Virginia Coastal Program: 2004 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task:

FY 2004 Task 93.04

Grantee:

Virginia Commonwealth University

Project Title:

Refinement of INSTAR to Support Reach-Level Analyses

Project Description as Proposed:

With support from DCR and DEQ to evaluate coastal nonpoint source pollution impacts, VCU has developed an online (ESRI® ArcIMS), interactive mapping and database application—INSTAR— to quantitatively assess stream conditions based on comparison to a suite of multimetric indices and virtual stream models. The INSTAR application, and the extensive coastal living resources and habitat databases on which it runs, were developed to support a variety of coastal management and planning activities, including stream classification, watershed prioritization, and the establishment of regional reference conditions. In addition, INSTAR provides scientists and planners with objective and quantitative stream restoration and assessment criteria for coastal resource management decisions. Consequently, INSTAR, and the data on which it runs, has been identified as a useful decision-making tool that supports the the Coastal Program’s efforts to identify Blue Infrastructure.

This project will expand and enhance the current operational version of INSTAR (http://gaia.vcu.edu) to include a stream reach classification system for freshwater streams in Virginia’s coastal zone. INSTAR currently assesses streams quality on either a HUC-level or a site-specific basis. To produce a map of Virginia’s blue infrastructure, stream quality data on a reach basis is needed. In order to assess reaches, further data collection is needed as well as additional modeling based on all data available, with the goal of enhancing both the spatial resolution and scope (1st through 4th order watersheds) for the 105 HUCs that lie wholly or mostly within the coastal zone.

Federal Funding:

$99,689.00

Project Contact:

Greg Garman - 804.828.1574: ggarman@mail2.vcu.edu

Project Status:

Project Completed

Final Product Received:

Project Summary Provided by Grantee:

"INSTAR Refinement for Reach Level Analysis" (PDF)

1) Field Collection and Data Development

During the project period, extensive field sampling was conducted by VCU personnel throughout the Virginia coastal zone. Field effort targeted specific hydrologic units that were represented in the INSTAR database by less than eight (8) quantitative collections for fish and/or aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages. These efforts complemented earlier INSTAR data development efforts within the coastal zone that were supported by VCZMP and DCR. The goal of the current grant was to support statistically valid stream health assessments (see attached report), based on living resources data, at ‘reach-level’ spatial scales. Sampling was conducted using standard field protocols at n>250 probabilistic sites within the targeted HUCs. 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 8,000 new and quantitative records were produced by this extensive sampling effort. This objective was fully accomplished under the current grant.

2) Migration to New Hydrologic (Watershed) Scale

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. The new hydrologic boundaries were approved for use in Virginia late in 2005, after most of the fieldwork for this grant had been accomplished. However, migration of the INSTAR database, application, and stream assessment algorithms to the new units will improve substantially the spatial resolution of stream health assessment in the region and will meet the original goal of the ‘reach-level’ language in the SOW. The migration objective was fully completed by VCU personnel under this grant. However, approximately 10% of the ‘new’ HUCs will not be sufficiently represented by the existing data and will require a limited data development effort in 2006-2007 to meet minimum data density standards for the coastal zone.

3) Develop New Stream Health Models

Using the additional data, refined and updated ‘virtual’ stream models were developed and applied, based on the statistical methods described above (page
4) for the upper and lower Coastal Plain physiographic provinces and separately for first, second, and third order stream types. 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. This objective was fully accomplished under the current 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

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