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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Demonstration of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) techniques in Colorado montane streams

Conference ·
OSTI ID:49463
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Environmental Protection Agency, Denver, CO (United States). Region VIII
  2. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (United States). Environmental Monitoring and Systems Lab.; and others
A pilot study of EMAP techniques was conducted during September, 1993, at seventeen sites in the Arkansas and Eagle River basins with the goal of field testing EMAP methodologies in Rocky Mountain streams. Parameters evaluated included water chemistry and toxicity, metals concentration and toxicity of sediments, habitat assessment, sediment metabolism, and enumeration of fish, macroinvertebrate, and periphyton communities. These data will be used in preparing for a larger Regional EMAP study in the mineralized portion of the Southern Rockies eco-region in Colorado, scheduled for August--September of 1994 and 1995. The study design for the main project will be described, including local on of sites for the 1994 sampling period. Pilot data indicate that existing EMAP protocols can be successfully employed in a sub-set of montane streams in Colorado. Various endpoints distinguished metals-impacted sites from control sites, including water column and sediment toxicity, chemical analyses (water and sediments), and macroinvertebrate community structure. Fish results were more interpretable in one of the basins, due to the presence of a ``sentinel`` species (Paiute sculpin).
OSTI ID:
49463
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410273--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English