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RESEARCH ARTICLE: Rapid Environmental Assessment of a Drainage Canal System to Identify Bioreference Sites for Wetland Permitting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2014

Frank J. Dirrigl Jr. ,
Guadalupe Medina Jr.  and
Robert J. Edwards
Frank J. Dirrigl Jr.*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Texas–Pan American, Edinburg, Texas.
Guadalupe Medina Jr.
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Texas–Pan American, Edinburg, Texas.
Robert J. Edwards
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Texas–Pan American, Edinburg, Texas.
*
Address correspondence to: Frank J. Dirrigl Jr., Department of Biology, University of Texas–Pan American, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539-2999; (phone) 956-665-8732; (fax) 956-665-3657; (e-mail) [email protected].
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Abstract

With budget and time constraints in environmental permitting, the collection of baseline water quality data relies on rapid environmental assessments (REAs). In south Texas, we investigated the usefulness of including physicochemical parameters and freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate and fish assemblage data to rapidly assess a drainage canal system. Data were converted to chemical averages and metrics, and sample sites meeting the greatest number of metric criteria for high water quality in south Texas were identified. The REA approach determined bioreference sites that could provide baseline data for wetland permitting, mitigation planning, and future comparisons. We demonstrate that the REA approach for drainage canals was useful and provided the necessary data for US Clean Water Act 401 and 404 environmental permitting and decision making for the Raymondville Drain Outfall Project.

Environmental Practice 16: 19–28 (2014)

Type
Features
Information
Environmental Practice , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , March 2014 , pp. 19 - 28
Copyright
© National Association of Environmental Professionals 2014 

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