Biological assessments and criteria can be an important component of State and Tribal watershed management programs by assisting in prioritization and targeting of actions, setting restoration goals and performance standards, and documenting results. ... A primary strength of biological criteria is the detection of water quality problems that other methods may miss or underestimate. ... Ecological integrity is a combination of three components: chemical integrity, physical integrity, and biological integrity. When one or more of these components is degraded, the health of the waterbody will b...

• Word Count: 1076
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Graduate