All news related to Bioassessment
Workshop examines how to use eDNA-based method to monitor OA’s biological effects
A group of 15 scientific experts has developed a coordinated West Coast plan for using environmental DNA (eDNA) to track the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on vulnerable shell-forming organisms ... More
Effort underway to coordinate SAV assessments along West Coast
SCCWRP has begun coordinating with a network of West Coast monitoring agencies to build their capacity to assess the health of eelgrass beds and other submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) – ... More
Prototype dashboard built to help identify ecologically healthy streams to protect
SCCWRP has developed an initial prototype of a public facing data dashboard designed to help watershed managers statewide visualize and determine which streams that are ecologically healthy should be priorities ... More
Workshop to explore how to incorporate eDNA-based approaches into ocean acidification monitoring
SCCWRP and the California Ocean Protection Council will host a two-day workshop in March exploring how to incorporate environmental DNA (eDNA) methods into regional ocean acidification (OA) monitoring programs that ... More
SMC developing workplan for fourth cycle of regional stream monitoring program
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has begun planning for the fourth cycle of its Regional Watershed Monitoring Program – a five-year stream survey that is expected to focus ... More
Bight ’23 regional survey assessing ecological health of eelgrass beds for first time
The Southern California Bight 2023 Regional Monitoring Program has completed field sampling for a first-of-its-kind multiagency survey evaluating the health of the region’s eelgrass beds based on their ecological functioning ... More
White House releases national eDNA strategy that SCCWRP helped craft
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has unveiled a national strategy intended to bring standardization and consistency to how environmental DNA (eDNA) methods get incorporated into aquatic ... More
Screening-level causal assessment tool successfully applied in San Luis Rey River watershed
SCCWRP and its partners have completed a screening-level causal assessment of the San Luis Rey River watershed in San Diego County using an approach co-developed by SCCWRP that rapidly identifies ... More
Capacity being built to aid State agencies in protecting healthy streams
SCCWRP has partnered with two State agencies to build their capacity to systematically identify streams in good ecological condition that should be priorities for protection, as well as identify which ... More
Bight ’23 kicking off regional assessment of eelgrass bed health
The Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program is kicking off a first-of-its-kind regional monitoring survey this September to evaluate the health of the region’s eelgrass beds based on their ecological ... More
Tools being finalized to help determine whether streams subject to Clean Water Act
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are preparing to release final versions of flow classification tools intended to help watershed managers determine which streams ... More
Bight program modernizing computational methods for bioassessment scoring tools
The Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program has launched an effort to modernize the computational methods used to score the biological health of organisms living in and on the sediment ... More
Framework to be developed to assess aquatic ecosystems from social, environmental justice perspective
SCCWRP and its partners have begun developing a scientific framework to help managers rapidly assess the health of aquatic ecosystems based on the social and environmental justice benefits they provide ... More
Expanded study investigating potential bias in bioassessment tools for intermittently flowing streams
SCCWRP and its partners have kicked off the next phase of an ongoing study investigating if a set of bioassessment scoring tools for evaluating the health of California streams is ... More
California preparing to implement national eDNA monitoring strategy
SCCWRP and its partners are preparing to lead California in implementing a White House-led national science strategy being released in June that is intended to bring standardization and consistency to ... More
Causal assessment study launched in San Luis Rey River watershed
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a causal assessment study in the San Luis Rey River watershed in San Diego County to help managers evaluate the likely vs. unlikely causes ... More
SMC study examining why some modified channels are healthier than others
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has launched an investigation into why some streams that have been modified via channel hardening have healthier biological communities than others – part ... More
SCCWRP exploring how to integrate coastal estuary monitoring with California State Parks
SCCWRP has begun exploring how to integrate a suite of newly developed tools for monitoring the health of coastal estuaries into California State Parks’ estuarine monitoring and management programs. During ... More
Effort launched to develop protective assessment tools for California streams
SCCWRP and its partners have begun developing a suite of tools to help managers identify the specific stressors that present significant ecological risks to California streams that are in good ... More
Taxonomic standards developed to support biological indicators for dry streams
SCCWRP and its partners have developed taxonomic data standards for terrestrial arthropods and bryophytes, paving the way for these organisms to be used as routine bioassessment indicators for tracking the ... More
SCCWRP aiding U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in overhauling ecological response modeling
SCCWRP has begun working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to overhaul and modernize how the federal agency uses modeling tools to assess the ecological condition of aquatic ... More
Analysis initiated to understand how flow patterns affect biological health of modified channels
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has begun examining how flow alterations affect the biological health of streams that have been modified via channel hardening – part of a ... More
Field training, intercalibration completed to support two new estuarine monitoring programs
SCCWRP and its partners have completed field training and intercalibration exercises to support a pair of monitoring initiatives intended to collectively generate comprehensive insights about the ecological health of coastal ... More
Effort launched to build statewide program for monitoring estuary health
SCCWRP and its partners have begun working to establish a statewide monitoring program for coastal estuaries that is optimally responsive to the needs and priorities of managers. During a workshop ... More
SCCWRP member agencies to help inform development of national eDNA strategy
CTAG will host an all-day workshop next month to identify constraints and challenges associated with incorporating environmental DNA (eDNA) methods into aquatic monitoring programs nationwide – the latest in a ... More
Consensus reached on priority recommendations for supporting development of national eDNA
A federal task force that includes SCCWRP has reached agreement on the technical and management actions that will need to be taken to support development of a coordinated national strategy ... More
Webinar series highlights eDNA methods, applications for environmental monitoring
The California Water Quality Monitoring Council and its partners have launched a six-part webinar series to educate managers and other interested parties on how environmental DNA (eDNA) methods can be ... More
Standardized monitoring protocols to enable eelgrass beds to be assessed based on ecological functioning
SCCWRP has completed development of a set of standardized assessment protocols for assessing the health of eelgrass beds based on their ecological functioning. Development of the eelgrass beds monitoring SOPs ... More
Coastal managers chart path forward for promoting optimized restoration and assessment of eelgrass beds
The eelgrass habitat suitability model – described in a SCCWRP technical report published in July – will consist of a mechanistic model for predicting eelgrass growth along Southern California’s coast. ... More
Training workshop developed to help managers use stream bioassessment data effectively
SCCWRP and its partners have developed a training workshop intended to help managers understand how to appropriately use bioassessment data to protect and restore the health of wadeable streams statewide. ... More
State, federal agencies briefed for study examining sediment impacts from oil platform installations
SCCWRP has begun briefing multiple federal and State agencies about plans to evaluate sediment quality near offshore oil platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel – part of a three-year study ... More
Modeling tool developed to predict biological consequences of freshwater salinization
SCCWRP and its partners have developed a modeling tool for predicting how aquatic life becomes increasingly stressed as levels of chloride, sulfate and other ions rise in freshwater ecosystems – ... More
Statewide monitoring framework published for assessing health of estuaries statewide
SCCWRP and its partners have finalized and published a statewide monitoring framework intended to bring consistency to how California assesses the health of its coastal estuaries. The framework, described in ... More
Modeling analysis completed in effort to predict biological consequences of ionic stress
SCCWRP and its partners have completed an analysis of where levels of chlorine, sodium and other ions in the Santa Ana watershed have been elevated above background concentrations – a ... More
Toad distribution modeling completed for stream vulnerability study in San Diego
SCCWRP and its partners have completed development of a species distribution model for assessing the vulnerability of the endangered arroyo toad to future changes in stream flow patterns in the ... More
Sediment contamination from oil platform installations to be studied for potential ecological impacts
SCCWRP has begun working to study piles of seafloor debris known as shell mounds that were created during installation of 26 offshore oil platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel decades ... More
eDNA-based methods being developed to identify endangered, invasive freshwater species
SCCWRP and its partners have begun developing methods for monitoring Southern California endangered and invasive freshwater species by detecting the DNA they shed into their environment, known as environmental DNA ... More
Interactive, web-based stream causal assessment tool developed to ID likely causes of degradation
SCCWRP and its partners have developed a user-friendly, web-based tool to help managers rapidly evaluate the likely vs. unlikely causes of degraded biological condition in streams in the San Gabriel ... More
Workshop works to transition eDNA methods to managers
More than 300 researchers and environmental managers gathered at SCCWRP and online during a national scientific workshop in September to coordinate and advance strategies for transitioning DNA-based methods for identifying ... More
Marine eDNA decay rates to be measured to support development of DNA-based monitoring
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a three-year study to measure how rapidly the DNA that marine organisms shed into their environment decays in ocean water under different environmental conditions ... More
Exploratory work launched to build integrated, multitrophic tool for scoring stream health
SCCWRP and its partners have begun exploring how to build a multitrophic index tool that integrates three lines of evidence about biological condition in wadeable streams to assess overall ecological ... More
Hydrologic modeling completed for stream vulnerability study in San Diego region
SCCWRP has developed a set of hydrologic models for the San Diego region to support an ongoing study documenting how changes in stream flow patterns in the coming years are ... More
Beta version of stream flow classification tool developed for Great Plains region
SCCWRP and its partners have completed development of the beta version of a tool that can rapidly distinguish among perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams in the U.S. Great Plains region, ... More
First regional survey underway to examine health of Southern California eelgrass beds
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a two-year pilot effort to assess the health of Southern California’s coastal eelgrass beds using a new, bioassessment-based monitoring approach that focuses on evaluating ... More
Draft science product released to support development of statewide stream policy
SCCWRP and its partners have released for public comment a draft science product that is expected to serve as the technical foundation for the State Water Board in developing a ... More
Tool developed to help watershed managers prioritize among multiple stream restoration, protection projects
SCCWRP and its partners have developed a set of tools to help California watershed managers identify watershed restoration and protection projects that are most likely to achieve the greatest improvements ... More
Newly discovered algae species named after former SCCWRP scientist
A newly discovered species of algae has been named after former SCCWRP Senior Scientist Dr. A. Elizabeth “Betty” Fetscher in recognition of her decades of contributions to the field of ... More
Classification system under development to distinguish among different types of modified channels
SCCWRP and its partners have begun working to build a classification system for distinguishing among different types of modified channels in California – a foundational step toward helping stream managers ... More
SMC completes intercalibration for stream monitoring program after 2-year hiatus
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has completed an in-person field intercalibration exercise for its Regional Watershed Monitoring Program that demonstrated that program participants have been able to maintain ... More
Modeling tool under development to predict biological consequences of ionic stress
SCCWRP and its partners have begun developing a modeling tool to help Santa Ana River watershed managers understand the relationship between ion levels in the watershed and how aquatic life ... More
Study reshapes understanding of how to manage stream flows to protect ecological health
SCCWRP and its partners have completed a two-year study that has helped reshape understanding of how to manage stream flow patterns in California to optimally protect overall ecological health. The ... More
First regional survey examining health of Southern California eelgrass beds to be launched
SCCWRP and its partners have developed plans to conduct the first regional monitoring survey examining the health of eelgrass beds across coastal Southern California. The two-year monitoring survey, which will ... More
Interactive mapping tool to help managers ID causes of poor stream condition
SCCWRP and its partners are wrapping up production of an initial version of a user-friendly, web-based management tool for helping stream managers rapidly narrow down likely causes of poor stream ... More
SMC study to explore options for improving biological health of modified channels
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has approved a three-year, SCCWRP-led study to be launched next year that will evaluate multiple potential management options for improving the biological health ... More
International partnership established to assess health of Baja California estuaries
SCCWRP has built a partnership with researchers in Mexico to assess the health of coastal estuaries in Baja California next year using a proposed estuarine monitoring framework developed for California. ... More
SCCWRP asked to host national workshop on transitioning eDNA to management applications
SCCWRP has been asked to host a national scientific workshop next year focused on helping water-quality managers make use of the DNA that aquatic organisms shed into their environment – ... More
Bight partnerships to expand understanding of acidification
The Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program is partnering with three other West Coast marine monitoring groups this summer to produce the most comprehensive picture to date of how ocean ... More
Draft SOPs developed for monitoring estuaries statewide
SCCWRP and its partners have developed a set of standardized methods for collecting field data on the health of California’s coastal estuaries, part of an ongoing effort to develop a ... More
Stream causal assessment tool under development to ID likely causes of degradation
SCCWRP and its partners have begun developing a user-friendly, web-based tool to help managers rapidly evaluate the likely vs. unlikely causes of degraded biological condition in streams. The web interface ... More
SCCWRP guiding development of DNA-based stream bioassessment programs in Alaska
SCCWRP has begun working with the federal Bureau of Land Management in Alaska to build capacity to evaluate the health of waterways using DNA-based tools for conducting routine bioassessment work. ... More
Tool released to help determine whether streams subject to Clean Water Act oversight
A SCCWRP-developed tool that can help watershed managers determine which streams the federal government has jurisdiction to regulate under the Clean Water Act has been released in beta form for ... More
Algae DNA being sequenced to build molecular version of stream health scoring tool
SCCWRP and its partners have begun sequencing the DNA of hundreds of stream algae samples in preparation for building a molecular version of the statewide Algal Stream Condition Index scoring ... More
Workplan developed for third cycle of SMC’s regional stream monitoring program
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has finalized plans for the third cycle of its Regional Watershed Monitoring Program that kicks off this spring. The cyclical program’s workplan – ... More
Study to probe role of channel modification, eutrophication in impacting Central Valley watershed health
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a three-year effort to determine the degree to which human modifications to Central Valley watersheds are triggering harmful algal blooms and other eutrophication issues ... More
Draft protocols developed for standardizing DNA-based sampling, analysis methods
A statewide workgroup led by SCCWRP that has been working to standardize DNA-based sampling and analysis methods for routine aquatic monitoring applications has released its first set of draft protocols ... More
Resources unveiled to boost utility, accessibility of stream bioassessment data statewide
SCCWRP has unveiled a comprehensive set of resources intended to overcome common end-user challenges associated with analyzing, accessing and interpreting stream bioassessment data – challenges that have stymied more widespread ... More
Stream flow classification tool receives preliminary endorsement, to be rolled out across U.S. Southwest
A new tool that can rapidly distinguish among perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams in the U.S. Southwest has received preliminary endorsement from a technical steering committee, paving the way for ... More
Study probing how to apply bioassessment tools to modified channels statewide
SCCWRP has launched a three-year effort to explore when and how bioassessment scoring tools should be used to evaluate the health of California streams that have been modified through channel ... More
Three-tiered framework developed for assessing health of seagrass beds
SCCWRP has developed a three-tiered framework incorporating bioassessment methods to help environmental managers across coastal California comprehensively evaluate the health of eelgrass and other types of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). ... More
Pilot study incorporates eDNA identification methods into routine stream monitoring
SCCWRP and its partners have shown in a proof-of-concept study that regional stream monitoring programs can be used to track endangered and invasive aquatic species using the environmental DNA – ... More
Guidance developed on how to work through issues affecting usability of stream bioassessment data
SCCWRP has developed detailed guidance for California watershed managers on how to identify and work through common factors that can affect the usability of stream bioassessment data, including when it’s ... More
Ecological health of areas near offshore oil platforms evaluated
SCCWRP and the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have completed a two-year study examining the ecological health of the area surrounding offshore oil platforms in the Santa Barbara ... More
DNA-based methods for identifying algae shown to be reliable, possibly more insightful
SCCWRP and its partners have shown in a proof-of-concept study that using DNA methods to conduct algae-based assessments of stream health offers a reliable, cost-effective alternative to traditional biological assessment ... More
Ephemeral stream bioassessment tools show promise for monitoring oil spills
SCCWRP and its partners at California State University, Monterey Bay, have shown in a proof-of-concept study that bioassessment tools designed to evaluate the health of ephemeral streams have the potential ... More
Study launched to determine chances of improving condition of Bay Area streams
SCCWRP has been invited by stormwater managers in the San Francisco Bay Area to participate in a one-year study that will shed light on where managers are more vs. less ... More
DNA-based algae identification methods show promise for stream condition assessments
SCCWRP and its partners have shown in a proof-of-concept study that DNA sequencing methods have the potential to be incorporated into algae-based assessments of stream condition. During the multi-year study ... More
Ephemeral streams condition index being developed using locally collected bioindicator data
SCCWRP and its partners have begun using biological indicator data collected from dry streams across Southern California to refine the design of a set of new tools for assessing ephemeral ... More
Study completed to characterize benthic infaunal communities living in Bight continental slope
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and SCCWRP have completed a three-year project to comprehensively characterize sediment-dwelling infaunal communities that live in the continental slope region of the ... More
Three key stream condition indicators integrated via index
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) and SCCWRP have developed a new assessment tool that synthesizes three key lines of evidence about the ecological health of wadeable streams to ... More
Science products endorsed as foundation for crafting statewide stream policy
An expert scientific panel has endorsed a set of draft science products developed by SCCWRP as a strong technical foundation for crafting a State Water Board policy intended to better ... More
Bioassessment scores to be extrapolated for 4 modified streams via statistical modeling
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a one-year study to determine the geographical extent to which ecological condition scores calculated for four modified streams in California may be extrapolated ... More
New modeling tool to help speed up causal assessment work
SCCWRP and its partners have developed a statistical modeling tool for conducting causal assessments that could help shave a year or more off the time required to narrow down potential ... More
Study examining extrapolation limits of bioassessment scores in engineered channels
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a study exploring the spatial extent to which ecological condition scores calculated for sites in engineered and modified channels may be extrapolated to upstream ... More
SCCWRP participating in EPA study on how green infrastructure influences stream water quality
SCCWRP has been asked to participate in a national study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development evaluating whether low impact development (LID) solutions for improving ... More
Expert panel reviewing science tools for proposed stream biointegrity-biostimulatory policy
A panel of scientific experts has launched a comprehensive review of a suite of technical products co-authored by SCCWRP that are intended to support the State Water Board in developing ... More
Scoring tool developed to quantify habitat condition
SCCWRP and its partners have developed a statewide scoring tool for quantifying the condition of a stream’s physical habitat, enabling watershed managers for the first time to readily interpret and ... More
Science tools for proposed stream biointegrity-biostimulatory policy released in draft form
The State Water Board has published draft versions of a suite of technical reports, journal manuscripts and tools co-authored by SCCWRP that will serve as the technical foundation for the ... More
New workgroup to standardize DNA-based methods for routine aquatic monitoring
The California Water Quality Monitoring Council has formed a statewide workgroup to be led by SCCWRP that will examine how to bring greater consistency and standardization to DNA-based analysis methods ... More
Ephemeral stream scoring tools being transitioned to management use
A new set of tools co-developed by SCCWRP to assess the condition of ephemeral streams when they are dry is being transitioned to pilot testing by the end-user management community. ... More
Effort launched to develop West Coast DNA barcoding library for marine invertebrates
The Smithsonian Institute has partnered with SCCWRP, the Southern California Bight 2018 Regional Monitoring Program and the Western Association of Marine Labs to begin developing a DNA barcoding library that ... More
Agreement reached on DNA processing, analysis methods for stream food webs study
The technical advisory group for a study examining how ecological stress alters the complexity and interconnectedness of stream food webs has reached agreement on the DNA processing and analysis methods ... More
Effort launched to develop prototype causal assessment screening tool
SCCWRP and its partners in October began developing a management tool for rapidly narrowing down potential causes of degraded ecological condition in California streams and coastal waters, part of an ... More
Study shows flow classification tool can be adapted to distinguish intermittent and ephemeral streams in Southwest
SCCWRP and its partners have shown in a proof-of-concept study that a flow classification tool that can rapidly distinguish intermittent streams from ephemeral streams in the Pacific Northwest is feasible ... More
Study exploring how to dramatically streamline stream causal assessments
SCCWRP and its partners have begun test-driving a novel approach to assessing stream health that has the potential to shave a year or more off the time required to determine ... More
Study sheds light on how to improve DNA sequencing analysis methods to ID organisms
SCCWRP and its partners have completed a two-year study shedding light on best-practices approaches for analyzing raw DNA sequencing data to identify the organisms present in an environmental sample, the ... More
Stream food webs to be examined in study to better integrate stream assessment tools
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a three-year effort to better integrate stream condition assessment tools in California by examining how ecological stress alters the complexity and interconnectedness of stream ... More
Management impacts of stream biointegrity policies explored in new SMC report
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has released a comprehensive new report chronicling how the region’s stream management community will potentially be impacted by new and proposed changes to ... More
Science tools for proposed biointegrity-biostimulatory policy to be released this summer
SCCWRP and its partners will begin soliciting public comments this summer on a series of new scientific tools and synthesis reports that will form the technical backbone for a proposed ... More
EPA Pacific Northwest stream tool being tested in Southwest
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a study to investigate whether a stream management tool that can rapidly distinguish intermittent streams from ephemeral streams in the Pacific Northwest is feasible ... More
Algae-based stream scoring tool to be finalized this fall
An assessment tool that will score the ecological health of California wadeable streams by analyzing algal communities is scheduled to be finalized and published as early as this fall. The ... More
New interactive mapping app helps visualize chances of improving stream condition
SCCWRP and its partners have developed a web-based interactive mapping program to help stream managers visualize where in the San Gabriel River watershed they are more vs. less likely to ... More
Causal assessment tools being tested in pair of case studies
SCCWRP and its partners have initiated a pair of case studies to demonstrate a set of new causal assessment tools designed to rapidly narrow potential causes of degraded ecological condition ... More
Effort launched to adapt ephemeral stream bioassessment tools for oil spill monitoring
SCCWRP and its partners have kicked off a study examining whether bioassessment tools being developed to assess the health of ephemeral streams also can be used to assess ecological damage ... More
Technical foundation created for ephemeral stream tools
SCCWRP and its partners have completed a pair of studies that establish a technical foundation for building watershed management tools for Southern California streams that run dry for much of ... More
DNA sequencing used to identify larval fish
SCCWRP and its partners have completed a proof-of-concept study showing that DNA sequencing methods can be used to identify communities of ichthyoplankton, or the eggs and larvae of fish, collected ... More
Stream assessment tool under development to score physical habitat condition
SCCWRP and its partners have developed a preliminary version of a stream assessment tool that can quantitatively score the condition of physical habitat using field data collected during routine monitoring ... More
Condition bioindicators to be developed for ephemeral streams
SCCWRP and its partners are launching a three-year project to develop bioindicators for ephemeral streams in California and Arizona, following the successful completion of a proof-of-concept study showing that these ... More
Initial development work completed for algae-based stream scoring tool
SCCWRP and its partners have completed initial development work on an assessment tool that will score the ecological health of California wadeable streams by analyzing the condition of in-stream algal ... More
SCCWRP exploring expanded use of extrapolation modeling technique for stream condition assessments
SCCWRP and its partners are exploring how to expand use of a modeling technique for extrapolating bioassessment results to unmonitored stream reaches, following the completion of a pilot study that ... More
SCCWRP begins documenting persistence of eDNA in stream environments
SCCWRP has completed a pilot study examining how long the environmental DNA signal of an organism lingers in a stream following the removal of the source organism, part of an ... More
SMC kicks off Year 3 field sampling for second cycle of stream monitoring program
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition in March kicked off Year 3 of field sampling for the second five-year cycle of its regional stream monitoring program. The SMC Regional Watershed ... More
Demonstration maps reveal extrapolation limits of stream condition scores
SCCWRP has generated a series of maps that reveal the geographical extent to which ecological condition scores calculated for stream sampling sites may be extrapolated to unsampled reaches upstream and ... More
SMC completes analysis of bioassessment scores for engineered channels
The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition has completed a comprehensive analysis of the range of ecological condition scores obtained when engineered channels across coastal Southern California are scored using existing ... More
Experts create gradient for interpreting stream scores
A 16-member expert panel convened to interpret bioassessment scores for wadeable streams statewide has reached consensus on how the scores correspond to various ranges of ecological condition. The Biological Condition ... More
Year 1 field sampling wraps up for developing intermittent stream bioindicators
SCCWRP and its partners have completed Year 1 of field sampling for a study investigating the feasibility of using terrestrial arthropods, riparian insects and bryophytes (e.g., mosses) to assess the ... More
Year 1 field sampling wraps up for developing intermittent stream bioindicators
SCCWRP and its partners have completed Year 1 of field sampling for a study investigating the feasibility of using terrestrial arthropods, riparian insects and bryophytes (e.g., mosses) to assess the ... More
Expert panel weighs in on extrapolation limits of stream condition scores
SCCWRP and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife convened an expert panel in September to review how far stream condition scores calculated for a given stream sampling site can ... More
Sampling completed for ichthyoplankton project
SCCWRP and two of its member agencies completed field sampling in June for a project that will evaluate DNA-based methods for identifying ichthyoplankton, which are the eggs and larvae of ... More
Arthropods, bryophytes being developed as condition bioindicators for intermittent streams
SCCWRP and California State University, Monterey Bay, in June launched a study to investigate the feasibility of using terrestrial arthropods and bryophytes (e.g., mosses) to assess the biological condition of ... More
Method comparison study seeks to assess utility of using DNA to identify stream algae
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a first-of-its-kind study to determine whether DNA-based methods can reliably be used to identify algae in wadeable streams across California, a finding that could ... More
Study to investigate extrapolation limits of stream condition scores
SCCWRP and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in August will launch a study seeking to clarify how far stream condition scores calculated for a single stream site can ... More
SCCWRP unveils algaeMetrics tool to simplify algae-based bioassessment calculations
SCCWRP has created a free online tool to help Southern California stream managers and scientists automatically generate stream bioassessment scores using raw algae data collected from wadeable streams. The algaeMetrics ... More
SCCWRP hosts kickoff meeting to develop statewide algae assessment program
SCCWRP hosted a day-long kickoff meeting with state, federal and local agencies in January to begin developing a statewide freshwater bioassessment program that uses algae as the indicator of waterbody ... More
SCCWRP transitioning new stream condition scoring tool to managers
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a series of outreach and training exercises to teach watershed managers how to use a new scoring tool for evaluating the biological health of ... More
Expert panel evaluates SCCWRP nutrient science plan
A four-member expert review panel tasked with reviewing a science plan supporting the State Water Board’s effort to develop nutrient objectives for California wadeable streams has concluded that SCCWRP’s approach ... More
CTAG user groups delve into next-gen tech projects at first meetings
Two new CTAG user groups that will pool together resources and expertise from SCCWRP’s member agencies to tackle next-generation data acquisition and visualization technology projects met for the first time ... More
Standard protocols for estuary assessments published in manual
The Santa Monica Bay Foundation and its partners, including SCCWRP, have completed a draft guidance document that establishes standard protocols for monitoring and assessing coastal lagoons and intertidal estuaries in ... More
SCCWRP applies bioassessment index to streams statewide
A new scoring tool that was developed to assess the biological condition of California’s wadeable streams has been applied for the first time to all wadeable streams statewide, with the ... More
Stream survey tracks biological degradation across Southern California
A five-year monitoring study of Southern California’s perennial wadeable streams has found that 75% of the region’s 4,300 miles of streams are degraded, with no discernable improvements in the health ... More