Years: 2012-2016

Summary

This project developed an integrated habitat status and trends monitoring (HSTM) strategy for the lower Columbia River tributaries. The strategy facilitates the exchange of data among the various entities conducting monitoring for a more robust and meaningful assessment of the region’s water quality and aquatic habitat. Using funds from the Washington Department of Ecology, the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board (LCFRB) lead a collaborative project to develop a habitat status and trends monitoring design for the Lower Columbia ESU. The project was intended to inform future Municipal Stormwater NPDES Permits in Southwest Washington by producing a monitoring design that addresses multi-scale questions about physical, chemical and biological attributes impacted by stormwater. The project built on the progress of the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership’s Integrated Status and Trends Monitoring (ISTM) Project, which looked at ways to design and implement more coordinated, efficient, and effective aquatic ecosystem monitoring.

We used a phased approach to work planning. Information about Phase 1, completed in 2013, can be found at the LCFRB website. In 2014, with additional funding from WA Ecology, Phase 2 focused on finalizing the monitoring design; accomplishments from Phase 2 are summarized in the Monitoring Design Report. In 2015, Phase 3 wrapped up the remaining technical work (data shareability, data analysis and indicators, data management, and the QAPP) and develop the Implementation Plan defining roles and responsibilities.

For more information about this past project or specific events related to this project, please contact us at gs-pnamp_contact@usgs.gov.

Project Team/Leads

The success of this project relied on the participation of local stormwater permittees, habitat monitoring practitioners and concerned citizens in the lower Columbia River region. The project was managed and funded collaboratively by the WA Department of Ecology, the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board, the City of Longview, and PNAMP. Technical support was provided by Stillwater Sciences.