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Comparison of Invertebrate and Algal Community Data in Colorado Streams

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Comparison of Invertebrate and Algal Community Data in Colorado Streams using Protocols from State and Federal Programs

Study Area: Statewide
Period of Project: Inactive
Project Number: CO418
Project Chief: Cathy M. Tate
Cooperator:

BACKGROUND:

Aquatic ecological data (algal, invertebrate, and fish communities, physical habitat, and water chemistry) are being collected in streams across the State of Colorado using protocols from different State and Federal programs. Two state agencies, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) and the Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and two federal programs, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), collect aquatic ecological data. The challenge is how to make comparisons among data sets given that different agencies use different protocals to collect water-quality data and biological communities. This study will assist this effort by collection of biological data at about 50 sites not previously sampled in the state (USEPA EMAP sites) and by comparing the results of aquatic invertebrate and algal data collected at a subset (9-10) of sites using different State and Federal protocols.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To collect aquatic biological data using the USEPA EMAP protocols; and,
2. To evaluate comparability of aquatic invertebrate and algal data collected using protocols from State (CDOW and WQCD) and Federal (USGS NAWQA and USEPA EMAP) Programs to assess biological conditions of selected streams in the State.