Presentation Abstract
More than 20 organizations throughout Puget Sound have active biomonitoring programs to assess stream condition using the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI). There has been a net decline in the biological condition of small Puget Sound streams since 2007 as shown by B-IBI scores, a Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) vital sign indicator. King County has been awarded funds from the Washington Department of Ecology to identify and prioritize streams for protection and restoration, addressing two PSP Action Agenda recovery targets. This project will develop a decision framework for prioritizing restoration work, and will develop strategies and cost estimates to (1) preserve drainages with “excellent” B-IBI scores and (2) restore 30 drainages from “fair” to “good” B-IBI scores. Based on B-IBI scores from nearly 1,200 sites sampled between 1994 and 2013, 119 sites scored “excellent” one or more times, but only 28 sites averaged “excellent”. 642 sites scored “fair” one or more times and 452 sites averaged “fair”. Proposed criteria such as watershed urbanization, basin area, forest fragmentation and other factors will be presented for prioritizing and choosing which 30 streams or basins to restore from “fair” to “good”. This prioritization process will give local jurisdictions the greatest chance for implementing successful restoration and preservation actions that improve stream condition as measured by B-IBI.
Session Title
Session S-05C: Using Stream Bugs to Manage and Restore Watersheds
Conference Track
Freshwater
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 10:30 AM
End Date
1-5-2014 12:00 PM
Location
Room 606
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Stream health--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Watershed; Water quality biological assessment--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Watershed; Stream restoration--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Watershed
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puget Sound Watershed (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Using B-IBI to Identify Puget Sound Watersheds for Restoration and Protection
Room 606
More than 20 organizations throughout Puget Sound have active biomonitoring programs to assess stream condition using the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI). There has been a net decline in the biological condition of small Puget Sound streams since 2007 as shown by B-IBI scores, a Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) vital sign indicator. King County has been awarded funds from the Washington Department of Ecology to identify and prioritize streams for protection and restoration, addressing two PSP Action Agenda recovery targets. This project will develop a decision framework for prioritizing restoration work, and will develop strategies and cost estimates to (1) preserve drainages with “excellent” B-IBI scores and (2) restore 30 drainages from “fair” to “good” B-IBI scores. Based on B-IBI scores from nearly 1,200 sites sampled between 1994 and 2013, 119 sites scored “excellent” one or more times, but only 28 sites averaged “excellent”. 642 sites scored “fair” one or more times and 452 sites averaged “fair”. Proposed criteria such as watershed urbanization, basin area, forest fragmentation and other factors will be presented for prioritizing and choosing which 30 streams or basins to restore from “fair” to “good”. This prioritization process will give local jurisdictions the greatest chance for implementing successful restoration and preservation actions that improve stream condition as measured by B-IBI.
