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Methods and Manual Development

Environmental measurements are required to determine the quality of ambient waters and the character of stressors. EERD conducts research to develop and evaluate analytical methods for the identification, enumeration and evaluation of aquatic organisms exposed to environmental stressors and to correlate the exposure with effects on chemical and biological indicators. EERD scientists serve as the Agency's scientific lead for the following stream and source monitoring indicators: fish, macroinvertebrates, periphyton, zooplankton, functional ecosystem indicators, water and sediment toxicity and fish tissue contaminants. As part of their indicator lead responsibilities, EERD scientists prepare and update field and laboratory protocol and methods manuals for these indicators. They also provide technical assistance to the EPA Regions, Program Offices and states on the implementation and interpretation of these manuals. The current manuals and protocols prepared by scientists are listed below.

Field Operations Manual for Assessing the Hydrologic Permanence and Ecological Condition of Headwater Streams. The purposes of this manual are to: 1) document procedures that were developed and used by EERD for the assessment of the physical and biological characteristics of headwater streams; and 2) provide a catalog of procedures to other groups with an interest in headwater stream assessment.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program: Great River Ecosystems, Field Operations Manual. - EPA/620/R-06/002. This manual describes procedures for collecting samples and field measurements for biotic assemblages and abiotic characteristics of the Great Rivers of the Central Basin of the United States: the Missouri, Upper Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers. In addition to the technical and logistic aspects of field operations, this manual emphasizes health and safety considerations, data quality assurance (QA), and information management (IM). Not included in this manual are laboratory protocols, sample-design details, or protocols for data analysis or interpretation.

A Compendium of Chemical, Physical and Biological Methods for Assessing and Monitoring the Remediation of Contaminated Sediment Sites. EPA/600/R-03/108, April, 2004 (PDF, 291 pp., 2.5 MB) (full document)

EPA/600/R-03/108, April, 2004, Table of Contents (PDF, 10 pp., 350 KB) - Table of Contents links to individual files for each fact sheet

A Survey of Fish Contamination in Small Wadeable Streams in the Mid-Atlantic Region. EPA/600/R-01/107. April, 2001 (PDF, 110 pp., 1.6 MB)

Comparisons of Boating and Wading Methods Used to Assess the Status of Flowing Waters. EPA/600/R-01/108, April, 2001 (PDF, 145 pp., 1.3 MB)

Logistics of Ecological Sampling on Large Rivers, EPA/600/R-01/109, April, 2001 (PDF, 78 pp., 1.4 MB)

Stressor Identification Guidance Document. EPA 822-B-00-025. March, 2001.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-Surface Waters: Field Operations and Methods for Measuring the Ecological Condition of Non-Wadeable Rivers and Streams

Statistical Analysis for Biological Methods - four U.S. EPA statistical computer programs which are to be used to perform Dunnett's Procedure, Probit Analysis, the Trimmed Spearman-Karber Method and the Linear Interpolation (ICp) Method. The programs have been reviewed and tested on a series of aquatic toxicity data sets by scientists and statisticians in the EERD.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program Surface Waters: Field Operations and Methods for Measuring the Ecological Condition of Wadeable Streams. EPA/620/R-94/004F. 1998.

Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to West Coast Marine and Estuarine Organisms. EPA/600/R-95/136. August, 1995.

Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Water to Freshwater Organisms. EPA/600/4-91/002. July, 1994.

Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Water to Marine and Estuarine Organisms. EPA/600/4-91/003. July, 1994.

Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater and Marine Organisms. EPA/600/4-90/027F. August, 1993.

Fish Field and Laboratory Methods for Evaluating the Biological Integrity of Surface Water. EPA/600/R-92/111. March, 1993.

Macroinvertebrate Field and Laboratory Methods for Evaluating the Biological Integrity of Surface Waters. EPA/600/4-90/030. November, 1990.

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