Arroyo Colorado Assessment of Tidal Stream Communities

Summary

An initial tidal stream Use Attainability Analysis (UAA) study, from 2003 to 2005 collected data supporting the development of a standardized methodology for assessing ecosystem health and assigning site-specific uses and criteria within tidally influenced portions of streams. This new methodology has successfully been used to recommend aquatic life uses on three tidal segments identified as not meeting dissolved oxygen criteria. Additionally, to further the development of the standardized methodology for assessing ecosystem health and assigning site specific uses and criteria within tidally influenced portions of streams, the Mission and Aransas Rivers were assessed with the same multivariate methodology, with the Mission River serving as the presumptive reference condition. The final report recommends that aquatic life uses remain high for both streams.