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Experimental Stream Facility (ESF)
| ESF | Background | The Facility | The Research | ||
Clermont County, Ohio
Small stream ecosystems comprise over 72% of the river miles in the United States; yet, the role they play in managing watershed-level water quality remains uncertain. While the potential impact of naturally occurring biogeochemical functions within an individual small stream may seem minimal, the accumulated impact of the many small streams within a watershed may be significant. Small streams are largely unmapped, unregulated, overlooked in watershed models, and generally not considered in the TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) process or in land use regulations. As such, they are often ignored in land development plans, and are often replaced with culverts, storm sewers, or lined ditches, which eliminates any role they may play in maintaining water quality. Research is needed to increase our understanding of the relative importance of small stream ecosystems and the services they provide for effective watershed management.
In addition to watershed management research, there is a continual need to better characterize how streams and rivers, in general, react to and process emerging contaminants and stressful mixtures. The numerous physical, chemical, and biological variables interacting under natural conditions, as aquatic ecosystems are exposed to contaminants of concern, confound the interpretation of effects on aquatic biology in receiving streams. Mesoscale (of medium size) studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the impact of contaminant stressors on multiple trophic levels and the levels which are the most sensitive to stress.
As a final point, biotic indicators form the basis for stream condition assessment in this Nation, but current design criteria for watershed best management practices (BMPs) are based largely on peak flow control and sediment removal. Research is needed to begin to bridge the gap between physical-based engineering design and biological-based assessment criteria.
Contact
Donald Brown, (513) 569-7630
Christopher Nietch, (513) 569-7460
TMDL –– Each State must establish the total maximum daily load for certain pollutants for certain waters. For more information.