Tiered Aquatic Life Uses (TALU): A Conceptual and Practical Basis for

Determining Water Quality Management Goals and Outcomes

Chris O. YoderCenter for Applied Bioassessment & Biocriteria

Midwest Biodiversity InstituteP.O. Box 21561

Columbus, OH 43221-0561cyoder@mwbinst.com

Adoption of Biologically Based Standards and Tiered Aquatic Life Uses (TALU) in Minnesota

June 13, 2012

wq-ppt3-03

Do We Need TALU?

Are the highest quality streams adequately protected?How do we reconcile historical impacts and the need to meet minimum CWA restoration goals?Can we refine our assessment tools to detect small changes in biological health?Do changes in biological health trigger appropriate management responses?Can we move away from a “one-size-fits-all” framework for protecting aquatic life?

The quality and make-up of biological assemblages directly reflects the integrity of the water resource.

TALU development & implementation is dependent on operating a valid

bioassessment program.

What does Biology-based decision making give us that we don’t

otherwise have?More precise picture of waterbodyhealth adds credibility to all efforts that come after.

Better target our resources – people, time, and money – toward the actions that will produce environmental results.

Outcome based = easiest for the public to understand.

Biological CriteriaNumeric and narrative rating of a biological sample collected at a single site that supports assessment at multiple scales.

Biocriteria are indexed to a reference assemblage within a geographical region and with respect to strata such as watershed size, temperature, ecotype, etc.Biocriteria represent a calibrated assessment tool that can foster an organized approach to goal setting in an effort to reconcile human impacts and guide restoration efforts.

Numeric biological criteria codified in WQS.An adequate ambient monitoring and assessment program with:

• biological, chemical, and physical measures

• a process for stressor & source identification.

Beneficial use confirmation or revision is required as a first step.

Major Parts of a TALU Based Program

We can more effectively deal with the complex mosaic of watershed level impacts when a framework is established via TALU and biocriteria

TALU Facts

A reflection of the whole ecosystem based on ecological indicators.Assigned to water bodies based on the protection and restoration of biological potential.

What TALUs Are:

A vehicle for lessening pollution controls. An “easy exit” from an impaired waters listing.

What They Are Not:

Aquatic Life Use

Definition:A designation (classification) assigned to a waterbody based on the aquatic assemblage that can realistically be sustained given the regional reference condition and the level of protection afforded by the applicable criteria.

potential

ALUs inherently “drive” the determination of status & management responses, thus they are a critical determinant of overall program effectiveness.How will (do) we assure accuracy in the process of setting and measuring attainment & attainability of ALUs?

EPA “TALU” Primer Released in 2011

•A very general guide for state programs - not a technical manual.

•Examples of varying “levels” of state program uses of bioassessment info.

•Critical technical elements are highlighted.

States Evaluated Since 2002-4:

Region I: CT,ME,RI,MA,NH,VTRegion IV: AL

Region V: IL,IN,MI,MN,WI,OHRegion VI: NM,TX,OK*

Region VII: MO,IARegion VIII: CO,MTRegion IX: AZ,CAplus selected Tribes

*- scheduled in 2012

Reviews are conducted at the request of the State and/or EPA Region

State TALU Status

CE Level TALU1 In Development None

Level 4 [2] 2 - -Level 3+ [3] 1 2 -Level 3 [5] - 3 2Level 2 [11] - - 11Level 1 [1] - - 1Totals [22] 3 5 14

1 – Biologically based TALUs only. 10/31/2010

MPCA score in 2002 = 75.8% (L2)

MPCA score in 2010 = 92.5% (L3+)

START: General consideration of factors influencing the delineation of impaired waters

Awareness of most basic factors related to aquatic impairments

Lines of evidence linking chemical/physical variables to biological response

Indicators become better developed from using them in assessments

Robust geospatial datasets are developed for improved tool and indicators development

Indicators singly plotted and displayed (gradients, quartiles/ quantiles, binary, multivariate), to develop TALU based thresholds

Indicators combined in assessments, diagnosis, & priority setting

Goal: Detailed knowledge of impaired waters and better management strategies as a resultBuilding Capacity to Assess Waters

Beyond Status: Informing WQ Programs with Bioassessment-

Based Tools

Discussion