Mike D. Bilger
mbilger@ecoanalysts.com
Aquatic Biologist
M.S. Invertebrate Zoology
B.S. Natural Resources and Conservation Biology

Office
15 North Market Street
Selinsgrove, PA 17870
(570) 374-2100 Tel
(570) 374-8580 Fax

Mike assumed the management of the EcoAnalysts Northeast Office in Pennsylvania in January 2006. He has been employed by state and federal government agencies in the field of aquatic science for over 32 years. Mike is a certified taxonomist for East EPT Genera and General Arthropods East by the North American Benthological Society (NABS). His areas of expertise cover a broad range of aquatic biology in both applied and regulatory topics and in both the field and laboratory in both freshwater and marine environments. Although he has made a career of specializing in freshwater invertebrate taxonomy, systematics, and ecology, Mike has considerable expertise in the assessment of aquatic community composition (algae, invertebrates, fish, habitat) and how they relate to stressors such as land use practice and contaminants, toxicology, geomorphology, impacts of power generating facilities, impacts of acid mine drainage, water and sediment quality, lake systems, CERCLA projects, and the planning and completion of large scale multi-discipline ecological projects from planning to analysis.

In 1991, Mike joined the U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Science Center, New Cumberland, PA as the study unit biologist for the Lower Susquehanna River basin (LSUS) National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA). This work involved the planning and direction of aquatic biological issues as part of an interdisciplinary team of hydrologists, geologists, engineers, chemists, biologists, and technicians. His duties included the collection and interpretation of data from the major aquatic communities (algae, invertebrates, fish) as well as riparian woody and herbaceous vegetation; fluvial geomorphic parameters; the compilation of retrospective aquatic ecological information within the study unit area; planning and coordination of multidiscipline and multi-agency activities in the field to collect water quality, bottom sediment quality, and contaminants data (organic and inorganic) including point and non-point sources; communication of aquatic ecological information in oral and written form; participation in technical meetings with peer, governmental, and civic groups to gather and disseminate ecological data; preparation of study plans and project budgets; and the maintenance of sophisticated collection gear and laboratory equipment such as digital microscopes. In 1997, Mike assumed a co-ecologist position to study the Delaware River basin (DELR) as part of the NAWQA program. In 2001, his major assignment shifted to the biological coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Water Quality Network (WQN). This project entailed the collection of stream invertebrate samples and lake water quality samples from hundreds of sites throughout the state. Other project involvement has dealt with th collection of fish tissue samples for contaminants such as mercury, invertebrate identifications, biodiversity of plants and animals in Pennsylvania, dam removal studies, and acid mine drainage impact studies on invertebrates and fish.

In 1989, Mike began a two year assignment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA to serve as the Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing (WETT) Program Coordinator. His duties included the management and coordination of the WETT requirements as required in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, conducting Toxicity Reduction Evaluation's (TRE's), providing advice on the usefulness and application of WETT, providing training to department staff and others, and writing reports, guidance, and procedures on WETT.

In 1980, Mike began a position as a regional biologist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England Regional Laboratory, Lexington, MA. He was responsible for aquatic biological support to the six New England states. His duties included the mentoring of state bioassessment and toxicity testing programs; conducting complex field and laboratory toxicity studies; biological investigations of superfund sites for CERCLA; environmental impact assessments of power generating facilities both freshwater and marine and both fossil fuel and nuclear; writing regulation for wetlands and ocean dredge and fill projects; sediment oxygen demand studies; ocean sewage outfall assessments; and the presentation of numerous seminars and workshops dealing with regional biological issues. He has also published a "Checklist of the aquatic macroinvertebrates of New England and New York State" in 1986.

Mike began his full time career in 1974, as the head biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution Control in Westborough, MA. This was an exciting time to be in aquatic science since pollution ecology was still in its formative phase. His major duties were the planning of a statewide network of aquatic invertebrate/water quality studies including data collection and interpretation. This information was present orally at professional meetings and in report form. Other duties were the participation on numerous technical advisory committees dealing with environmental impacts of power generating facilities both fossil fuel and nuclear and freshwater and marine. He also served on technical groups concerned with wetlands regulations and the impacts of dredge and fill operations in Massachusetts' waters.

Professional Memberships

• North American Benthological Society (NABS)
• New England Association of Environmental Biologists (NEAEB)
• Entomological Society of Pennsylvania
• Association of Mid-Atlantic Biologists

Workshops

• Taxonomy, Systematics, and Ecology of Trichoptera   Dr. John Morse
• Identification and Ecology of Adult and Larval Odonata North of Mexico   Dr. Mike May
• Biology, Ecology, and Distribution of Crayfish Dr. A. Covich
• Oligochaete Taxonomy, Systematics, and Ecology   M. Wetzel, D. Kathman, and S. Fend

Publications

Andersen, A.M., Jr. and M.D. Bilger. 1977. Growth of marked Rangia clams in the Potomac River.   Proc. Natl. Shellfisheries Assoc. 67:118.

Anderson, P.R., E.W. Chesbrough, and M.D. Bilger. 1975. French and Quinebaug Rivers, 1974 Water Quality Analysis, Part C.   Mass. Div. of Water Poll. Control, Westborough, MA.

Anderson, P.R. and M.D. Bilger. 1975. Farmington River, 1974 Water Quality Analysis and Water Quality Management Plan, Parts C&D. Mass. Div. of Water Poll. Control, Westborough, MA.

Bilger, M.D. 1976. Merrimack River, 1974 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Analysis.   Mass. Div. of Water Poll. Control, Westborough, MA.

Bilger, M.D. 1983.   A list of references used in the identification of freshwater macroinvertebrates in Region I.   USEPA/Environmental Services Division, Lexington, MA.

Bilger, M.D. 1985. Ten Mile River Basin-1984 Water Quality Program-Acute Toxicity Report.   USEPA/Environmental Services Division, Lexington, MA.

Bilger, M.D. 1986.   A preliminary checklist of the aquatic macroinvertebrates of New England, including New York State. USEPA/Environmental Services Division, Lexington, MA.

Bilger, M.D. and R.A. Brightbill. 1998. Fish communities and their relation to physical and chemical characteristics of streams from selected environmental settings in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin, 1993-95.   U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Investigation Report 98-4004, 34p.

Bilger, M.D. and R.A. Brightbill. 1998. Fish-community composition in West Branch Susquehanna River upstream and downstream of Curwensville Dam, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, 1997.   U.S. Geological Survey Administrative Report, 8p.

Bilger, M.D. and R.A. Brightbill. 1998. Fish-community composition in Kettle Creek upstream and downstream of Alvin R. Bush Dam, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, 1997.   U.S. Geological Survey Administrative Report, 8p.

Bilger, M.D. and S.C. Travis. 1978. Nashua River Benthic Macroinvertebrate Analysis 1977.   Mass. Div. of Water Poll. Control, Westborough, MA.

Bilger, M.D., K. Riva-Murray, and G.L. Wall. 2004. A checklist of the aquatic invertebrates of the Delaware River Basin, 1990-2000. U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 116, 29p

Brightbill, R.A. and M.D. Bilger. 1998. Fish-community composition in Bald Eagle Creek upstream and downstream of Foster Joseph Sayers Dam, Centre County, Pennsylvania, 1997.   U.S. Geological Survey Administrative Report, 8p.

Brightbill, R.A. and M.D. Bilger.   1998.   Fish-community composition in Raystown Branch Juniata River upstream and downstream of Raystown Dam, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, 1997.   U.S. Geological Survey Administrative Report, 8p.

Brightbill, R.A. and M.D. Bilger. 1998. Relation of algal biomass to characteristics of selected streams in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin.   U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Investigation Report 98-4144, 18p.

Brightbill, R.A. and M.D. Bilger. 1999. Fish-community composition in Mill Creek, Crooked Creek, and Tioga River in the vicinity of Tioga-Hammond Dams, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, 1998. U.S. Geological Survey, Open File Report 99-210, 20p.

Brightbill, R.A. and M.D. Bilger. 1999. Fish-community composition in Cowanesque River upstream and downstream of Cowanesque Dam, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, 1998. U.S. Geological Survey, Open File Report 99-208, 15p.

Brightbill, R.A. and M.D. Bilger. 2001. Fish-community composition in Otselic River, in the vicinity of Whitney Point Lake, Broome County and Cortland Counties, New York, 2000. U.S. Geological Survey, Open-File Report 01-78, 13p.

Brightbill, R.A. and M.D. Bilger. 2001. Fish-community composition in Ouleout Creek, in the vicinity of East Sidney Lake, Delaware County, New York, 2000. U.S. Geological Survey, Open-File Report 01-80, 12p.

Brightbill, R.A. and M.D. Bilger. 2001. Fish-community composition in Canacadea Creek, in the vicinity of Almond Lake, Alleghany and Steuben Counties, New York, 2000. U.S. Geological Survey, Open-File Report 01-79, 13p.

Brightbill, R.A., K. Riva-Murray, M.D. Bilger, and J.D. Byrnes. 2004. Total mercury and methylmercury in fish fillets, water, and bed sediments from selected streams in the Delaware River Basin, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, 1998-2001. U.S. Geological Survey WRIR-03-4183, 38p.

Chaplin, J.J., R.A. Brightbill, and M.D. Bilger. 2005. Effects of removing Good Hope Mill Dam on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of Conodoguinet Creek, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations report 2005-xxxx, xxp.

Cravotta, C.A. III and M.D. Bilger. 2001. Water-quality trends for a stream draining the Southern Anthracite Field, Pennsylvania. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, vol. 1: 33-50.

Cuffney, T.F. M.D. Bilger, and A.M. Higler. 2006. Ambiguous taxa:effects on the characterization and interpretation of invertebrate assemblages. Submitted to Journal of North American Benthological Society.

Daniels, R.A., K. Riva-Murray, D.B. Halliwell, D.L. Vana-Miller, and M.D. Bilger. 2002. An index of biological integrity for northern Mid-Atlantic drainages. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 131:1044-1060.

Erdmann, J.B., M.D. Bilger, and S.C. Travis. 1977. The Charles River and Charles Basin, 1973 and 1976, Part C, Water Quality Analysis.   Mass.   Div. of Water Poll. Control, Westborough, MA.

Fischer, J.M., K. Riva-Murray, R.E. Hickman, D.C. Chicester, R.A. Brightbill, K. Romanik, and M.D. Bilger. 2004. Water quality in the Delaware River Basin- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware, 1998-2001. U. S. Geological Survey Circular 1227. 38p.

Firmin, B.J. and M.D. Bilger. 1980. The Westfield River Basin, 1978 Water Quality Analysis.   Mass.   Div. of Water Poll. Control, Westborough, MA.

Lindsey, B.D., K.J. Breen, M.D. Bilger, and R.A. Brightbill. 1998. Water Quality in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin, Pennsylvania and Maryland, 1992-95. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1168, 38p.

Nolan, P.M., M.D. Bilger, and J. Paar III. 1981. Chemical and biological evaluation of Boston Harbor sediments July 1980. USEPA/Environmental Services Division, Lexington, MA.

Riva-Murray, K., M.D. Bilger, and R.A. Brightbill. 2002. Water-quality of streams in the Delaware River Basin: Temporal trends in organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in fish tissue from selected sites, 1970-1999. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet.

Riva-Murray, K., R A. Brightbill, and M.D. Bilger. 2003. Trends in concentrations of PCB in fish tissue from selected sites in the Delaware River Basin in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, 1969-98. U.S. Geological Survey WRIR-01-4066, 19p.

Romanik, K., J.M. Fischer, K. Riva-Murray, R.A. Brightbill, and M.D. Bilger. 2004. Organochlorine and trace elements in fish tissue and bed sediment in the Delaware River basin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, 1998-2000. U.S. Geological Survey WRIR. (Draft).

Siwiec, S.F., R.A. Hainly, B.D. Lindsey, M.D. Bilger, and R.A. Brightbill. 1997. Water-quality assessment of the lower Susquehanna River Basin, Pennsylvania and Maryland: Design and implementation of water-quality studies, 1992-95. U.S. Geological Survey, Open File Report 97-583, 121 p.

Szal, G.M., P.M. Nolan, L.E. Kennedy, C.P. Barr, and M.D. Bilger. 1991. The toxicity of chlorinated waste water: instream and laboratory case studies. Research J. Water Pollution Control Federation, 63 (6): 910-920.

Numerous unpublished agency and department reports and technical documents.