Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2016, Environmental Sciences

The following report contains a summary of my experience interning as a Macroinvertebrate Sampling Intern with the Division of Surface Water at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Based out of the Groveport Field Office in Groveport, Ohio, my internship consisted chiefly of assisting in the collection of macroinvertebrate samples from streams and their tributaries throughout the state. This macroinvertebrate data can be used by the agency to make policy decisions, direct enforcement activities, and locate areas for improvement and further study.

Committee: Suzanne Zazycki (Advisor); Sarah Dumyahn (Committee Member); Jonathan Levy (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2011, Environmental Sciences

State and federal agencies measure water quality in streams using different sampling regimes. The Ohio EPA uses geometric sampling of 80+ sites in 11 digit HUC watersheds, whereas the US EPA uses probabilistic sampling of 25 sites in Ohio. I analyzed OEPA fish (IBI) and macroinvertebrate (ICI) indices from 9 watersheds (3 agricultural, 3 urban, and 3 with little disturbance) along with US EPA data. Results suggest that the number of sites sampled by OEPA is insufficient to reproduce statistically similar IBI or ICI scores. Most sites should be sampled on third order streams and the least on first and fifth order streams. Similarly, more sites should be sampled in agricultural watersheds than in least disturbed or urban watersheds. IBI scores from OEPA and US EPA were positively correlated, but ICI scores were negatively correlated. Both OEPA and US EPA need to collect more data to manage and improve watersheds.

Committee: Donna McCollum PhD (Advisor); Thomas Crist PhD (Committee Member); Robert Schaefer PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Geography