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Spokesperson: Larry Shepard, EPA Region 7, Big Rivers Coordinator, 913-551-7441
WATER, WETLANDS & PESTICIDES DIVISION
REGION VII
726 MINNESOTA AVENUE
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS 66101
o Development of descriptors of biological and habitat integrity for aquatic life use categories adopted by basin states into their water quality standards. Aquatic life use categories with measurable descriptions of expected or Appropriate aquatic communities and their habitat requirements will allow for more defensible determinations of aquatic life use impairment and, similarly, degree of restoration of uses.
o Development of assessment and monitoring methods for large rivers which provide for a more scientifically defensible determination of use impairment/health. These methods would include measures of chemical, physical and biological integrity.
o Assessment of the current state of knowledge regarding the interactions of river hydrology, habitat and biological integrity and the identification of information gaps.
o Comparative assessment of the importance of the restoration of large river system micro-habitat (types and locations) and macro-habitat (i.e., do we maximize the amount of habitat restored or the types of habitat restored?). Also, assessment of the importance of localized impacts versus broad impacts to over-all river health (e.g., mixing zones, thermal discharges, wastewater bypasses/CSOs/SSOs). Threatened and endangered species issues.
o Nutrient dynamics in large rivers (e.g., impacts and transport).
o More information on how the river responds to changes in hydrology and habitat - i.e., adaptive management.
o Measurement of impacts to aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial life from exposure to bioaccumulating pollutants in large river systems.
Primarily tied to river segments as identified in state water quality standards.
o Funding for National Academy of Sciences study.
o Collaboration with EPA's Office of Research and Development on potential study of large rivers in Mississippi River basin.
o EPA Office of Science and Technology development of technical guidance to support biological criteria for large rivers.
o Development of nutrient criteria for streams and rivers in collaboration with the states.
