Page Intentionally Left Blank Methods for Collecting Macroinvertebrate Samples As Required For TMDL Alternative Studies and/or Watershed-based Plans Effective Date: September 30, 2015 Page 2 of 122 Document Revision History Date of Revision Page(s) Revised Revision Explanation September 2015 All Methods for Collecting Macroinvertebrate Samples As Required For TMDL Alternative Studies and/or Watershed- based Plans; original document; extracted in part from “Methods for Conducting Resource Extraction Individual Permit Intensive Surveys in Non-OSRW Streams of the Eastern Kentucky Coalfields, June 2014, Revision 2” Suggested Citation: Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW). 2015. Methods for Collecting Macroinvertebrate Samples As Required For TMDL Alternative Studies and/or Watershed-based Plans. Department for Environmental Protection. Division of Water, Frankfort, Kentucky. Methods for Collecting Macroinvertebrate Samples As Required For TMDL Alternative Studies and/or Watershed-based Plans Effective Date: September 30, 2015 Page 3 of 122 Table of Contents 1. Scope and Applicability .................................................................................................. 6 2. Definitions....................................................................................................................... 6 3. Personnel Qualifications ................................................................................................. 7 4. Equipment and Supplies ................................................................................................. 7 4.A. Equipment for Macroinvertebrate Collection ............................................................. 7 4.B. Equipment for Macroinvertebrate Sample Analysis ................................................... 8 5. Study Plan ....................................................................................................................... 8 6. Water Chemistry and In-Situ Physicochemical Collection and Processing Methods .... 8 7. Habitat Assessment Methods .......................................................................................... 8 7.A. Habitat Assessment Periods ........................................................................................ 9 7.B. High- vs. Low-Gradient Streams ................................................................................ 9 7.C. High-Gradient Habitat Assessment Procedures .......................................................... 9 7.C.1. Parameters for High-Gradient Habitat Assessment ............................................... 11 7.C.2. High-Gradient Habitat Narrative Scoring Ratings ................................................. 13 7.D. Low-Gradient Habitat Assessment Procedures......................................................... 15 7.D.1. Parameters for Low-Gradient Habitat Assessment ................................................ 16 7.D.2. Low-Gradient Habitat Narrative Scoring Ratings ................................................. 19 7.E. Photodocumentation .................................................................................................. 20 8. Macroinvertebrate Field Collection Methods ............................................................... 20 8.A. High-Gradient Streams ............................................................................................. 20 8.A.1. High-Gradient Stream Type ................................................................................... 20 8.A.2. High-Gradient Sampling Periods ........................................................................... 20 8.A.3. High-Gradient Sampling Reach ............................................................................. 21 8.A.4. High-Gradient Sampling Methods ......................................................................... 21 8.A.4.A. Wadeable High-Gradient Procedures ................................................................. 21 8.A.4.B. Headwater High-Gradient Procedures................................................................ 25 8.B. Low-Gradient Streams .............................................................................................. 27 8.B.1. Low-Gradient Stream Type .................................................................................... 27 8.B.2. Low-Gradient Sampling Periods ............................................................................ 27 8.B.3. Low-Gradient Sampling Reach .............................................................................. 28 8.B.4. Low-Gradient Sampling Method (20 Jab) ............................................................. 28 8.C. Sample Labeling ........................................................................................................ 30 8.D. Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Sampling Procedures ........................... 31 9. Macroinvertebrate Laboratory Methods ....................................................................... 31 9.A. Logging Samples....................................................................................................... 31 9.B. Sample Preservation .................................................................................................. 32 9.C. Sample Processing..................................................................................................... 32 9.C.1. Full Pick Method .................................................................................................... 32 9.C.2. 300 + 20% Pick Sub-Sampling Method ................................................................. 33 9.C.3. High-Gradient Multi-Habitat Sample Scan ............................................................ 33 9.D. Taxonomy ................................................................................................................. 34 9.E. Data and Records Management ................................................................................. 34 9.F. Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Laboratory Procedures ......................... 34 Methods for Collecting Macroinvertebrate Samples As Required For TMDL Alternative Studies and/or Watershed-based Plans Effective Date: September 30, 2015 Page 4 of 122 10. Macroinvertebrate Data Analysis-Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Index (MBI) ... 35 11. Data Reporting ............................................................................................................ 38 12. References ................................................................................................................... 39 12.A. General References ................................................................................................. 39 12.B. Macroinvertebrate Taxonomic References ............................................................. 41 List of Figures Figure 1. Bioregions of Kentucky ..................................................................................... 14 Figure 2. Narrative habitat scoring ratings for the Bluegrass, Pennyroyal and Mountain Bioregions ......................................................................................................................... 15 Figure 3. Bioregions of Kentucky ..................................................................................... 19 Figure 4. Narrative habitat scoring ratings for the Mississippi Valley Interior River Bioregion ........................................................................................................................................... 20 Figure 5. Summary of sampling methods for wadeable high-gradient streams ............... 24 Figure 6. Summary of sampling methods for headwater high-gradient streams .............. 27 Figure 7. Summary of the proportional 20 jab method for low-gradient streams ............ 28 List of Appendices A. Qualifications for an Environmental Biologist Consultant ........... 52 B. High-Gradient Habitat Assessment Sheet .................................................................... 55 C. Low-Gradient Habitat Assessment Sheet ..................................................................... 59 D. High- and Low-Gradient Multi-habitat Checklists ...................................................... 63 E. Master Macroinvertebrate Species List ........................................................................ 69 F. Macroinvertebrate Bench Sheet .................................................................................. 121 G. Examples of Data Summary Species Lists ................................................................ 126 Methods for Collecting Macroinvertebrate Samples As Required For TMDL Alternative Studies and/or Watershed-based Plans Effective Date: September 30, 2015 Page 5 of 122 1. Scope and Applicability This manual has been developed by the Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) as guidance for any biologist or environmental professional involved in the uniform and accurate collection, field processing, field handling, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of habitat and macroinvertebrate data for TMDL alternative studies and watershed-based plans. The methods defined herein must be followed in order for the data to be used in water quality assessments by KDOW. Any data submitted to KDOW for review will undergo QA/QC and those identified as not following the methods set forth in this document will be flagged and reviewed for data usability. 2. Definitions Aufwuchs – The plants and animals adhering to parts of rooted aquatic plants and other open surfaces.