Guidance developed on how to work through issues affecting usability of stream bioassessment data

SCCWRP has developed detailed guidance for California watershed managers on how to identify and work through common factors that can affect the usability of stream bioassessment data, including when it’s most appropriate to use the outputs of two recently developed bioassessment tools.

The guidance manual, published in April as a SCCWRP technical report, is intended to help end users optimally use the California Stream Condition Index bioassessment scoring tool and the Stream Classification and Prioritization Explorer (SCAPE) tool, which predicts the degree to which bioassessment scores are likely to be limited, or “constrained,” by urban and agricultural development.

The idea for the guidance manual originated with the San Gabriel River Regional Monitoring Program, which was concerned that only a limited number of staff were fully trained in the tools’ use.

SCCWRP is working to develop similar guidance for the Algal Stream Condition Index bioassessment scoring tool, then consolidate this guidance with existing end-user documentation to create a single protocol document.