colorado's multimetric index and threshold concepts.pdf

COLORADO’S MULTIMETRIC

INDEX AND THRESHOLD

CONCEPTS

WQCD - Sabin Room - February 18, 2009

TOPICS FOR TODAY

Recap MMI

Transition Zones and Fuzzy Set Site Classes

Threshold Concepts

Upcoming Topics

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MULTIMETRIC INDEX (MMI)

Designed to assess biological condition by

examining aquatic macroinvertebrates

Based on Reference and Stressed sites

Output is a unitless score (0-100 scale)

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MMI DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Collect, compile, & QC data

Identify Reference and Stressed sites

Site classification (Fuzzy Sets)

Calculate metrics

Find discriminating metrics (each site class)

Score metrics

Combine scores in an Index (determined by site

class)

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CURRENT MMI VERSION 2.0

Based on additional Reference and Stressed Sites

Utilizes Fuzzy Set Site Classification Technique

Elevation of the point

Slope of the stream at the point

Precipitation (average) at the point

High and Low Index

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OLD HARD-LINE BIOREGIONS

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FUZZY SET SITE CLASSIFICATION

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ELEVATION FUZZY SET DEGREE OF

MEMBERSHIP

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COARSE FUZZY SET PREDICTIVE SITE CLASSES

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CONCEPTUAL SITE CLASSES

1. Mid-elevation, semi-cold, low gradient, moist

2. High elevation, cold-water sites

3. Mid-elevation, semi-cold, high gradient, drier

4. Low/mid-elevation, transitional temperature, low

gradient, drier

5. Low elevation, warm-water, low gradient, dry

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FINAL MMI METRICS

HIGH INDEX

• Clinger Taxa

• EPT Taxa

• Predator/Shredder Taxa

• HBI

• Total Taxa

LOW INDEX

• Clinger-sprawler percent

• Coleoptera percent

• Insect taxa

• Non-insect percent of taxa

• Predator-shredder taxa

• Sensitive plains familiesSITE CLASS

PREDICTION

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4,5

1,2,3

TRANSITION ZONE CASE

STUDIES

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TRANSITION ZONE CASE STUDIES

Objective

Apply Fuzzy Set Classifications to transition zone

Case studies

La Plata River

Elkhead Creek

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LA PLATA RIVER CASE STUDY

Spatial information

Located in Southwest Colorado

Tributary to San Juan River

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FUZZY CLASSIFICATIONS APPLIED TO LA

PLATA RIVER

Method

Fuzzy classes calculated for 5000 points along La

Plata River mainstem

2:1/3

1:2

1:4

4:1

4:5

Primary : Runner-Up

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WHICH MULTI-METRIC INDEX DO I USE?

Application rules

High Elevation Index applied to FZ Classes 1, 2, and 3

Low Elevation Index applied to FZ Classes 4 and 5

Low Elevation Index

High Elevation Index

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LA PLATA RIVER SAMPLING POINTS

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LA PLATA RIVER TRANSITION ZONE

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ELKHEAD CREEK CASE STUDY

Spatial information

Located in Northwest Colorado

Tributary to Yampa River

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FUZZY CLASSIFICATIONS APPLIED TO

ELKHEAD CREEK

Method

Fuzzy classes calculated for 5000 points along

Elkhead Creek mainstem

2:1/3

1:2

1:4

4:1

4:5

Primary : Runner-Up

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WHICH MULTI-METRIC INDEX DO I USE?

Application rules

High Elevation Index applied to FZ Classes 1, 2, and 3

Low Elevation Index applied to FZ Classes 4 and 5

Low Elevation Index

High Elevation Index

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ELKHEAD CREEK SAMPLING STATIONS

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ELKHEAD CREEK TRANSISTION ZONE

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THRESHOLD CONCEPTS

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REFINED AQUATIC LIFE USE

CLASSIFICATION IMPLICATIONS

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H-MMI RESULTS AND THRESHOLDS

Examine case studies to illustrate range of MMI

results

Start thinking about impairment threshold

concepts

Overall Percentile

Reference Site Percentile

Overall or Reference Site Percentile Within Each Site

Class

Bin-let Percentile

Other Options

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OTHER APPROACHES TO THRESHOLDS

CO-EMAP (MMI Version 1)

25th percentile of all MMI values (55.76)

50th percentile of all remaining MMI values below 25th%ile

(43.02)

Arizona

Impaired if value is <10th percentile of reference condition

Cold <45

Warm <39

Idaho

Narrative criteria—MMI threshold of approximately <20

Ohio

25th percentile of reference sites for all ecoregions

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Fuzzy Set Site Class

1 2 3

n 202 185 58

5th %ile 18.17 22.67 28.18

15th %ile 29.40 37.74 33.88

Median 62.42 66.50 58.19

85th %ile 82.42 84.39 76.67

95th %ile 89.16 90.63 85.79

H-MMI RESULTS

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STRESSORS AND BINLETS (SC-1)

25th %ile

Ref

Sites

25th %ile

Stressed

Sites

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STRESSOR GRADIENT EXAMPLE

25th %ile

of Ref

Sites

25th %ile

Stressed

Sites

*

*linear miles within a 5km radius near-field watershed

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FZ SITE-CLASS 1MID-ELEVATION, SEMI-COLD, LOW

GRADIENT, MOIST

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FZ Site Class 1Elevation: 2111m Slope: .0381 Precip: 465cm/year

MMI 19.93

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FZ Site Class 1MMI 62.97

Elevation: 1996m Slope: .0018 Precip: 540cm/year

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FZ Site Class 1MMI 91.46

Elevation: 2074m Slope: .0362 Precip: 584cm/year

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FZ SITE-CLASS 2

HIGH ELEVATION, COLD-WATER

SITES

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FZ Site Class 2MMI 12.30

Elevation: 3088m Slope: .0521 Precip: 656cm/year

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FZ Site Class 2MMI 63.48

Elevation: 2702m Slope: .032 Precip: 489cm/year

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FZ Site Class 2MMI 92.72

Elevation: 2659m Slope: .0529 Precip: 668cm/year

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FZ SITE-CLASS 3MID-ELEVATION, SEMI-COLD, HIGH

GRADIENT, DRIER

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FZ Site Class 3MMI 57.60

Elevation: 1950m Slope: .0466 Precip: 273cm/year

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FZ Site Class 3MMI 83.43

Elevation: 2710m Slope: .0668 Precip: 312cm/year

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FZ Site Class 3MMI 29.43

Elevation: 2268m Slope: .0598 Precip: 461cm/year

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UPCOMING TOPICS IN APRIL

Lakes and Reservoirs

Desired Condition vs Thresholds

Direct Use Reservoir

Rivers and Streams

O/E Bioassessment Tool: Recap and thresholds

Impairment Thresholds for the L-MMI

Initial look at nutrient levels paired with MMI

Next Meeting: 1:30-4:30 pm April 14, 2009 –

Sabin Room

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Blake Beyea blake.beyea@state.us 303-692-3656

Chris Theel christopher.theel@state.co.us 303-692-3558

O/E and MMI reports posted online at the Aquatic Life Workgroup page

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