2011 Association of Mid-Atlantic Aquatic Biologists Workshop Cacapon State Park Berkeley Springs, WV April 7 - 8, 2011
2011 Meeting Dates and Letter from the President
The 2011 Workshop for the Association of Mid-Atlantic Aquatic Biologists (AMAAB) is scheduled for April 7-April 8, 2011 at Cacapon State Park near Berkeley Springs, WV. We are planning a full day of presentations on Thursday. Mini workshops will be held on Friday morning. The host for this year's workshop is the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
The procedures for offering presentations have not changed from previous years and will be explained in the call for presentations.
This year, pre-registration for 2011 AMAAB Workshop should be sent to Virginia as the host State. You may contact me by email at [email protected]or by phone at (804) 698-4046. Please send your contact information (name, address, telephone number and email address), and reference the "Biologists' Workshop 2011" in the subject line when responding. There will be a registration fee of $50 that includes an evening social on Thursday, April 7th. Payment may be made by cash or personal and agency checks made payable to AMAAB. We regret that we will not be able to accept credit cards.
Onsite Registration: Wednesday, April 6 -- 7:00-8:30pm Thursday, April 7 -- 8:00-9:00am
Cash or checks will be accepted upon registration onsite. Please leave one of your business cards at the registration table so we can update our mailing list. It is important that we get an updated email address from members because we have made the transition to conducting all business by email and website postings instead of by traditional paper mailings.
There will be a continental breakfast offered on Thursday morning (coffee, Danish, juice). For those desiring a full breakfast, the restaurant will open Thursday and Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m.
Last year was our first year of raffling off a variety of goodies and holding a silent auction. This was such a success that we will be bringing that back this year. Some of the items we are working on are WV state park freebies, a framed photo of aquatic organisms, beach house stay and gift baskets. So bring a little extra cash, just in case you wish to participate!
We are working on putting together photo galleries of past meetings. If you have any digital photos from the 2010 meeting (or any other year) you would like to share, please send them to Katherine Laycock ([email protected]).
Check back periodically for updates. We look forward to seeing you at the workshop.
Best regards,
Aimee J. Budd Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Biological Monitoring Coordinator - Division of Water
NABS Genus East EPT test: Wednesday April 6th, 2011, 2-5 pm Contact Jennifer Barborak for more information ([email protected])
7:00 � 8:30 PM Early registration: Wednesday, April 6, 2011
DAY 1 AGENDA: THURSDAY, April 7, 2011 Washington/Fairfax Room
8:00 � 8:30 Registration (Continental Breakfast)
8:30 Welcome, AMAAB Business
8:40 Historical and Current Assemblages of the Youghiogheny River Watershed: Implications for Determining Reference Conditions and Conducting Stream Restoration Scott Stranko (speaker), Andrew Becker, Matt Ashton, Ken Mack, William Harbold, Sara Weglein, Patrick Graves, Luke Roberson, and Rebecca Bourquin, Maryland Department of Natural Resources ([email protected])
9:00 An invasion in progress: Monitoring the spread and effects of Rusty Crayfish in the Monocacy River, Maryland Jay Kilian (speaker) and Ronald Klauda, Maryland Department of Natural Resources ([email protected])
9:20 South River Science Team Calvin Jordan,DEQ/South River Science Team [email protected])
9:40 Assessing the Influence of Stormwater Control Measures on Windlass Run Dennis Genito, Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability ([email protected])
10:00�10:30 Mid-Morning Break and Poster Session Morgan Room
10:30 Unacceptable adverse impact to wildlife? The role of biological data in USEPA�s CWA � 404 (c) action on the Spruce No. 1 coal mine, Logan County, WV Margaret Passmore (speaker), Greg Pond, Louis Reynolds & Frank Borsuk, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3 ([email protected])
10:50 Are streams getting better? Ellen Dickey, DNREC � Division of Water ([email protected])
11:10 Development of Maryland cold water taxa lists: application in stream use class designation and tracking climate change Michael Kashiwagi *, Tony Prochaska *, Adam Rettig ^, Matt Stover ^, and John Backus ^, * MD Department of Natural Resources, ^ Maryland Department of the Environment ([email protected])
11:30 Evaluation of Sublittoral and Littoral Indexes of Macroinvertebrate Integrity for Southern New England and Mid-Atlantic Lakes James Kurtenbach, U.S. EPA, Region 2 ([email protected])
11:50 Assessing Reasonable Potential to our Aquatic Resources using EPA's Independent Applicability Approach Amy Bergdale, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3 ([email protected])
12:10-1:30 Lunch (Buffet Available)
1:30 Integrating stormwater management programs to meet local and Chesapeake Bay goals: TMDLs, WLAs, WIPs, MS4s, and WREs Mark Southerland, Versar, Inc. ([email protected])
1:50 Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) calibration for fish communities Jeroen Gerritsen, Tetra Tech, Inc. ([email protected])
2:10 Preliminary Findings of using Fish Community Data to Determine Biological Health in Virginia Streams and Rivers Jason Hill (speaker), Virginia Department of Environmental Quality & Greg Garman, Stephen McIninch, & Dave Hopler, Virginia Commonwealth University ([email protected])
2:30 Using Probabilistic Monitoring Data to Determine Stressors for Biological TMDL Studies Jason Hill (speaker), Larry Willis, Mary Dail, & Lanny Sparks, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality ([email protected])
2:50 Contaminants in Fish Tissue from U.S. Lakes and Reservoirs: A National Probabilistic Study Blaine Snyder Tetra Tech, Inc. ([email protected])
3:10-3:40 Mid Afternoon Break and Poster Session � Morgan Room
3:40 An Assessment of Filamentous Algae and Nutrient Criteria in the Greenbrier River Michael Arcuri (speaker), West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection([email protected])
4:00 Determining the Effect of Natural River Obstruction Removal on the Macroinvertebrate Community Jennifer Barborak, Wallace & Pancher, Inc. ([email protected])
4:20 Accounting for confounders: Unraveling nutrient-aquatic life relationships in Maryland streams and rivers Adam Griggs, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin ([email protected])
4:40 Anne Arundel County�s Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program: Results and Conclusions from Round One Colin Hill, KCI Technologies ([email protected])
5:00 Closing Remarks, door prizes, and Adjourn
6:00-8:00 Social � Downstairs conference room
7:00-8:00 Poster Session - Morgan Room
1. A RIVPACS Modeling Workshop in R Facilitators: Sheila North ([email protected]) and Greg Pond ([email protected]) This workshop provides hands-on training to develop and use River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification Systemor RIVPACS-type models in R. These models predict the taxonomic assemblage of biological communities expected in minimally-disturbed streams of similar type, creating an index score of observed/expected (O/E) biota that infers biotic impairment through taxa loss. R scripts published by Van Sickle (2010) were recently utilized on macroinvertebrate data to construct a USEPA Region 3 Central Appalachian Headwater Stream Model for KY/WV. These scripts will be used to train participants on using the Central Appalachian model, developing new RIVPACS models for other regions and/or states, interpreting R output, and generating O/E scores for new samples or sites. Experience with R is helpful but not necessary. Laptop computers are required.
Participants should bring a laptop with wireless capabilities to actively participate in installing and using R, and acquiring customized packages. (Limit: 20 Participants)
2. Identification and Taxonomy of Larval Stoneflies (Plecoptera) Facilitator: Jane Earle ([email protected]) Stonefly nymphs can be difficult and frustrating to identify. This new and revised workshop will provide tips on how to make stonefly identifications less difficult and how to avoid the pitfalls that lead to common misidentifications. Concentration will be on the more troublesome genera, such as the gill-less nemourids and taeniopterygids, the chloroperlids, some surprisingly difficult perlids, and leutrids vs. capniids, with an overview of the other families. The use of habitat, life cycle and emergence times in identifying nymphs will also be discussed. The presentation will use photos, drawings, specimens, taxa lists and new keys to genera in the region. Participants are encouraged to bring along specimens that they would like identified. Handouts will include regional keys to some families, an identification guide, and confirmed regional species lists. (Limit: 30 Participants)
Participants should bring their own scopes, lighting system, extension cords and power strips. (Limit: 20 Participants)
3. Round Table Session �Fish Health Issues� Facilitators: Geoffrey Smith, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission ([email protected]); Steve Reeser, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Frank Borsuk, U.S. EPA, Region 3 Wheeling Field Office; and Jim Hedrick, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Beginning in the early 2000�s, fish health issues began appearing among centrarchid populations, primarily smallmouth bass, in a few of the major systems of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Each instance leading to independent investigations into the causes of these fish health issues. These studies addressed many similar water quality and disease concerns with varying results. This workshop will provide an opportunity for researchers working on each of these investigations to provide an update on the status of the respective investigations, hear the findings of the other investigations, and share lessons learned about past studies. The goal is to provide an open forum to discuss these fish health studies and provide an opportunity to use results from other systems to further each the investigations.
(Limit: Open Round Table)
4. Wetlands Assessment Facilitator: Regina Poeske ([email protected]) The National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) is one of the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states, tribes, and other partners to assess the quality of the nation�s waters. In 2011 EPA and the states will be implementing the first-ever national survey on the condition of the Nation�s wetlands. The survey is designed to provide regional and national estimates of wetland ecological integrity and rank the stressors most commonly associated with poor conditions. Like previous surveys the NWCA will use a probability-based sampling design that will result in statistically-valid estimates of condition for a population of wetlands. Ninety two sampling points have been dropped throughout Region III states and training of field crews will begin May 2, 2011. This workshop will be structured around the presentation of selected indicators, discussion and demonstration of field protocols. NWCA indicators include: vegetation, algae, hydric soil, wetland hydrology, and water chemistry. The workshop field component will focus on the demonstration of collection of plant ecological data including species identities, presence and cover of individual species. We will also look at hydric soil field indicators including a description of site, soil morphology, and other characteristics. The workshop will help participants gain a better understanding of the wetland indicators selected and demonstrate how wetlands fit into the overall NARS framework.
(Limit: No limit to the number of Participants)
5. Computer Field Class Facilitator: York Grow [email protected]) The use of field computers for recording analyses and creating reports is becoming more realistic with better technology and lower cost. Join us for this session to look at hardware availability � what you should know when looking for a computer and what is out there available. We will review things like computer size and weight, portability, keyboard or touchscreen, display size and brightness, and using Windows XP/7 or Windows Mobile. In addition some software examples will be discussed and demonstrated � ways to increase productivity and effectiveness. We will spend time inside so the details can more easily be discussed and demonstrated. Then we will spend a significant time outside letting attendees get �hands on� experience with the several units.
(Limit: To be determined)
6. Identification and Taxonomy of Mussels Facilitator: Dr. Art Bogan; North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, ([email protected]) The aquatic molluscan fauna of North America, north of Mexico, was historically the most diverse molluscan fauna in the world. Today, freshwater mussels (Family: Unionidae) are ranked among the most imperiled fauna group worldwide, and have been identified as the most imperiled fauna group in North America. This dramatic decline can be linked to habitat alterations, loss of host fish species, and increased siltation resulting from past dam construction along major rivers. Currently, poor land use practices, urban development, and a spectrum of domestic, industrial, and agricultural pollution have disrupted the physical and chemical properties of freshwater systems, reduced habitat quality and quantity, and accelerated the decline of freshwater mussels throughout North America. The first portion of the workshop will examine the conservation issues facing freshwater mussels, from a worldwide and EPA Region 3 perspective, and will discuss the biology, life history, and distribution of freshwater mussels. The second will focus on taxonomic identification, providing methods as well as some examples of freshwater mussels found throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, DC, West Virginia, and Virginia. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to bring their own freshwater mussel keys or resource materials. Selections from keys and other handouts will be distributed. Participants may also elect to bring their own voucher specimens.
Participants should bring their own scopes, lighting system, extension cords and power strips. (Limit 20 Participants)