US EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) Taxonomy

EcoAnalysts has been the preferred taxonomy provider for EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) since 2007. The NARS surveys are designed to assess the status and changes in the quality of the nation’s coastal waters, lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams and wetlands. The surveys are made up four individual surveys that are implemented on a rotating basis including: National Lakes Assessment (NLA); National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA); National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA); and National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA). These surveys sample a suite of biological, chemical, and physical indicators to assess the biological integrity, trophic state, recreational suitability, and key stressors impacting the nation’s aquatic resources. Since 2007, EcoAnalysts has provided taxonomic identification for each survey for a range of indicators including benthic communities, zooplankton, phytoplankton, sediment diatoms, and wetland vegetation.