrate sampling methods would need to be modified. Target streams yielded too few fish species for practical use of the fish metrics.

To assess the ecological condition of streams in each region, Ecology sampled 74 "probability" sites to measure chemical, physical, and biological status. Streams in each region were apparently unaffected by chemical pollution, and had low levels of nutrients, alkalinity, and conductivity.

Poor physical habitat conditions and impaired biological integrity were evident in both regions. Ecology ascribed regional stream conditions to forest land uses, because land use/land cover above streams in both regions was almost entirely forest. We concluded that the EMAP techniques were well adapted to fulfilling portions of Washington' State duties under the Clean Water Act, especially reporting regional status under Section 305(b).

Link to EIM data for User Study ID GMER0001

This page last updated March 10, 2008