About Bioassessment
Although
the information provided through this site is largely
technical, it is aimed at a mixture of audiences.
Individuals interested in a general, minimally technical
overview of the program may want to explore the topics
under the "Public Information" heading (on the
main page). The
public
information brochure presents information on
Florida's watersheds, water quality monitoring, why we
study biological communities, what a bioassessment
involves, how the results of a bioassessment can be used,
as well as some information on bioassessments in action
at the Florida DEP.
Bioassessment
101- A Primer on the Use of Biological Organisms to
Assess Water Quality
One of
the main difficulties facing nonpoint source pollution
management has been the lack of techniques to monitor and
assess impacts. Traditional methods have remained
largely inadequate due to the transient and unpredictable
nature of nonpoint source pollution. A promising
answer to this problem has come from the area of
biomonitoring. Biomonitoring is the use of a
biological entity as a detector of environmental stress.
It has long been known that resident biota in a water
body function as continual natural monitors of
environmental quality, capable of detecting the effects
of both episodic as well as cumulative pollution and
habitat alteration. By monitoring the composition,
abundance and health of these biological communities, we
are able to determine the long term water quality of our
streams, lakes, wetlands, rivers and estuaries.
Bioassessment
Program Responsibilities
- Coordinating
the activities of the state's Biocriteria Committee-
a group of scientists, analysts, and managers who
steer and implement the bioassessment activities
occurring around the state
- Managing
research contracts with university and private sector
investigators to refine the ongoing work of the
program and to extend the reach of the program into
new ecosystems
- Providing
technical assistance through geographic information
systems projects and statistical analyses to DEP
District biologists as well as contracted researchers
- Facilitating
the flow of information between the ever increasing
stakeholders involved in the implementation of
biological monitoring throughout the state, including
entities within the DEP (ecosystem managers, district
biologists, program administrators, regulators, etc.)
and from outside of the agency (EPA, tribal groups,
Florida's water management districts, private
consultants, university researchers, etc.)
- Serving
on various national committees to further the
development and implementation of biocriteria.
For
more information please contact Devan Cobb at 850/245-8542 or
devan.r.cobb@dep.state.fl.us. |
