River Boyne Water Quality Management Plan - EPA

Rivcr Boynr \Vater Quality Managrmrnl PlanWell documented changes occur in the biota of rivers and streams in response to pollution. The useof indicator species, i.e., those which by their presence and abundance are indicative of the prevailingenvironmental conditions, is well established. Macro-invertebrates (visible with the naked eye) tendto be the most commonly used taxa, classified as sensitive, less sensitive, relatively tolerant, tolerantor most tolerant forms.TABLE 5.1 THE BIOTIC INDEX WATER QUALITY SCHEME OF THE 'ENVIRONMENTALRESEARCH UNIT (aftor MC Carrigle et Al. 1992).The Faunal GroupingCroup A - Sensitive FormsCroup C - Relatively Tolerant FormsGroup D - Tolerant FormsPleeoptera (excl. Leuctra sp.Nemouridae), Heptageniidae,Siphlonuridae Cased TrichoptetaCroup B - Less Sensitive FormsTricladida, Ancylidae. Neritidae,Astacidae, Gammanu sp., Boelisrhodoni, Caenidae, Limnephilidae,Glossosmatidac, Uncascd TrichopterqColcoptera, Cocnagriidae, Sialidae,Tipulidae, Simuliidae, Hemiptera (excl.Apl~elocheiru sp.) HydracatinaLeuctta sp.. Nemouridae.Cl~ironom~rs sp.. TubificidaeBaetidae (excl. Boeris rhodoni),Leplophlebiidae, Ephernerellidae.Ephemeridae, Cased Trichoptere(excl. Limnephilidae,Hydroplilidae, Glossosmatidae),Odonata (excl. Coenagriidae)Aphelocheirus sp..Rbeoronylorsr~ sp. ;.$:RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATER QuAL;n**ND.+c8'~Hirudineq Mullusca (excl. Ancylidac,Neritidae)Asell~rs sp.Chironomidac (excl. Cl~ironomusp..Rheotonytars~rsp.)Group E - Most Tolerant Forms-THE TYPICAL RIFFLE FAUNAQuuntiq Qv A .,i'Y B C D E..............................................................................................Eroding Sites" .................................... W ..........................................................Good Q5 SH+ ++t -H........................................ - .....................................+/- +/-"........................... .........................................................Fair H ii+t i++...%.............................................................................................................................................++ ....................................+l-"~oubtfu~ Q3 +I- ++++ ++b i+........................................................................................................... - ................................ .........................Poor Q2 +l- ii+t .HC.................................................................. ................................... "..........................................................................................................................Bad Q1 +l-...................................+++k.........." .........................................................................................".......................................................................................................................................Depositing Sites........................................................................................Good Q5 +l- CH-C +++ i+.............................................................................................................+l-" .........................................................Fair Q4 H +CH i+.............................. +/-"........................................~oubtfu~ Q3...........................................................................................+I- ++ t++......................... m_.__..............................Poor Q2 +I- ++t...............................t-H"For inspection purposes only.Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.Bad Q l SH+++++Abundant, +H Common, U Prnenl, +/-Sparse or Absenl, -AbsentBiotic Index or @Value Community Diversity Water Quality ConditionQ5 High Good SatisfactoryQ4 ............. SlightlyW Reduced Fair SatisfactoryQ3 Significantly Reduced Doubtful UnsatisfactoryQ2 LOW Poor UnsatisfactoryQ1 Very Low Bad Unsatisfactory............................................................................... ............................. ............................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .....................................................................VG'EPA Export 26-07-2013:17:27:00