A goal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to develop protocols applicable to coral reefs to distinguish between the effects of local water quality and those associated with regional to global environmental change. One test case is the current-dominated southeast coast of Florida where the Delray Outfall delivers 30 million gallons per day (114,000 cubic meters per day) of secondary-treated sewage into the ocean. Five study sites were established at depths between 15 and 18 m, and at distances between 1 and 18 km distance from the outfall, where the Stony Coral Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (RBP) was conducted to determine coral cover and selected other parameters. During sampling, 29 surface sediment samples were collected that I analyzed with respect to sediment texture, foraminiferal assemblages, and sediment constituents. Most samples were characterized by fine sands with <2% mud. A total of 77 genera of foraminifers were identified, averaging 28 genera per sample. Abundances of foraminiferal shells varied among samples by more than an order of magnitude (83 to 1010 shells per g sediment). The Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring (FORAM) Index was calculated from the foraminiferal data, yielding values of 3 or more for all sites, with 26 of the 29 test sites yielding values >4, indicating that water quality should support coral growth. Sediment constituent analyses revealed that the sediments were overwhelmingly dominated by unidentifiable fragments (60%), with molluscan debris second (20%), and calcareous algae third (4.5%); larger foraminiferal shells and coral fragments together made up < 5.5%. The resulting sediment constituent (SEDCON) Index was consistently <2, indicating that erosional processes dominate over sediment production along the sampled shelf area. Results provided by the FORAM and SEDCON indices are consistent with results for stony coral based on the RBP. Stony coral cover was low at all sites, <2%, indicating that coral occurs in the area but neither dominates the benthos nor builds reefs. No relationship was observed between any parameter and distance from the Delray Outfall. However, both the RBP and FORAM Index indicated poorest conditions at the Horseshoe site, suggesting unidentified stressors in that vicinity.

ABSTRACT A review of annual monitoring reports for stream restoration projects on surface coal mines in the central Appalachian Mountains found that the criteria used for judging the success of the projects was generally based on visual assessments of habitat structure which were evaluated using the Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (RBP) (Palmer and Hondula, 2014). In recent years the Hydrogeomorphic Approach (HGM), which was originally developed to evaluate wetlands, has been adapted for stream evaluations as well (Summers, et al., 2017). Both of these methods are primarily a means to determine if suitable habitat structure and riparian growth are present to support aquatic life. It is assumed that if habitat structure is suitable then macroinvertebrate and other life will be present. However, each of these two methods place emphasis on different aspects of habitat and riparian structure. The primary purpose of this project is to compare and contrast how effective these two methods are at evaluating reconstructed streams on surface coal mines. A secondary objective is to determine if macroinvertebrate assemblages in reconstructed streams is significantly different from that of reference streams not impacted by mining. Research on benthic community structure downstream of coal mining activities suggests that even after many decades taxa richness and abundance still have not recovered from indirect impacts (Petty, et al., 2010). Information on reconstructed streams directly impacted is lacking. This project evaluates streams that were reconstructed five years prior using the RBP and HGM methods, and compares them to local reference streams that have minimal to no mining impacts. Multiple benthic metrics are also used to evaluate community structure. REFERENCES Petty, J. Todd, Jennifer B. Fulton, Michael P. Strager, George T. Merovich Jr., James M. Stiles, and Paul F. Ziemkiewicz. 2010. Lanscape indicators and thresholds of stream ecological impairment in an intensely mined Appalachian watershed. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 29(4): 1292-1309. Palmer, Margaret A., and Kelly L. Hondula. 2014. Restoration as mitigation: analysis of stream mitigation for coal mining impacts in southern Appalachia. Environmental Science and Technology 48: 10552-10560. Summers, Elizabeth A., Chris V. Noble, Jacob F. berkowitz, and Frank J. Spilker. 2017. Operational Draft Regional Guidebook for the Functional Assessment of High-Gradient Headwater Streams and Low-Gradient Perennial Streams in Appalachia. ERDC/EL TR-17-1.

Using benthic macroinvertebrates to measure stream health has been widely used and accepted around the world. Macroinvertebrates are resident monitors of chronic impairment in a stream since they are relatively sessile and most commonly respond to disturbance by drift but can recolonize a restored stream reach very quickly. This study tested the effectiveness of macroinvertebrate metrics developed through the Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (RBP) to detect changes in stream integrity as the result of placement of a best management practice (BMP), installed on a tributary of Roaring Branch, located in Columbus, Georgia. The BMP was designed to attenuate flow to reduce sediment suspension and downstream deposition. A sampling protocol derived from the Georgia Ecoregions Project was implemented to evaluate the macroinvertebrate community, located downstream of the BMP, and downstream of the confluence with Roaring Branch, both before and after the BMP installation. The resulting metrics were compared to a reference condition described for subecoregion 65c, sandhills-lower piedmont. A dramatic improvement or increase of macroinvertebrate populations suggests an improvement in water quality (via reduction in fine sediment deposition) due to improved physical habitat conditions for indicators (Trichoptera) of healthier streams. The results of this study suggests further restoration activities should continue and that re-evaluation of the sampling protocol should take into account a larger subsample size of benthic macroinvertebrates than currently recommended by the RBP.

Nowadays, the water streams located in urban areas have been targeted by several environmental measures that ended up modifying their natural features. These water streams have changed into sewage channels and any intervention over them is not considered shocking by the society anymore. The lack of information and knowledge on the environmental quality of these water streams makes the situation even worse. Aiming to help solving those problems, the Brazilian legislation rules that the population must participate in several stages of the water resources monitoring process. However, It is noticed that, despite the fact of being participation, It does not possesses qualification to achieve the environmental improving actions required for a consequent improving of life quality. It is in this context that the Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Rivers, mentioned in this study as PARs, arise as a tool for an integrated analysis of the ecosystems through an easy, simple and fast to apply methodology, consisting of a visual inspection responsible for gathering the physical features of the watercourse under assessment. PARs are thought-out to be simple tools for participatory watercourses assessment. This study aims proposing the use of a Rapid Bioassessment Protocol for Physical Environment Aspects as an instrument of social participation in environmental quality of superficial watercourses inserted in urban regions evaluation, using as a case study the locality of Arroio Laranjeiras in the city of Candelária-RS, Brazil. In order to achieve the target, 10 volunteers were mobilized, all of them linked with the town s politics or members of groups with action of preservation of urban watercourses. In relation of the application of the protocol, by the volunteers, in 3 previously defined points according with the soil using and occupation by different social ranks and access facility, It was possible to check that human actions and urbanization cause negative impacts over Arroio Laranjeiras. Considering that the evaluated watercourse characteristics are different from the ones used in the model protocol It was certified that the utilized protocol needs adaptations. The using of Rapid Bioassessment Protocols showed itself as an important tool of social participation in the environmental evaluation of urban watercourses and also as an important instrument of Environmental Education, considering that it induces to a reflection about many subjects related to environmental quality of watercourses. Bringing to an end, It was notice that this instrument can still be useful not only in the environmental evaluation, but also in the identification of the environmental degradation causes and consequent pursuit by solutions. / Nos dias de hoje, os cursos d água inseridos em zonas urbanas têm sido alvo de diversas intervenções ambientais que modificam suas características naturais. Eles passaram a ser reconhecidos como canais de esgoto e qualquer intervenção de recobrimento não é mais reconhecida como impactante pela sociedade. A falta de informações sobre a qualidade ambiental desses cursos d água agrava ainda mais a situação. Visando auxiliar na resolução desses problemas, a legislação brasileira prevê a participação social em várias etapas do processo de gestão de recursos hídricos. No entanto, percebe-se que embora havendo participação, essa não possui a devida qualificação para realizar as ações de melhoria ambiental necessárias para um consequente aumento da qualidade de vida. Neste contexto, surgem os Protocolos de Avaliação Rápida de Rios (PARs) como instrumentos de análise integrada dos ecossistemas, através de uma metodologia fácil, simples e de rápida aplicação que, por meio de uma inspeção visual, capta as características físicas do curso d água em avaliação. Os PARs são considerados ferramentas simplificadas de avaliação ambiental participativa. A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo propor a utilização de um Protocolo de Avaliação Rápida dos Aspectos Físicos do Meio, como ferramenta de participação social na avaliação da qualidade ambiental dos cursos d água superficiais inseridos em zonas urbanas, tendo como estudo de caso o Arroio Laranjeiras na cidade de Candelária-RS. Para atingir o objetivo foram mobilizados 10 voluntários, ligados ao meio político municipal ou integrantes de grupos com ações em preservação dos cursos d água urbanos. Com relação à aplicação do protocolo, pelos voluntários, em 3 pontos previamente definidos de acordo com as características de uso e ocupação do solo por diferentes classes sociais e facilidade de acesso, foi possível verificar que as atividades antrópicas e a urbanização geram impactos negativos no Arroio Laranjeiras. Considerando que as características do curso d água em avaliação são diferentes das do protocolo utilizado como modelo, constatou-se que o protocolo utilizado nesta pesquisa necessita de adequações. O uso do Protocolo de Avaliação Rápida mostrou-se como importante ferramenta de participação social na avaliação ambiental do curso d água em avaliação e ainda como importante instrumento de Educação Ambiental, considerando que este induz a uma reflexão sobre diversos temas relacionados com a qualidade ambiental de cursos d água. Por fim, verifica-se que esta ferramenta ainda pode ser útil não apenas na avaliação ambiental, mas na identificação das causas de degradação ambiental e posterior busca por soluções.