Rocky Mountain Research Station

Title: The case for regime-based water quality standards

Author: Poole, G.C.; Dunham, J.B.; Keenan, D.M.; Sauter, S.T.;McCullough, D.A.; Mebane, C.;Lockwood, .C.; Essig, D.A.; Hicks, M.P.; Sturdevant, D.J.; Materna, E.J.; Spalding, S.A.; Risley, J.; M. Deppman

Date: 2004

Source: Bioscience 54(2):154-161.

Description: Conventional water quality standards have been successful in reducing the concentration of toxic substances in US waters. However, conventional standards are based on simple thresholds and are therefore poorly structured to address human-caused imbalances in dynamic, natural water quality parameters, such as nutrients, sediment, and temperature. A more applicable type of water quality standard-a "regime standard"- would describe desirable distributions of conditions over space and time within a stream network. By mandating the protection and restoration of the aquatic ecosystem dynamics that are required to support beneficial uses in streams, well-designed regime standards would facilitate more effective strategies for management of natural water quality parameters.

Keywords: water quality standards, regimes, ecosystem dynamics, watershed management

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Citation

Poole, G.C.; Dunham, J.B.; Keenan, D.M.; Sauter, S.T.;McCullough, D.A.; Mebane, C.;Lockwood, .C.; Essig, D.A.; Hicks, M.P.; Sturdevant, D.J.; Materna, E.J.; Spalding, S.A.; Risley, J.; M. Deppman  2004.  The case for regime-based water quality standards.   Bioscience 54(2):154-161. .