Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 45, November 8, 2024
Section 47-2B-2 - DefinitionsThe definitions set forth in 47CSR2 apply to this rule along with the following definitions, unless the context in which used clearly requires a different meaning:
2.1. "Benthic Macroinvertebrates" are a group of aquatic organisms regularly used in biological monitoring programs. They are large enough to be seen with the naked eye (macro), have no backbone (invertebrates) and live on the bottom of streams, rivers, and lakes.2.2. "Department" is the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.2.3. "Index of Biotic Integrity" or "IBI" is a summary score that is comprised of several biological measures or metrics. A metric is a characteristic of the biological community that changes in a predictable way to environmental disturbance.2.4. "Reference Samples" are samples collected at stream locations that the Department has determined to be least impacted by human disturbance.2.5. "Secretary" means the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.2.6. "Wadeable streams" are those streams or rivers from which a comparable benthic macroinvertebrate sample can be collected using wadeable protocols. Rivers that can only be sampled for benthic macroinvertebrates using "wadeable protocols" at a singular feature, such as a lock, isolated shoal, or isolated edge riffle, are not considered wadeable and attainment decisions should not be made using wadeable benthic macroinvertebrate protocols. An example of an isolated riffleis the Coal River at Tornado (lock), while an assessment can be performed to provide exploratory information about the benthos at this and similar locations, wadeable protocols should not be used by The Department to place these streams or rivers on the 303(d) list.