Bioassessment and Biocriteria Program Status for Alaska: Streams and Wadeable Rivers
State Program Contact
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Exit
Water Quality Standards
The link to Alaska's WQS that are in effect for Clean Water Act purposes is provided. These are the WQS approved by EPA.
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Designated Aquatic Life Uses
Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife.
Biological Criteria
_____ Narrative
_____ Numeric
__X__ No criteria
Antidegradation Policy
Use of biocriteria or bioassessment not included in antidegradation policy.
Biological Assessment
What biological assemblages are used in the bioassessment program?
Benthic macroinvertebrates and periphyton
Are bioassessments used to support 303(d) listings?
No
How are assemblages used to make impairment decisions?
Not used
Other uses of biocriteria or bioassessment within the water quality program:
Non-point source assessments and 305(b) surface water condition assessments
Technical Support Information and Documents:
Reference condition:
Alaska currently uses biological information to compliment water chemistry data. Alaska employs a Macroinvertebrate Biological Assessment Index developed by the University of Alaska Environmental and Natural Resources Institute (now the University of Alaska Anchorage - Alaska Center for Conservation Science) in certain cases.
Biocriteria:
Not applicable.
Stressor identification/causal analysis approach:
Not applicable.