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The role of sampling density in the accuracy of water quality assessment: A case study of 9 Ohio watersheds and the Wadeable Streams Assessment

Peterson, Sarah Jonell
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1313516281

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, Environmental Sciences.
State and federal agencies measure water quality in streams using different sampling regimes. The Ohio EPA uses geometric sampling of 80+ sites in 11 digit HUC watersheds, whereas the US EPA uses probabilistic sampling of 25 sites in Ohio. I analyzed OEPA fish (IBI) and macroinvertebrate (ICI) indices from 9 watersheds (3 agricultural, 3 urban, and 3 with little disturbance) along with US EPA data. Results suggest that the number of sites sampled by OEPA is insufficient to reproduce statistically similar IBI or ICI scores. Most sites should be sampled on third order streams and the least on first and fifth order streams. Similarly, more sites should be sampled in agricultural watersheds than in least disturbed or urban watersheds. IBI scores from OEPA and US EPA were positively correlated, but ICI scores were negatively correlated. Both OEPA and US EPA need to collect more data to manage and improve watersheds.
Donna McCollum, PhD (Advisor)
Thomas Crist, PhD (Committee Member)
Robert Schaefer, PhD (Committee Member)
45 p.
Biology; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Geography
biocriteria; streams; EPA; sampling; water quality; Ohio; stream order; agricultural; urban; watershed, IBI, ICI; QHEI

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Peterson, S. J. (2011). The role of sampling density in the accuracy of water quality assessment: A case study of 9 Ohio watersheds and the Wadeable Streams Assessment [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1313516281

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Peterson, Sarah. The role of sampling density in the accuracy of water quality assessment: A case study of 9 Ohio watersheds and the Wadeable Streams Assessment. 2011. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1313516281.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Peterson, Sarah. "The role of sampling density in the accuracy of water quality assessment: A case study of 9 Ohio watersheds and the Wadeable Streams Assessment." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1313516281

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.