Lau J K, Lauer T E
Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA,
Environ Manage. 2015 Jul;56(1):11-23. doi: 10.1007/s00267-015-0478-0. Epub 2015 Apr 2.
The objective of this study was to identify the current status of stream water-quality assessment and reporting methods for four states in the Ohio River basin (Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia), as required by the 305(b) section of the United States (US) Clean Water Act. Specifically, we clarified the discrepancies that exist among stream-impairment status classified by benthic macroinvertebrate multimetric indices (MMIs) and depicted using Geographic Information Systems shapefiles. In addition, we provided guidance in solving some of the comparability problems that arise when developing state-specific MMIs and depicting stream-impairment status using Geographic Information Systems technology. The MMI variation among states and differences in shapefile formats resulted in a nationwide dataset, which cannot be directly compared. Incorporating the changes suggested in this study allow for a uniform assessment and reporting method nationwide. Successful implementation of these changes would strengthen the US Environmental Protection Agency efforts to identify impaired streams and sources of those impairments without the limitations of state-by-state .developed assessment methods.
本研究的目的是按照美国《清洁水法》第305(b)节的要求，确定俄亥俄河流域四个州（印第安纳州、俄亥俄州、田纳西州和弗吉尼亚州）河流水质评估及报告方法的现状。具体而言，我们厘清了根据底栖大型无脊椎动物多指标指数（MMIs）分类并使用地理信息系统形状文件描绘的河流受损状况之间存在的差异。此外，我们为解决在制定各州特定的MMIs以及使用地理信息系统技术描绘河流受损状况时出现的一些可比性问题提供了指导。各州之间MMI的差异以及形状文件格式的不同导致了一个无法直接比较的全国性数据集。纳入本研究中建议的变更将实现全国统一的评估和报告方法。成功实施这些变更将加强美国环境保护局识别受损溪流及其受损源头的工作，而不受逐个州开发的评估方法的限制。
