Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 10.1 Study area Lake Erie tributaries
Counties. Initial field observations of these streams and their watersheds have
revealed pockets of new urban and residential development amidst the extensive
agricultural land use. Larger urban areas within the watersheds include portions of
the City of Toledo suburbs of Oregon and Northwood with some industrial land
uses occurring in some sites outside of Oregon. All streams in the study area exhibit
degradation of fish and benthic populations, loss of habitat and degradation of aesth-
etics, which are a few of many impairments preventing full attainment of beneficial
uses in the Maumee AOC (MRAC
2006
). The causes of these impairments are due
primarily to land modifications and non-point source pollution and include nutrient
enrichment, bacterial pathogens, siltation, pesticides, flow alteration and habitat
alteration (MRAC
2006
).
10.3 Research Approach
Because landscapes exhibit modifications to the natural or native landscape in
varying degrees, it is predicted that variation in IBI and QHEI scores across the
Tribs is related to the degree and type of landscape modification. Specifically, highly
modified landscapes, such as those with
10% impervious surfaces (Booth and
Jackson
1997
; Snyder et al.
2003
; Wang et al.
1997
), or
>
50% agricultural land
(Wang et al.
1997
), will impact IBI and QHEI scores negatively and those with
relatively undisturbed habitat will have a positive impact on scores (OEPA
1988
).
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