Predicted Stream Health in Connecticut (Bellucci et al. 2013)

Alteration of landscape condition has a negative impact on stream biology. Linking bioassessment information with landscape variables using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is useful in interpreting patterns in the biological community’s response to changes in land use. We developed and evaluated models using an information theoretic approach to predict stream health as measured by macro-invertebrate multimetric index (MMI) and identified the best fitting model as a three variable model, including percent impervious land cover, a wetlands metric, and catchment slope that best fit the MMI scores.

The map displays the predicted MMI score for Connecticut stream catchments drawn at a 1:100,000 scale. MMI stream health condition cutoffs were determined from Gerritsen et al. 2007. Toggle layers on and off to find areas of different stream health conditions across the State. Hover over catchments to see the predicted MMI value for a particular stream catchment.

References

Bellucci, C., Becker M., Beauchene, M. Dunbar, L. 2013. Classifying the Health of Connecticut Streams Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates with Implications for Water Management. Environmental Management. 51: 1274. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0033-9

Gerritsen, J., Jessup, B. 2007. Calibration of the Biological Condition Gradient for High Gradient Streams of Connecticut. Report prepared for US EPA Office of Science and Technology and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Tetra Tech, Maryland.