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QEA develops effective restoration plans for natural aquatic habitats by applying our diverse array of expertise in watershed and stream hydrology, sediment transport, nutrient dynamics, chemical fate and transport, and aquatic biology. QEA's staff of scientists and engineers possess the requisite expertise and experience in these disciplines to effectively develop and communicate the results of habitat assessments and restoration plans to diverse stakeholder groups.
 Many habitat quality problems are focused on fish survival and reproduction. Goals may include reestablishment of a sustainable fish community containing an abundance of native species or restoring commercial and recreational fishing. Habitat loss or alterations in the flow and temperature regime have the potential to impact fish populations and aquatic communities. Pollutants can exacerbate the effects of physical habitat alterations. Activities such as road building and hydropower activities can modify flow rates in streams and rivers and lead to increased sedimentation, thereby impacting reproduction and survival. Physical structures such as dams can prevent fish migration and movement.
QEA's experience in fisheries biology and aquatic ecology includes site investigations with concerns ranging from the effects of temperature and pH on fish and invertebrate communities to remedial investigation and design studies related to metals, pesticides, and toxic organic compounds. We design and implement survey and monitoring programs, including stream assessments and fish community analyses. QEA has developed and applied bioenergetic models, both in the context of contaminant problems and fish population studies, including the development of a model for juvenile Atlantic salmon focused on assessing the restoration potential in New York State streams.
The communities of organisms that inhabit the sediments are of concern both in their own right, as well as food sources for the fish community. The structure of benthic communities, that is, the number and relative abundance of individual species and of higher taxonomic groups (e.g., caddisflies, mayflies, midges, and oligochaetes) provide indications of the overall state of the biological community of a water body. QEA performs field collections and assessments of benthic community data, including the development of biological indices such as the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) and the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM), as well as Habitat Suitability Indices (HSI). Our experience also includes evaluation of the population dynamics of bivalve filter feeders and their role in controlling water quality, in both estuarine and freshwater habitats.
Wetlands are often the focus of habitat restoration problems because of their multiple roles in controlling runoff, water storage and filtering, controlling sediment loadings to surface waters, storing and releasing contaminants, and as fish spawning and feeding grounds. Federal law prohibits destruction of wetlands without proper replacement or mitigation. QEA performs wetland studies, including wetland delineation certification following the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation manual.
Protection and improvement in water quality is a critical component of habitat restoration. Biological resources are affected by sediments, nutrients, oxygen-demanding substances from natural sources and from wastewater treatment plants, and chemical pollutants. QEA brings exceptional qualifications to the study of water quality, with experience in the quantitative analysis of nutrient/dissolved oxygen/eutrophication problems, as well as an international reputation in the evaluation of sediment and contaminant problems in aquatic systems. Experienced ecologists provide the ability to evaluate the linkage between chemical stressors and biological resources.
 Physical modifications to the environment affect runoff, sediment loads, and the availability of nesting and foraging habitat; such modifications underlie many watershed habitat deterioration problems. The proliferation of impervious cover as watersheds develop often leads to alteration in stream hydrographs, excessive sediment loading, undercutting of stream banks, and removal of overhanging vegetation. These changes alter the physical and chemical environment by exposing resident species to increased pollutant concentrations, higher suspended solids concentrations, and increased water temperatures, all of which can affect fisheries. QEA's experience with watershed hydrology, hydrodynamics, sediment transport and aquatic biology together provide the foundation for evaluating the significance of physical habitat modification and for developing effective ways to restore aquatic ecosystems.
Margaret Murphy, Ph.D.
Managing Scientist
Phone: (315) 453-9009 ext 29
Email: mmurphy@qeallc.com
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