Virginia Coastal Program: 2004 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY 2004 Task 84
Grantee:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Title:
INteractive STream Assessment Resource (INSTAR)
Project Description as Proposed:
As part of an ongoing
effort, Virginia Commonwealth University has developed an online
interactive tool to assist in the characterization of stream health.
Previous work has focused on small watersheds within the coastal
plain of the coastal zone. This next phase will build on previous
work to gather the necessary data for small watersheds in the portion
of the piedmont physiographic region within the coastal zone area.
This project will continue using a suite of quantitative and qualitatitve
assessment tools that facilitate stream classification, establishing
regional stream reference reaches (i.e. target conditions for restoration
projects), and providing criteria for post-project evaluation in
non-tidal, coastal zone watersheds. These assessment tools will
benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including state agencies charged
with implemention and regulation of stream restoration projects,
regional and local governments responsible for developing watershed
management plans that include restoration goals, and non-governmental
organizations such as volunteer watershed groups interested in planning
and participating in stream restoration projects.
Using archival data for a limited suite of stream taxa, Virginia
Commonwealth University created a pilot, multimetric assessment
tool that prioritizes watersheds in Virginia based on key attributes
(biodiversity, ecological importance, etc.) of stream dependent
living resources. The index classifies watersheds as a function
of ecological integrity and value of representative stream segments
within each watershed. Where there is insufficient data it will
need to be collected, which means that electrofishing and other
sampling techniques will be necessary.
To date, this work has been accomplished for 65 small watersheds.
The remaining 57 small watersheds will be covered during this project
period. Combined, this ongoing effort will result in coverage for
approximately 25 percent of the 494 small watersheds within Virginia.
Federal Funding:
$96,347.00
Project Contact:
Greg Garman - 804.828.1574: ggarman@mail2.vcu.edu
Project Status:
Project Completed
Final Product Received:
Final Report (PDF)
Using INSTAR PowerPoint (PDF)
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
VCU completed 4 objectives under Task 84. Field sampling targeted 47 hydrologic units (Phase III) not previously sampled under a grant through the Department of Conservation and Recreation in 2003 (Phase II). In 2005, after substantial discussion with VCZMP staff, it was decided that ‘reach-level’ resolution would be defined operationally on the basis of newly-developed, sixth-order watersheds (HUCs) that will be mandated for all regulatory and planning activities within Virginia by 2006. The new HUCs are approximately one-third as large as the previous fifth-order HUCs, which were in use when this study was developed. At least 40 Phase III HUCs were sampled at a high resolution to support this reach-level assessment being conducted for 65 HUCs in the coastal zone (Phase II) under FY04 Task 93.04.
1. Field Sampling in 47 Additional Hydrologic Units
During the project period, extensive field sampling was conducted by VCU personnel in several new locations, including the Atlantic slope of the Eastern Shore and areas that comprise the Tidewater jurisdictional area of Virginia. At total of 47 additional hydrologic units (HUCs) were incorporated into the INSTAR database. Specifically, sampling as outlined above was conducted using standard field protocols at n=206 probabilistic sites. Samples were processing in the field or were returned to VCU for further processing and analysis. In addition, archival data sources (e.g. VDGIF, EPA, DEQ, VDNH databases) were ‘mined’ for records that satisfied strict criteria for INSTAR data development. New and archival data generated represented fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages and instream habitat and were subjected to approved QA/QC procedures prior to posting on the INSTAR website. Approximately 17,000 new and quantitative records were produced by this extensive sampling and data mining effort, which effectively incorporated—for the first time—each of the sub-basins listed above for INSTAR-based assessment. This objective was fully accomplished under the current grant.
2. Develop New Stream Models
Using the additional data, new ‘virtual’ stream models were developed, based on the multivariate, statistical methods described above for upper Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont physiographic provinces and separately for first, second, and third order stream types. These models complement existing models for the lower Coastal Plain in Virginia and expand significantly the geographic scope of INSTAR-based stream health assessments. Models are used to classify specific stream reaches or HUCs based on percent comparability to appropriate, regional reference stream models (i.e., virtual streams) described in the above text. Stream reaches with strong (>75%) reference comparability scores are characterized by high ecological integrity and exceptional physicochemical conditions. In contrast, stream reaches with poor (<25%) reference comparability scores exhibit degraded ecological integrity and compromised physicochemical conditions. Specific model parameters are described at www.instar.vcu and in the technical report. This objective was fully accomplished under the current grant.
3.) Data Mining and New Data Layers
A substantial effort was devoted by VCU to successfully incorporate high-quality, quantitative, archival data from multiple sources into the expanding INSTAR Virginia stream database. Sources and potential sources of relevant stream data included: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, EPA’s EMAP program, Potomac River Basin Commission, and USGS. After resolving data compatibility issues and applying specific metadata criteria (e.g. geospatial resolution), useful data were subjected to additional QA procedures and then incorporated on VCU’s server. In two cases (DEQ ProbMon and Natural Heritage VCLNA), data are displayed by the INSTAR map interface as separate datalayers. Other data were simply incorporated into the INSTAR database. As a result of this extensive data mining effort, approximately 30,000 additional records, representing approximately 500 stream locations throughout Virginia, were added to the INSTAR database and will be, or are now, accessible through the application. Currently, over 1,600 stream locations are represented within INSTAR. This objective was fully accomplished under the current grant.
Outreach Efforts
During the project period, members of the INSTAR team, including G. Garman, L. Smock, and W. Shuart, participated in at least 20 formal and informal meetings regarding development of INSTAR as a decision support tool. At most of these meetings, VCU gave a presentation and conducted an online demonstration of the INSTAR application. Copies of selected Powerpoint presentations are available upon request. Groups represented in these events included a wide range of state, federal, and local (municipal, county, PDC) government entities, as well as academic institutions and NGOs. This objective was fully accomplished under this grant.
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
