Monitoring and Characterization
Monitoring and characterization under EMC involves collecting and analyzing the appropriate ecological data to assess potential impacts and detect population trends for key species. The work includes collection of population-level information for presence and abundance of biota for key habitat types, and collection and analysis of community and population-level data over longer time periods to detect changes in population sizes and condition. These data are used to assess relative resource values, presence or absence of organisms as risk receptors with respect to legacy contaminants in the environment, and to detect changes in populations that may or may not be related to Hanford operations.
Examples of populations monitored include deer, bald eagles, salmon, ferruginous hawks, geese, bivalves, crayfish, amphibians, fishes, the vegetation in key habitats and others as needed. Results from these monitoring efforts are maintained in the characterization and impacts database and summary information is presented here. Analysis of these data sets provides an early indication of any potential impacts to the biota from Hanford operations.