Commonwealth Biomonitoring is a small business specializing in water quality science since 1989. We have an aquatic toxicity testing laboratory and conduct over 100 tests of water and sediments each year. If toxicity is observed, we also conduct toxicity identification evaluations that help clients reduce or eliminate a toxicity problem. Our lab raises its own test animals, including Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, Hyalella azteca, Physa gyrina, Pimephales promelas, and Selenastrum capricornutum.
Another important part of our company’s laboratory services is pathogen analysis. We are set up to do routine analysis of fecal coliform bacteria, Salmonella, E. coli, helminth ova and enteric viruses for the U.S. EPA biosolids (“503") program. We are also equipped to do PCR and electrophoresis to determine bacterial genotypes in water samples.This is a new tool especially valuable for tracking sources of pathogens in the environment.
In addition to laboratory services, Commonwealth Biomonitoring is involved in projects dealing with lake enhancement, wetland restoration, bioassessments with fish, macroinvertebrates and algae, and bioaccumulation in aquatic animal tissue.Our company has assisted in the design and construction of wetlands for wastewater treatment. We have the capability of modeling water quality using a variety of computer applications, including QUAL2E, BASINS, AQUATOX and EUTROMOD. Our staff includes four aquatic biologists and two part-time technicians.
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Biomonitoring is the use of information on aquatic life to make important decision about water quality.Some important biomonitoring tools include aquatic toxicity tests and water body surveys of fish and macroinvertebrates.Biomonitoring has several distinct advantages over more traditional water chemistry measurements.
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Potential effects of over 1,000,000 chemicals are measured
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Animals are exposed continuously to water, so they integrate effects over time (not just a snapshot like most chemical monitoring)
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Community responses can diagnose particular water quality problems (low oxygen, excessive nutrients, toxics, etc.)
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Measurement costs are relatively low compared to many chemical analyses
Commonwealth Biomonitoring's professional services include:
- Lake Enhancement
- Diagnostic Studies
- Design Phase Projects
- Construction Projects
- Bacteria Detection
- Sedimentation Control
- Shoreline Stabilization
- Fisheries
- Fisheries Surveys
- Bioaccumulation Studies
- Habitat Restoration
- Water Quality
- Water Chemistry
- Aquatic Toxicity Tests
- Pathogens
- Modeling
- Ecological Studies
- Wetlands
- Permitting
- Wetland Restoration
- Constructed Wetlands
- River and Stream Enhancement
- Biological Monitoring (Benthos and Fish)
- Habitat Restoration
- Bank Stabilization
- Nonpoint Source Pollution
- Control Alternatives Cost/Benefit Analysis
- Project Financing
- State and Federal
- Watershed Grants
Water quality in lakes and streams is only as good as the quality of water draining in them. They are a reflection of their watershed. We use modern biological monitoring techniques to diagnose water quality problems. Then we use computer Geographic Information System (GIS) to help make decisions about how to fix the problems. Our watershed management work has resulted in measurable improvements in lake and stream water quality.
MACROINVERTEBRATES
Macroinvertebrates are seldom seen by most people but they exist by the millions in lakes and streams. Many are larvae of aquatic insects. They spend their lives growing up in water, emerge as adults for a few days, mate lay eggs and die. While in the larval stage in lakes and streams, macroinvertebrates play an unseen but vital role breaking down leaves, eating algae and being an important food source for fish. They are also excellent “biomonitors” of water quality. A healthy stream or lake has a distinctive macroinvertebrate community that allows us to make informed decisions about water quality using new bioassessment techniques.
FRESHWATER MUSSELS
Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered groups of animals in North America (42 species are listed as federally endangered or threatened and 70 others have been proposed for this list). They are particularly sensitive to changes in water quality and habitat. Mussels were extremely abundant in many streams a century ago and still play an important role in filtering algae and contaminants from water. Our company has special expertise in this field of biology. We are trained in mussel conservation techniques and licensed to recognize and protect this important group of freshwater animals.
SILVER LAKE BIOFILTER
The Silver Lake Conservation Association represents many of the residents of Silver Lake, Indiana in their efforts to protect and enhance water quality in one of the state’s 500+ glacial lakes. The lake has experienced a period of rapid cultural eutrophication in the past 100 years, caused by excessive runoff of sediment and nutrients from nearby homes and farm fields.
The association chose a vulnerable site on the lake’s southern age to install a “biofilter” to trap nutrients and sediments before they entered the lake. The biofilter consists of a gravel and sand filter on which facultative wetland plants grow. As water runs off nearby fields, it is trapped in the biofilter, where sediments are filtered out and nutrients are incorporated into a beautiful community of plants.
Commonwealth Biomonitoring designed and built the Silver Lake biofilter in the summer of 2005. The biofilter is expected to reduce loading of sediment to the lake by 500 kg per year. There will also be a reduction of 8 kg of nitrogen and 1 kg of phosphorus each year (about 5% of the total annual input to the lake). These reductions in loading are expected to help return Silver Lake to a more natural rate of eutrophication.
