Technical Reports

Biological and Water Quality Assessment of the Middle Scioto River, Lower Olentangy River, and Lower Olentangy Tributaries 2022

Biological and Water Quality Assessment of the Middle Scioto River, Lower Olentangy River, and Lower Olentangy Tributaries 2022

The City of Columbus Division of Sewers and Drains (DOSD) and MBI announce the release of a second major report on the historical ecological success story of Central Ohio’s two major rivers

MBI/2023-12-12

Biological and Water Quality Assessment of Upper Des Plaines River: Year 2 Rotation 2018

Biological and Water Quality Assessment of Upper Des Plaines River: Year 2 Rotation 2018

Perhaps one of the more important observations of the 2018 bioassessment is that the entry of the large volumes of treated municipal wastewater were beneficial and likely offset some the otherwise detrimental impacts.

MBI/2020-2-2

Maine Rivers Fish Assemblage Assessment:  Index of Biotic Integrity for Non-wadeable Rivers. (Addendum December 31, 2015).

Maine Rivers Fish Assemblage Assessment: Index of Biotic Integrity for Non-wadeable Rivers. (Addendum December 31, 2015).

This project involved the systematic sampling of non-wadeable rivers in Maine with the goal of developing a fish assemblage assessment tool...

MBI/2008-11-2

Biological and Water Quality Study of the Little Miami River and Tributaries 2012: Hamilton County, Ohio

Biological and Water Quality Study of the Little Miami River and Tributaries 2012: Hamilton County, Ohio

The 2012 bioassessment of the Little Miami River and tributaries is the second of four years of sampling and analysis that is being conducted following the design...

MBI/2013-6-8

Aquatic Life Stressor Identification: Preliminary Data for Southeast Ohio

Aquatic Life Stressor Identification: Preliminary Data for Southeast Ohio

The data included in this report was derived as part of the basis for developing a stressor identification guide for Southeast Ohio.

MBI/2012-11-13

Improving Water Quality Standards and Assessment Approaches for the Upper Mississippi River

Improving Water Quality Standards and Assessment Approaches for the Upper Mississippi River

In order to pursue better use of biological assessments, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association's Water Quality Task Force initiated...

Use of Biological Information to Better Define Designated Aquatic Life Uses in State and Tribal Water Quality Standards

Use of Biological Information to Better Define Designated Aquatic Life Uses in State and Tribal Water Quality Standards

In support of the state development of refined aquatic life uses in their water quality standards (WQS) U.S. EPA produced a document that outlines the concepts, methods, resources, and organization.

Integrated Prioritization System (IPS) for Northeastern Illinois: Technical
Documentation and Atlas of Stressor Relationships

Integrated Prioritization System (IPS) for Northeastern Illinois: Technical Documentation and Atlas of Stressor Relationships

The Northeastern Illinois Integrated Prioritization System (IPS) provides the framework within which high resolution monitoring data and assessment results are organized, analyzed, and merged to better the support Clean Water Act.

MBI/2020-5-10

Biological and Water Quality Assessment of the North Branch Chicago River

Biological and Water Quality Assessment of the North Branch Chicago River

The 2018 and 2019 results yielded poor and very poor results for both the macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages in each of the subwatersheds and the mainstem of the North Branch Chicago River.

MBI/2020‐8‐12

Development of Methods and Designs for the Assessment of the Fish Assemblages of Non-Wadeable Rivers in New England

Development of Methods and Designs for the Assessment of the Fish Assemblages of Non-Wadeable Rivers in New England

The New England Large Rivers fish assemblage assessment was supported by a Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (REMAP) grant from U.S. EPA in 2008-15.

MBI/2015-3-3

Upper Mississippi River Clean Water Act Monitoring Strategy 2013-2022 Part 1:  Options and Considerations

Upper Mississippi River Clean Water Act Monitoring Strategy 2013-2022 Part 1: Options and Considerations

Presently, there is no unified or comprehensive Clean Water Act (CWA)-focused monitoring strategy for the Upper Mississippi River (UMR).

Assessment of the Fish Assemblages and Habitat Quality in the Lower Black River 2010-2012: Lacustuary Portion in Lorain, OH

Assessment of the Fish Assemblages and Habitat Quality in the Lower Black River 2010-2012: Lacustuary Portion in Lorain, OH

A biological assessment of the fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages and habitat quality...

Preliminary Analysis of Thresholds for Determining Aquatic Life Use Attainment Status in the Upper Mississippi River Mainstem

Preliminary Analysis of Thresholds for Determining Aquatic Life Use Attainment Status in the Upper Mississippi River Mainstem

This project identified "potential impairment thresholds for the UMR main channel in determining the attainment of aquatic life uses," as identified in the project work plan.

MBI/2011-5-1

Biological and Water Quality Assessment the Middle Scioto River, Lower Olentangy River, and Selected Olentangy Tributaries 2020

Biological and Water Quality Assessment the Middle Scioto River, Lower Olentangy River, and Selected Olentangy Tributaries 2020

MBI announces the release of a major report on the historical ecological success story of Central Ohio’s two major rivers. Middle Scioto River, Lower Olentangy River, and Selected Olentangy Tributaries 2020.

MBI/2022-4-6

Watershed Monitoring and Bioassessment Plan for the Milwaukee River Basin

Watershed Monitoring and Bioassessment Plan for the Milwaukee River Basin

Developing a watershed-based monitoring and biological assessment Plan for the Milwaukee River Basin and adjoining MMSD service area watersheds.

Assessment of the Biological Assemblage Condition of Small Headwater Streams in Ohio

Assessment of the Biological Assemblage Condition of Small Headwater Streams in Ohio

Small headwater streams in Ohio have emerged specifically the importance of assessing headwater streams that are typically in the range of 1-20 square miles.

MBI/2011-6-6

Elkhart Area Rivers Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Summary 2012

Elkhart Area Rivers Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Summary 2012

The Midwest Biodiversity Institute, Inc. (MBI) has conducted macroinvertebrate sampling of streams and rivers in the Elkhart, Indiana area on behalf of the City of Elkhart, Public Works and Utilities Department...

Great Lakes Basin Evaluation of Compensation Sites Report

Great Lakes Basin Evaluation of Compensation Sites Report

MBI participated in a project headed by PG Environmental to evaluate the efficacy of compensatory wetlands in the Lake Erie drainage of Ohio.

Development of a Biological Condition Gradient for the Upper Mississippi River and 'Synthetic' Historical Fish Community

Development of a Biological Condition Gradient for the Upper Mississippi River and 'Synthetic' Historical Fish Community

The "'Biological Condition Gradient'" (BCG) was originally developed by U.S. EPA to overcome difficulties in effectively communicating about ecological...

MBI/2011-5-1