What is the Biomonitoring Program?

The Department of Environmental Services' Biomonitoring Program assesses the biological health and integrity of aquatic ecosystems throughout the state, focusing on wadeable streams. The results of these assessments are used to establish reference locations for "least disturbed" conditions in the state, and to identify areas that are biologically impaired. Such information will aid DES's Watershed Management Bureau in prioritizing those areas needing management, restoration, or preservation.

Why Use Biological Measurements?

Stream ecosystems can be divided into three aspects: the chemical, the physical and the biological. Historically, the incorporation of biological measurements in water resources management has lagged behind the others. In 1987, the US Environmental Protection Agency issued guidance and monitoring strategies to encourage states to develop biomonitoring programs as part of their assessments of surface waters. Biological sampling is an important supplement to chemical data and can best indicate cumulative impacts or the effects of successive disturbances on a living community.

Goals of the Program

The Federal Clean Water Act encourages states to implement a plan to develop numeric biological standards. The Biomonitoring Program is working towards calibrated metrics that will eventually be incorporated into the State of New Hampshire Surface Water Quality Regulations. Currently, there is a narrative biological standard, which reads as follows:

Env-Ws 1703.19 Biological and Aquatic Community Integrity.

(a) The surface waters shall support and maintain a balanced, integrated, and adaptive community of organisms having species composition, diversity, and functional organization comparable to that of similar natural habitats of a region.

(b) Differences from naturally occurring conditions shall be limited to non-detrimental differences in community structure and function.

Biological Assessments

Monitoring activities taking place at most sites include:

• Collection and identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates
• Collection and identification of the resident fish community
• Assessment of riparian and in-stream habitats
• Physical and chemical measurements for assessing water quality

Since its beginnings in 1995, the program has continually expanded its assessment capabilities. The primary focus has been and remains on wadeable streams. Consistency in data collection is vital when analyzing and comparing community health. Therefore, even though the program continues to incorporate new methodologies, a single established method is used when generating data for the purposes of biocriteria development. For macroinvertebrates, the established method is rock baskets, placed in the stream for 8 weeks. Kick-net sampling is done on specific projects where rapid turnaround is warranted. Fish are collected by single-pass backpack electroshocking for 150 meters.

The Biomonitoring Program aims to gain knowledge of and expertise in sampling other types of habitats, such as deep-water rivers, wetlands, and impounded areas. That is why DES has developed and tested the D-net sweep protocol, primarily for slower backwaters and wetlands, and the Hester-Dendy multi-plate sampling device for deep-water benthic assessments. A Biomonitoring Program Protocols document is available at DES's website at http://www.des.state.nh.us/wmb/biomonitoring/.

Which Streams and Rivers are Surveyed?

Since the program's beginnings in 1995, over 200 sites have been assessed. The selection of these sites is driven by several subjective factors. The program seeks streams and rivers of 3rd order or higher (most-likely assuring adequate flow during dry spells) that are also safely wadeable. Locations with obvious unrepresentative features, such as dams or spillways, are avoided. One primary consideration is accessibility. Many stations are located upstream of bridge crossings.

What Happens to the Data?

Data is entered into an ecological database designed as a repository for all the program data, but more importantly, allows for the calculation of metrics. Valid numeric criteria must be based on large amounts of data, and collection of information will be on-going for several years. In the meantime, the program is beginning the process of metric evaluation to find the most meaningful expressions of stream health. If you are interested in specific site information, please contact the DES Biomonitoring Program at (603) 271-8800. For further discussion of biological monitoring, please visit DES's website, http://www.des.state.nh.us/wmb/biomonitoring/.