Sediment Quality Assessment Tools

Background and Objectives

The sediment quality assessment tools developed by SCCWRP will provide environmental managers with a more consistent and reliable scientific foundation for making sediment quality assessments within monitoring and regulatory programs. They may also be adopted for use in the State's Sediment Quality Objectives (SQOs). These tools relate to the three lines of evidence needed to assess sediment quality (chemical, biological, and toxicity indicators), as well as integration of these three indicators.

Tools

Tools developed by SCCWRP to support sediment quality assessment include:

• Chemical List - List of the chemicals required for application of the CA LRM and CSI sediment quality guidelines.

• Direct Effects Assessment Sample Calculation  - Document describing the calculations needed to interpret the chemistry, toxicity, and benthic infauna data using the sediment quality assessment tools. The calculations are illustrated using a sample data set. 

• Benthic Index Calculation Methods for California Embayments -  A description of the steps and calculations needed to apply four benthic indices. The steps include data collection, calculating scores for each benthic index, comparing the benthic index scores to threshold values, and integrating the individual index results to determine the benthic community condition classification.

• Species List of Embayment Macrofauna - List of benthic macroinvertebrate species found in California embayments including their taxonomy, pollution tolerance scores, and notes for use in benthic index calculations.

• Data and program files for calculating RIVPACS index scores using SAS - Program, habitat characteristics, and sample data files needed for calculation of the RIVPACS benthic index. User must have SAS software to run the program. Instructions for use provided in "Benthic Index Calculation Methods for California Embayments".

• Data files for calculating RIVPACS index scores using the Utah State University web site - Habitat characteristics and sample data files needed for calculation of the RIVPACS benthic index using a web site. Web site userid and password required. Instructions for use provided in "Benthic Index Calculation Methods for California Embayments."

• LOE Relationship Table - This table displays combinations of the three lines of evidence (toxicity, chemistry, and benthic community) and the sequence of their integration into a single multiple lines of evidence assessment.

• MLOE Assessment Categories Table - A listing of the site assessment categories resulting from each of the 64 possible combinations of the chemistry, toxicity, and benthic community lines of evidence. The list is sorted by chemistry category.

• Data Integration Tool v5.4 - An Excel workbook that contains formulas for combining MLOE data to produce a station assessment.

• List of updates made to the Data Integration Tool

• Draft Technical Support Manual - Document that provides instructions for measuring sediment quality parameters, data integration, and interpretation.