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About the Program
Biocriteria Links
Key Activities
Using Biocriteria to Evaluate Aquatic Life Use Support
Once biocriteria are adopted into water quality standards, States and Tribes will be able to use biocriteria and bioassessments for a variety of applications in their water quality management efforts. One important application is determining which water bodies are impaired by sources of pollution, hydrological modifications or other stressors. Bioassessments are ideal for revealing the cumulative impacts of all stressors within a waterbody and should be integrated with traditional chemical and toxicity assessments. EPA will help States in using bioassessment data in this fashion.
EPA will develop technical guidance and other informational materials on the use of biological assessments and criteria to evaluate aquatic life use support on an integrated basis with other water quality data, including:
- Case studies/pilot projects to test integrated approach, first phase
- Guidance on full support
- Reassessment of Policy on Independent Application as it applies to the National Water Quality Inventory, or 305(b), reports
- Guidance on evaluating impairment using a weight of evidence approach, second phase