Aquatic Bioassessment Laboratory (ABL)

The ABL provides extensive expertise in freshwater invertebrate taxonomy. Data collection includes targeted riffle- and multiple-habitat sampling of macroinvertebrates, fish, and algae as well as the associated physical habitats, and monitoring of the chemicals in the surroundings. Research also focuses on developing IBI’s for different regions in California; developing objective reference-condition selection methods, and establishing quantitative tolerance values.

Projects 2010-11

• EPA, through the State Water Resources Control Board program, funds ABL's Statewide Surface Water Ambient Monitoring bioassessment programs to assess the quality of the state’s wadeable streams.
• The University of Maryland funds ABL to identify macroinvertebrates from bioassessment samples and to make a complete list of species for each sample.
• PG&E funds the California Department of Fish & Game to supplement an existing targeted anadromous-fisheries research project on Butte Creek with bioassessment sampling.
• Multi-clients (private, state, and federal) contract with ABL for bioasessment services, including water sample processing from original samples, and the sorting of organisms into major taxonomic categories. Clients are provided with a taxa list and set of biological metrics for all samples.

Related Links

Department of Fish and Game's Aquatic Bioassessment Laboratory