The EPA Catchments Unit held its 2018 annual Catchment Management Network Meeting on 14 November. All our local authorities and many other public bodies are invited to this meeting to talk about how to protect and improve Ireland's waters.

1. An introduction to concept of Rapid Assessment and
Small Stream Impact Score
Bryan Kennedy
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Unit
Office of Evidence and Assessment
Environmental Protection Agency
Twitter: @epaecology

2. Rapid Assessment & Small Stream Impact Score
 Brief overview of the approach to using biological indicators as
part of Local Catchment Assessment
 How does it differ from predecessor systems & what value does it
bring?
 SSIS = Small Stream Impact Score
 RA = Rapid Assessment

3. Why biological indicators?
 The WFD is an ecological Directive
 Biological indicators have a long history of use
Research community – e.g. developing new metrics; Other uses – e.g.
compliance monitoring, planning & specialist studies; EPA – e.g. for WFD
Classification.
 For Local Catchment Assessment
 Can tell us if there is a problem.
 Can help to locate the likely source of a significant pressure.
 Will often provide insight to help understand the relevant
pressure.
 Contribute in a major way to the evidence base which
underpins “the right measure in the right place”.

4. A good start made - SSRS
 Biological risk assessment approach to detecting potential sources
of pollution.
 Main aim – support the Program of Measures.
Application of SSRS in the Glenamoy Catchment
(December 2005).>3200 SSRS in 2006
 First accessible field based biological assessment for non-
specialists

5. Why a new approach is required?
 Biological responses can be complex and multiple
environmental stressors can be important at different
scales.
 A combination of the multidisciplinary datasets gives the
best opportunity to understand the dominant processes
driving ecological status …
… catchment characterisation, habitat condition (e.g. morphology, substrate quality,
%-DO, pH etc.) with biological indicators (invertebrate, macroalgae & macrophytes).

6. RA & SSIS Approach
 Builds on the progress of Small Stream Risk Score (SSRS) but with
emphasis more on “diagnosis” now rather than evaluating “risk of achieving
objectives”.
 Some additional indicators incorporated to help us better understand “how
our rivers work”.
 Allows for the systematic and efficient data capture using key biological
indicators for “local catchment assessments” & “river walks”.
 No new metrics – but an improved flow of information & data
 Collaborative effort: Investigative Assessment Development Group
Catchment Science & Management Unit, LIMNOS, EMAU & LAWPRO.

7. Content of the Guidance
 Volume 4 sets out the rationale for the approach (SSIS & RA), the biological indicators to
be monitored & brief notes to help guide interpretation of the data (e.g. seasonality – river
gradient – lake outflows, potamon rivers etc.).
 Summary biological data – supports the desktop assessment and the starting point for a
field investigation.
 Appendix B – provides field ID guides & fieldsheets to allow the relevant indicators to be
confidently assessed and recorded.

8. The Biological Indicators (INV)
Heptageniidae
• Important group of pollution sensitive
“stone-clingers” distinguishable in the
field.
• Important to note multiple instars or
“generations” (distinctly larger versus
smaller nymphs co-occurring in the
sample).
• Very earliest instars of Ecdyonurus and
Heptagenia can be difficult to separate –
a handlense and favourable lighting
often required to do this in the field.
Ecdyonurus
• Backward projection on pronotum gives
“wider” appearance – diagnostic for
Ecdyonurus.
Heptagenia
• Lacks backward projection giving
narrower profile.
• (includes Electrogena & Kageronia)
Rhithrogena
• Distinctive spot visible on femur of each
leg.

9. The Biological Indicators (MAL)
Diatom Biofilm
The first two of these indicators
may be important in oligotrophic or
former high status waterbodies
(see text).
Enhanced biofilm (EBIO) – when the
biofilm on substrate becomes
thickened - excessively thickened,
by diatom (brown slick) or other
accelerated growths of the
phytobenthos.
Filamentous diatoms (FDIA) –
delicate trailing filaments of
diatoms that fragment when
touched.
Mucilaginous diatoms (GDIA) -
Globular - amorphous colonies of
diatoms (often Gomphonema
minutum) that are gelatinous and
often golden yellow coloured (pure
white colonies also can be found
and have a different trophic
optimum). Slimy to touch.
Didyomosphenia (DIDY) -
Has a texture like cotton wool -
clean white to dirty brown
(indicating older colony covered in
epiphytes).

10. The Biological Indicators (MPY)

11. Linkages with EPA Assessment

12. SSIS fieldsheet
SURVEYDETAIL SAMPLETIME(min) RELATIVEABUNDANCECATEGORIES(RA*)
Habitat sampled: SUMMARY
Wet width (m): SAMPLETAXON NUMBER
Avg. sample depth (m): INVERT. DENSITY(E/ A/ M / L/ S)
1: EPHEMEROPTERA RA* 2: PLECOPTERA RA* 3: TRICHOPTERA RA*
Ecdyonurus ○ Perla ○ Limnephilidae ○
Heptagenia ○ Dinocras ○ Sericostomatidae ○
Rhithrogena ○ Isoperla ○ Glossosomatidae ○
Ephemera danica ○ Chloroperla ○ Lepidostomatidae ○
Ephemerellidae ○ Protonemura ○ Hydropsychidae ○
Paraleptophlebia ○ Amphinemura ○ Polycentropodidae ○
Caenis ○ Leuctra ○ Rhyacophila ○
Other ________________ Other ________________ Philopotamidae ○
Baetidae ○ RA ←not SSRS Other ________________ Other ________________
Total no. SSRS Ephemeroptera Total no. Plecoptera taxa Total no. Trichoptera taxa
sum RA sum RA sum RA
Indexscore A Indexscore B Indexscore C
4: G.Ol.D RA* G.OL.D RA* OTHERTAXA(not SSRS) RA*
Radix balthica(G) ○ Dicranota (D) ○ Gammarus ○
Potamopygrus(G) ○ Tipulidae (D) ○ Crangonyx ○
Planorbis(G) ○ Chironomidae (D) ○ Riffle beetle ○
Ancylus(G) ○ Chironomus(D) ○ Leech ○
Physa(G) ○ Other ________________ Flatworm ○
Lumbriculus(OL) ○ Other ________________ Odonata ○
Eiseniella(OL) ○ Other ________________ Other ________________
Tubificidae (OL) ○ Total no. G.Ol.D taxa Other ________________
Simuliidae (D) ○ sum RA Other ________________
Ceratopogonidae (D) ○ Indexscore D Other ________________
Asellusabsent (4) tick box
Asellusfew 1-20 (2) tick box Total IndexScore (A+B+C+D+E) >7.25 Probably not significantly impacted
Aselluscommon > 20 (0) tick box Average IndexScore (Total IS / 5) >6.5-7.25 Indeterminate. Evidence of impact
E: Asellus indexscore( 4 - 2 - 0 ) SSRScore = (Average IS) x 2 <6.5 Probably impacted
Macrophyte Ab. Ab. Macroalgae Ab.
absent? absent?
Bacterial tufts Ab.
absent?
general comments:
SMALL STREAM IMPACT SCORE (SSIS) v1.1
pond-net: 2 stone wash: 1 weed-sweep:
Phototrophic indicators & bacterial tufts ( X the box to confirm absence - NV for not visible)
Channel vegetation cover: Dominant - Abundant - Frequent - Occasional - Rare - Absent - NV
Channel vegetation density: Excessive (>75%) - Extensive (50 - 75%) - High (25-50%) - Moderate (10-25%) - Low (<10%) - Absent - NV
Location ID (or GR):
Time:
Follows original scheme with …
 Physical habitat features recorded with
HYMO indicators
 Some additional indicator taxa &
groups
 Renaming of impact categories

13. Rapid Assessment (RA)
Which example is
indicative of a problem?

14. Rapid Assessment (RA)
Location ID(orGR) Indicator
(INV - MAL - MPY)
Code Ab.
Rapid Assessment (SSIS) v1.1
Comment
riffle R Excessive E
glide G Abundant A
pool P Moderate M
margins M Low L
Very sparse S
Excessive E Dominant (˃75%) D Dominant (˃75%) D
Abundant A Abundant (˃50%- ≤75%) A Abundant (˃50%- ≤75%) A
Moderate M Frequent (˃25%- ≤50%) F Frequent (˃25%- ≤50%) F
Low L Occasional (˃5%- ≤25%) O Occasional (˃5%- ≤25%) O
Very few S Rare (≤5%) R Rare (≤5%) R
Absent AB Absent Ab Absent Ab
Not visible NV Not visible NV
Not surveyed NS Not surveyed NS
Sensitive taxa SENV Cyanobacterial mat CYMT Channel vegetation biomass PTBI
Less Sensitive taxa LSEV Cladophora agg. CLAD Emergent vegetation EVG
Tolerant taxa TOLI Vaucheria VAU Bryophyte BRYO
Very Tolerant taxa VTOL Filamentous green algae FGA Moss MOS
Most Tolerant taxa PTOL Stigeoclonium STIC Liverwort (acid-very acid taxa only) LIVT
Heptageniidae HPT Ulva ULVA Emergent broad-leaved EBLV
Ecdyonurus ECD Drapnaraldia DRAP Emergent reeds/sedges/rushes ERSR
Ephemoptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera EPT Batrachospermum BRTC Floating-leaved (rooted) FLOT
Baetidae BAT Lemanea LEMA Free floating FREE
Snails SNL Thickened biofilm TBIO Amphibious AMPH
Chironomidae CHR Filamentous diatoms FDIA Submerged broad-leaved SBLV
Simuliidae SIU Mucilaginous diatoms GDIA Submerged linear-leaved SLLV
Gammarus GAM Didyomosphenia DIDY Submerged fine-leaved SFLV
Asellus ASL Calcified algae CALH Opportunistic algae OPPA
Tubificidae TUB Nostoc NOSC Leptodictyon riparium LPYR
Invertebrate community depapurate INVD Cyanobacterial colonies CYMC Sparganium erectum SPER
Chaetophora CHA Schoenoplectus SCIP
Other macroalgae OMAC Fontinalis antipyretica FATY
FGA - low alkalinity community FGLA Fontinalis squamosa FSQA
Bulbochaete BULB Ranunculus RAN
Stigonema STIG
Macrophyte Indicator (MPY)Invertebrate Indicator (INV)
(indicative %-cover for guidance only)
MYP Cover observation
(intermediate categories can be used on fieldsheet)(the predominate or add multiple categories)
Macroalgal Indicators (MAL)
substrate quality
extent siltation & compaction
extent of shading if significant
extent calcification if present
All relevant Habitat criteria must be noted
on Master Sheet (e.g.)
Biological Indicator Lookup Tables for Small Stream Impact Score (SSIS)
MAL Cover observation
(indicative %-cover for guidance only)
Invertebrate Density for RA
(intermediate categories can be used on fieldsheet)
Invertebrate Sample DensityHabitat sampled for kick

15. RA – adding insight to a list of indicator taxa

16. A case study in Local Catchment Assessment
~20km2 catchment area & 40km river channel – where should we start?

17. What next?
 Evaluating field indicators with the other datasets in an integrated way.
 Knowing when we have the answer and when repeat survey is
required (n = 3)!
 Deciding when further specialist assessment should be pursued and
what is recommended?
 How continued development, further support & roll out of the guidance
might be accommodated?
 Moving from desk-top
assessments to boots in the
water and evaluating the first
results!
Thank You