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Using the Sediment Quality Triad to characterize baseline conditions in the Anacostia River, Washington, DC, USA

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Abstract

The Sediment Quality Triad (SQT) consists of complementary measures of sediment chemistry, benthic community structure, and sediment toxicity. We applied the SQT at 20 stations in the tidal portion of the Anacostia River from Bladensburg, MD to Washington, DC to establish a baseline of conditions to evaluate the effects of management actions. Sediment toxicity was assessed using 10-day survival and growth tests with the freshwater amphipod, Hyalella azteca and the midge, Chironomus dilutus. Triplicate grabs were taken at each station for benthic community analysis and the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) was used to interpret the data. Only one station, #92, exhibited toxicity related to sediment contamination. Sediments from this station significantly inhibited growth of both test species, had the highest concentrations of contaminants, and had a degraded benthic community, indicated by a B-IBI of less than 3. Additional sediment from this station was tested and sediment toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) procedures tentatively characterized organic compounds as the cause of toxicity. Overall, forty percent of the stations were classified as degraded by the B-IBI. However, qualitative and quantitative comparisons with sediment quality benchmarks indicated no clear relationship between benthic community health and contaminant concentrations. This study provides a baseline for assessing the effectiveness of management actions in the Anacostia River.

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Author notes

  1. Beth L. McGee

    Present address: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD, 21403, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay, Field Office, 177 Admiral Cochrane Drive, Annapolis, MD, 21401, USA

    Beth L. McGee & Alfred E. Pinkney

  2. Academy of Natural Sciences—Patrick Center, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA

    David J. Velinsky & Jeffrey T. F. Ashley

  3. Wye Research and Education Center, University of Maryland, P.O. Box 169, Queenstown, MD, 21658, USA

    Daniel J. Fisher

  4. Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 219 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Leonard C. Ferrington

  5. Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA

    Teresa J. Norberg-King

Authors
  1. Beth L. McGee
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  2. Alfred E. Pinkney
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  3. David J. Velinsky
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  4. Jeffrey T. F. Ashley
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  5. Daniel J. Fisher
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  6. Leonard C. Ferrington
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  7. Teresa J. Norberg-King
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Correspondence to Alfred E. Pinkney.

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McGee, B.L., Pinkney, A.E., Velinsky, D.J. et al. Using the Sediment Quality Triad to characterize baseline conditions in the Anacostia River, Washington, DC, USA. Environ Monit Assess 156, 51–67 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0462-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0462-8

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