Minnesota's Statewide Fish IBI

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has implemented an intensive watershed monitoring design to assess the flowing waters of all of the 81 major watersheds for water quality on a ten year cycle. A statewide fish index of biotic integrity (IBI) consisting of 11 classes has been developed in order to assess Minnesota’s warmwater and coldwater flowing waters for aquatic life use standards using standard methods. Fish IBI metrics were derived based on response to human disturbance and represented various ecological aspects of the expected fish community in Minnesota streams.  A summary of current IBI scores and impairments by stream class will be provided. This new IBI has proven to be a more effective assessment tool than had previously been used to assess the condition of Minnesota's flowing waters, and will help guide future watershed restoration and protection strategies for Minnesota.