Environmental Monitoring and Assessment of a Great River Ecosystem: The Upper Missouri River Pilot

Most Great River ecosystems (GREs) are extensively modified and are not receiving adequate protection to prevent further habitat degradation and loss of biotic integrity. In the United States, ecological monitoring and assessment of GREs has lagged behind streams and estuaries, and the management of GREs is hampered by the lack of unbiased data at appropriate spatial scales. Properties of GREs that make them challenging to monitor and assess include difficult sample logistics and high habitat diversity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) has developed a comprehensive, regional-scale, survey-based monitoring approach to assessment of streams and estuaries, but has not yet conducted research on applying these tools to GRE monitoring. In this paper we present an overview of an EMAP research project on the Upper Missouri River (UMR). We summarize the assessment objectives for the study, the design for selecting sample locations, the indicators measured at these sites and the tools used to analyze data. We present an example of the type of statements that can be made with EMAP monitoring data. With modification, the set of methodologies developed by EMAP may be well suited for assessment of GREs in general.     

Estimating the Ecological Condition of the Estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico

Monitoring of estuaries in the Louisianian Province was performed annually from 1991–1994 to assess ecological conditions on a regional scale. We found over the four years of monitoring, 25±6% of Gulf of Mexico estuarine sediments in the Louisianian Province displayed poor biological conditions, as measured by benthic community structure, and 14±7% of the area was characterized by poor water clarity, the presence of marine debris, and elevated levels of fish tissue contaminants. Using statistical associations to discern relationships between ecological condition and exposure or stressor data has shown that much of this degraded' condition co-occurs with sediment contamination.     

Spatial Extent of Sediment Toxicity in U.S. Estuaries and Marine Bays

Acute, laboratory toxicity tests were performed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on 1543 surficial sediment samples collected during 1991 through 1997 throughout 25 estuaries and marine bays. Selected areas were sampled along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific coasts. The toxicity of each sample was determined with 10-day amphipod survival tests performed with solid-phase (bulk) sediments. Collectively, the 1543 samples tested through 1997 represented a total area of approximately 7300 km². Toxicity was observed with the amphipod survival tests in samples that represented approximately 6% of the combined area. Using similar tests conducted on samples collected in different, but overlapping, study areas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that approximately 7% of the combined estuarine area sampled was toxic. Generally, toxicity was most severe in northeastern and southwestern estuaries and least prevalent in southeastern and northwestern areas. However, considerable portions of the Pacific coast have not been tested with the same methods. In tests of CYP1A enzyme induction (n=464), samples were toxic that represented about 5% of the combined study areas. Toxicity was much more widespread, however, when the results of two sub-lethal tests were analyzed. Significant results occurred in samples that represented approximately 25% and 39% of the study areas in tests of sea urchin fertilization (n=1309) and microbial bioluminescence (n=1215), respectively.     

建设项目环境影响评价现状监测应注意的若干问题

建设项目环境影响评价现状监测是环境影响评价的基础,环评结论是否可信,在很大程度上取决于环境现状监测的代表性、公正性和准确性。结合工作经验,本文提出当前环评现状监测时应注意的几个问题。     

Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment of a Solid Waste Disposal Site

The objective of this study is an attempt to conduct an environmentalmonitoring and impact assessment of the On-Nooch solid waste disposal sitein Bangkok, Thailand. Four water and five air sampling stations (2 upwindand 3 downwind directions) were established at the site. Grab water samplesfrom leachate treatment plant and Khlong Song Hong, a nearby stream, werecollected during the rainy and dry seasons. Analytical results of the wastewater discharged by the leachate treatment plant, during dry season showedchemical oxygen demand: 618 mg/l; biochemical oxygen demand: 80 mg/l;suspended solid: 101 mg/l; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen: 283 mg/l, which werestill higher than standard limit for effluents in Thailand. During the dryseason, results also showed widespread heavy metal pollution from leachate(chromium: 1.03 mg/l; manganese: 1.07 mg/l; mercury: 0.025 mg/l) and werehigher than the allowable level of heavy metals for the Industrial EffluentStandard in Thailand. The direct discharge of untreated leachate into inlandwater will cause considerable water pollution in the study area. Compositeair samples in this study area were collected during the rainy and dryseasons and were analyzed for methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide(CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide(SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) andsuspended particulate matter (SPM). The average concentration of SPM rangedbetween 0.1–0.36 mg/m³ for 24-hour average, dependingupon the season. The level of CH₄ and CO₂ inthe ambient air of the study area were found to be 3.48–65.71mg/m³ and 886-1758 mg/m³ respectively which weremuch higher than the normal concentration of CH₄ andCO₂ in the air (CH₄: 2.41 mg/m³;CO₂: 585 mg/m³). Hence, adverse health andenvironmental effects could be expected from water and air pollution.     

新疆生态环境监测指标体系与评价方法探讨

针对新疆荒漠生态 环境的独特 环境特征,以准确、快捷、客观反映荒漠生态环境质量为目的,建立了区域性荒 漠生态环境监测指标体系和评价方法,充分发挥生态监测网络站和各行业监测站的作用,做到信息共享,通过在新疆生态环境监测和质量评价中进行实践,证明所建指标 体系 和评价方法 具有一定的科学性和实用价值。     

How Probability Survey Data Can Help Integrate 305(b) and 303(d)Monitoring and Assessment of State Waters

Section 305(b) of the United States’ Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to assess the overall quality of waters in the states, while Section 303(d) requires states to develop a list of the specific waters in their state not attaining water quality standards (a.k.at impaired waters). An integrated, efficient and cost-effective process is needed to acquire and assess the data needed to meet both these mandates. A subset of presentations at the 2002 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) Symposium provided information on how probability data, tools and methods could be used by states and other entities to aid in development of their overall assessment of condition and list of impaired waters. Discussion identified some of the technical and institutional problems that hinder the use of EMAP methods and data in the analysis to identify impaired waters as well as development needs to overcome these problems.     

Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network's Proposed Core Monitoring Variables: An Early Warning of Environmental Change

This article reports on the evaluation of existing ecologicalmonitoring variables from a variety of sources to select a suiteof core variables suitable for monitoring at the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) sites located acrossCanada. The purpose of EMAN is to promote the acquisition of relevant and consistent data that can be used to report on national trends and provide an early warning of ecosystem change. Existing monitoring variables were evaluated in twosteps. In the first step, three primary criteria were used to pre-screen preliminary variables. In the second step, a moredetailed evaluation considered twenty criteria based on dataquality, applicability, data collection methods, data analysisand interpretation, existing data and programs, and cost effectiveness to select a draft set of core monitoring variables(CMV). An ecological framework was developed to organize the CMVin a manner that permitted a gap analysis to confirm the CMV assessed a wide range of relevant environment components. Thesuite of CMV were then tested to determine their effectiveness in detecting ecosystem change caused by stressors with ecosystemresponses that have been well documented in the literature. Thisproject is part of a process lead by Environment Canada to select CMV to detect and track ecosystem change at EMAN sites. It is anticipated that the proposed CMV will undergo future discussion and development leading to the final selection of asuite of CMV for use at EMAN sites.     

甘家湖荒漠林区生态恢复工程的影响因素及其环境效益评价

主要从生态恢复方面对甘家湖荒漠林区的恢复措施及其所产生的环境效益、社会效益及综合效应进行论证,分析甘家湖荒漠林区目前的状况及采取恢复措施后所能达到的效果。     

Development of a New Approach to Cumulative Effects Assessment: A Northern River Ecosystem Example

If sustainable development of Canadian waters is to be achieved, a realistic and manageable framework is required for assessing cumulative effects. The objective of this paper is to describe an approach for aquatic cumulative effects assessment that was developed under the Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative. The approach is based on a review of existing monitoring practices in Canada and the presence of existing thresholds for aquatic ecosystem health assessments. It suggests that a sustainable framework is possible for cumulative effects assessment of Canadian waters that would result in integration of national indicators of aquatic health, integration of national initiatives (e.g., water quality index, environmental effects monitoring), and provide an avenue where long-term monitoring programs could be integrated with baseline and follow-up monitoring conducted under the environmental assessment process.     

The coastal component of the U.S. integrated ocean observing system

The combined effects of human activities and natural variability present significant challenges to the goals of protecting, restoring, and sustaining coastal ecosystems. Meeting these challenges and resolving conflicts in an informed fashion will require: (1) more timely detection and prediction of environmental changes and their consequences; and (2) more timely access to relevant environmental information. The achievement of these goals depends on the development of a sustained and integrated coastal ocean observing system (ICOOS) that insures timely access to the data and information required to improve: (1) climate predictions and the effects of changes in the weather on coastal populations; (2) efforts to sustain and restore healthy coastal marine ecosystems and living marine resources; and (3) compliance monitoring and evaluations of the efficacy of environmental policies. Although the responsible federal and state agencies all require similar environmental information, many separate programs have evolved for collecting, managing, and analyzing data for various purposes. Consequently, there is too much redundancy; access to diverse data from disparate sources is limited and time consuming; and individual programs are inevitably underfunded and too limited in scope. A system is needed that coordinates and integrates many of the elements of these programs to minimize redundancy, be more comprehensive, provide more timely access to data and information, and satisfy the information needs of a greater number of user groups in a more cost-effective fashion. This is the purpose of the ICOOS.     

Identification and Classification of Key Variables and their Role in Environmental Impact Assessment: Methodology and Software Package Intra

There is, as yet, no proven methodology to enable, objectively,the identification of key parameters out of a large number one normally encounters during any EIA. As EIA is a costly and time-consuming exercise, it is necessary to separate the man from the boys – so to speak – in order to optimize costs andefforts.In this paper a methodology for distinguishing the moreimportant parameters from the less important ones, developed byus, is described. The methodology aims at identifying andshortlisting the key parameters which ought to be studied in agiven EIA situation, thereby helping in reducing time, effort,and cost of EIA. With this methodology a system structure is developed whichgives hierarchical pattern of inter-parameter interaction, andreveals several distinguishing features of each parameter. Asoftware package INTRA (INTer-parameter Relationship Analysis)based on this methodology, has been developed. The paper alsodescribes a case study in which INTRA has been used to study theenvironmental impacts of urbanization of a typical third worldtown (Roorkee).     

Euro Chlor Risk Assessment for the Marine Environment Osparcom Region: North Sea - Principles and Purposes -

A voluntary programme on risk assessment for chlorinated chemicals was initiated by Euro Chlor (the European Chlorine Producers Federation). The study was targeted on the marine environment, starting with the North Sea, and the methodology used was based on the European Union risk assessment principles. Details of the method used are described in this paper. A first set of five compounds is published in this special issue: chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene.     

The condition of coral reefs in South Florida (2000) using coral disease and bleaching as indicators

The destruction of coral reef habitats has occurred at unprecedented levels during the last three decades. Coral disease and bleaching in the Caribbean and South Florida have caused extensive coral mortality with limited recovery, often coral reefs are being replaced with turf algae. Acroporids were once dominant corals and have diminished to the state where they are being considered as endangered species. Our survey assessed the condition of reef corals throughout South Florida. A probability-based design produced unbiased estimates of the spatial extent of ecological condition, measured as the absence or presence and frequency or prevalence of coral diseases and bleaching intensity over large geographic regions. This approach allowed us to calculate a quantifiable level of uncertainty. Coral condition was estimated for 4100 hectares (ha) (or 41.0 km²) of coral reefs in South Florida, including reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), New Grounds, Dry Tortugas National Park (DTNP), and Biscayne National Park (BNP). The absence or presence of coral disease, causal coral bleaching, partial bleaching and coral paling were not good indicators of overall coral condition. It was more useful to report the prevalence of anomalies that indicated a compromised condition at both the population and community levels. For example, 79% of the area in South Florida had less than 6% of the coral colonies diseased, whereas only 2.2% (97.15 ha) of the sampled area had a maximum prevalence of 13% diseased coral colonies at any single location. The usefulness of causal bleaching might be more important when considering the prevalence of each of the three different states at a single location. For example, paling was observed over the entire area, whereas bleaching and partial bleaching occurred at 19 and 41% of the area, respectively. An index for coral reef condition might integrate the prevalence and species affected by each bleaching state at individual locations. By establishing these baselines, future surveys can examine changes and trends in the spatial distribution of coral conditions in South Florida and able to score the reefs as to their health status.     

Community-Based Environmental Management in Atlantic Canada: The Impacts and Spheres of Influence of the Atlantic Coastal Action Program

The Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) is a unique, community-based program initiated by Environment Canada in 1991 to help Atlantic Canadians restore and sustain watersheds and adjacent coastal areas. ACAP is the eastem-most Environment Canada Ecosystem Initiative. The ACAP family is currently made up of 14 ecosystem-based organizations in the four Atlantic provinces. Each one of these non-profit organizations operates independently, but is formally linked under the umbrella of ACAP to represent a force stronger than the individual parts. In Environment Canada's experience, the program consistently demonstrates the value of a community-based approach and produces results on an ecosystem basis. This paper will examine some of the impacts of ACAP in terms of economics, credible community science, and environmental results which most often align with Environment Canada's objectives. It will explore the influences of the community-based approach to environmental management on multiple scales (local, regional, etc.). Through examples, the paper will demonstrate the effectiveness of ACAP in influencing some of the policies, programs and attitudes of various levels of government and industry in the region, as well as describe how the community-based model has been exported internationally. The paper will conclude with a discussion on a planned path forward for ACAP.     

Incidence of stress in benthic communities along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts within different ranges of sediment contamination from chemical mixtures

Synoptic data on concentrations of sediment-associated chemical contaminants and benthic macroinfaunal community structure were collected from 1,389 stations in estuaries along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts as part of the nationwide Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). These data were used to develop an empirical framework for evaluating risks of benthic community-level effects within different ranges of sediment contamination from mixtures of multiple chemicals present at varying concentrations. Sediment contamination was expressed as the mean ratio of individual chemical concentrations relative to corresponding sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), including Effects Range-Median (ERM) and Probable Effects Level (PEL) values. Benthic condition was assessed using diagnostic, multi-metric indices developed for each of three EMAP provinces (Virginian, Carolinian, and Louisianian). Cumulative percentages of stations with a degraded benthic community were plotted against ascending values of the mean ERM and PEL quotients. Based on the observed relationships, mean SQG quotients were divided into four ranges corresponding to either a low, moderate, high, or very high incidence of degraded benthic condition. Results showed that condition of the ambient benthic community provides a reliable and sensitive indicator for evaluating the biological significance of sediment-associated stressors. Mean SQG quotients marking the beginning of the contaminant range associated with the highest incidence of benthic impacts (73–100% of samples, depending on the province and type of SQG) were well below those linked to high risks of sediment toxicity as determined by short-term toxicity tests with single species. Measures of the ambient benthic community reflect the sensitivities of multiple species and life stages to persistent exposures under actual field conditions. Similar results were obtained with preliminary data from the west coast (Puget Sound).     

Screening-Level Risk Assessment of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate for Aquatic Organisms Using Monitoring Data in Japan

Screening-level ecological risk assessments of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) for aquatic organisms in Japan were conducted using estimated statistical values based on surface water and sediment monitoring data and effect threshold values based on a large aquatic toxicity database. An alternative method is proposed to handle monitoring data that contain nondetects including multiple detection limits and to determine the statistical values of DEHP concentrations in Japanese surface waters. The No-Observed-Effect-Concentration (NOEC_water) of DEHP for aquatic life of 77 μ g/L was determined giving equal importance to both physical effects probably caused by undissolved DEHP and to the intrinsic toxicity potentially caused by DEHP. The NOEC_sediment of 615,000 μg/kg was determined by the Equilibrium Partitioning (EqP) theory, conservatively assuming a threshold effect level in the water column as the water solubility of 3 μ g/L. The potential risks of DEHP in Japanese water environments were characterized simply by comparing the margin of exposure (MOE) with a specified uncertainty multiplier (UM). The MOE is expressed as the ratio of NOEC_water or NOEC_sediment to the expected environmental concentrations such as the 95th percentiles of the estimated DEHP concentration distributions for surface water or sediment. The results of risk characterization show that all MOE values calculated using the statistical values of DEHP concentrations in Japanese surface waters and sediments are above 10, indicating minimal risk. Although the DEHP concentrations of some surface water samples showed MOE values of less than 10, considering environmental chemistry such as bioavailable fractions and the form of existence of DEHP in a water environment, we conclude that the current levels of DEHP are of little concern to aquatic life in the majority of Japanese surface waters and sediments.     

Status and Trends of Dissolved Oxygen in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, U.S.A.

The purpose of this studywas to determine status and long-term trends of dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO) in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, U.S.A. A 20-year record of randomized stations was used to determine the trend of surface water DO, salinity, and temperature over space and time. A 13-year record of two fixed stations was used to determine the temporal nutrient trends. A 10-year record of fixed stations in the southeastern region of Corpus Christi Bay was used to determine the status of disturbance caused by low DO in bottom waters. From 1982 to 2002, there was a significant decrease in surface water DO at a rate of 0.06 mg L⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and a significant increase in surface water temperature at a rate of 0.07°C yr⁻¹. The southeastern region of Corpus Christi Bay had the lowest average DO, and during July and August, DO are steadily declining at a rate of 0.09 mg L⁻¹ yr⁻¹. It is not likely that eutrophication is causing hypoxia, because freshwater inflow rates have significantly decreased since 1941 and nutrient levels have not changed from 1987 to 2000. Even though long-term trends indicate that average surface DO is decreasing, disturbance by hypoxia appears to be stable, but this may be due to just eight years of data. In fact, if the current trend continues, surface water DO will not meet exceptional aquatic life standards (≤5 mgL⁻¹) in 2032.     

治理后的太湖无锡区域底质中重金属污染现状及生态风险评价

以2005年以后太湖无锡区域底质为研究对象,分析了太湖底泥中重金属的含量分布及富集状况,采用地积累指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对重金属的生态危害进行评价。结果表明：太湖无锡区域底质受重金属轻度污染,含量高于全国水系沉积物平均值;地积累指数法显示太湖无锡区域底质中重金属污染排序为Cu=As〉Pb〉Zn〉Cr〉Cd〉Hg;金属对太湖无锡区域底质构成的潜在生态危害由强到弱为Hg〉Cu〉As〉Cd〉Pb〉Cr〉Zn;从区域上看,2种评价方法均表明底质中重金属危害程度为宜兴沿岸区〉梅梁湖〉五里湖〉贡湖无锡水域。     

Quality assessment of freshwater and coastal seawater in the Ionian area of N.E. Sicily,Italy

This work was conducted to analyse pressing and competingdemands of water in Northeast Sicily, Italy. In thisarea, looking at the Ionian Sea, freshwaters and coastalseawaters have been studied on the quality and on thetransport processes of pollutants. Attention has beenfocused on chemical and microbial parameters proposed byEuropean Directives for drinking freshwaters and bathingseawaters. The findings show that the ground freshwaters areof good quality but the surface ones, particularly torrentsand correlated under-river aquifers, are clearly polluted.The characteristics of the coastal seawaters are accordingwith those of the closely bound up estuarine waters.Contamination is due essentially to discharge of raw sewagein the watercourses by public and private pipes. The impactis usually less evident during the wet season because rainand seastorms dilute the polluting load, but in dry periodsthis pollution causes loss of habitat and deleterious effectson environment. A database has been developed to provide agraphic and mapping display interface of the area studied andto assist the management of the studied fluvial basins.