SEDS: setting environmental decisions for sediment, a decision making tool for sediment management
Keywords:
Ecosystem approach, Remedial Action Plans, Biological guidelinesAbstract
The need for guidance on the management of contaminated sediment has been articulated by the International Joint Commission, scientists and resource managers in many jurisdictions. There is a growing convergence on what constitutes a valid comprehensive sediment assessment but active debate on how to synthesize multiple pieces of information on sediment chemistry, biological information from field monitoring and laboratory sediment bioassessment.
Recognizing the current state of knowledge, we provide a recommended approach to bioassessment sediment management strategies. The intent is to facilitate the formulation of data interpretation tools needed for a decision making process that is flexible to enable site-specific determination regarding the need to take action beyond the control of sources of contamination.
While the concepts contained herein have been employed implicitly in Canada and Ontario, the details on data collection, evaluation, and reaching a management decision are explicitly laid out in this paper. It is expected that field application of this approach could lead to modifications of this framework.
References
Bedard, D., Hayton, A. and Persaud, D. 1992. Ontario Ministry of the Environment laboratory Sediment Biological Testing Protocol POBS 2067E, Queen's Printer for Ontario
Chapman, P.M. 1990. The sediment quality triad approach to determining pollution-induced degradation. Sci. Total Environ., 97/98: 815–825.
David, S.M., Somers, K.M., Reid, R.A., Hall, R.J. and Girard, R.E. 1998. Sampling protocols for the rapid bioassessment of streams and lakes using benthic macroinvertebrates PIBS 3519E01, Queen's Printer for Ontario.
Hilsenhoff, W.L. 1988. Rapid field assessment of organic pollution with a family-level biotic index. J. North Am. Benthol. Soc., 7: 65–68.
Hughes, R.M. 1995. “Defining acceptable biological status by comparing with reference conditions”. In Biological Assessment and Criteria: Tools for Water Resource Planning and Decision Making, Edited by: Davis, W.S. and Simon, T.P. 31–47. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. In
IJC (International Joint Commission). 1988. Procedures for the assessment of contaminated sediment problems in the Great Lakes, Report to the Great Lakes Water Quality Board
Keddy, C. and Greene, J.C. 1992. A Review of Whole Organism Bioassays for Assessing the Quality of Soil, Freshwater Sediment and Fresh Water in Canada, Eco-Health Branch, Environment Canada
Krantzberg, G. 1995. “Using the burden of evidence approach for sediment management; case study: Collingwood Harbour”. In The Lake Huron Ecosystem: Ecology, Fisheries and Management, World Ecovision Monograph SeriesAcademic Publishing, The Netherlands Edited by: Munawar, M., Edsall, T. and Leach, J. 365–395. In
Persaud, D., Jaagumagi, R. and Hayton, A. 1992. “Guidelines for the protection and management of aquatic sediment quality in Ontario”. In Report of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment ISBN 0-7729-9248-7.
Persuad, D. and Jaagumagi, R. 1993. Sediment Assessment: A Guide to Study Design, Sampling and Laboratory Analysis, Toronto, ON: Ont. Min. Environ. Energy. July 1993.
Persaud, D. and Jaagumagi, R. 1996. “An integrated approach to the evaluation and management of contaminated sediments”. In Report of the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy ISBN 0-7778-3845-1.
Reynoldson, T.B. and Day, K.E. 1994. An assessment of sediment quality and benthic invertebrate community structure in Collingwood Harbour. An Area of Concern: Towards De-Listing. NWRI Contribution No. 94-42,
Reynoldson, T.B., Bailey, R.C., Day, K.E. and Norris, R.H. 1995. Biological guidelines for freshwater sediment based on BEnthic Assessment of SedimenT (the BEAST) using a multivariate approach for predicting biological state. Aust. J. Ecol., 20: 198–219.
Reynoldson, T.B. and Day, K.E. 1998. Biological guidelines for the assessment of sediment quality in the Laurentian Great Lakes. NWRI Report No. 98-232,
SedPAC. 1999. “Deciding when to intervene”. In Report of the International Joint Commission Water Quality Board 87–87. ISBN 1-894280-07-5
ter Braak, C.J.F. 1987. “Ordination”. In Data Analysis in Community Ecology, Edited by: Jongman, R.H., ter Braak, C.J.F. and van Tongerend, O.F.R. 91–173. Wageningen, , The Netherlands: Pudoc. In
USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). 1993. “Biological and chemical assessment of contaminated Great Lakes sediment”. In Report of the Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sediment (ARCS) Program EPA 905-R93-006.
Wardlaw, C., Brendon, D. and Randle, W. 1995. Results of Canada's Contaminated Sediment Treatment Technology Program Sediment Remediation 95, Windsor, Canada, 8–10 May 1995. Environment Canada Report.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Manuscripts must be original. They must not be published or be under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. It is required that the lead author of accepted papers complete and sign the MSU Press AEHM Author Publishing Agreement and provide it to the publisher upon acceptance.
