Watershed Watch Protocols Level I

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Watershed Watch Protocols Level I
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• Goals for this module
• Understand how biomonitoring is used to evaluate
  the health of a stream
• Learn how to sample the stream community
• Learn how to identify organisms in the stream
• Learn how to quantify your findings

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• Stream organisms require
• access to food
• refuge from predators
• tolerable temperatures
• sufficient oxygen
• tolerable chemical conditions

A degraded habitat may not support some organisms
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Benthic macroinvertebrates

• benthic bottom of the stream macro visible
  with the naked eye invertebrate no backbone
• ubiquitous and easy to collect
• relatively sedentary
• vary in sensitivity to habitat alteration and
  pollution

Good
Mid Range
Poor
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A diverse community representing a range of
tolerances
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A less diverse community dominated by tolerant
species
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• Utility of macroinvertebrate surveys
• problem identification screening tool
• used in prioritizing sites
• rapid screening

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True or False. The presence of pollution
tolerant species such as leeches is an indication
of poor water quality
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True or False. The presence of pollution
tolerant species such as leeches is an indication
of poor water quality
False.
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• Goals for this module
• Understand how biomonitoring is used to evaluate
  the health of a stream
• Learn how to sample the stream community
• Learn how to identify organisms in the stream
• Learn how to quantify your findings

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• Sampling your stream
• Equipment to bring
• Selecting the site
• Sampling protocol

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Equipment to bring

• Boots, waders, or shoes that can get wet
• D-frame or 10-inch aquarium net
• Light-colored plastic pan
• Field guides, key, and illustrations for
  identification
• Magnifying glass
• Biological monitoring assessment datasheet

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Selecting the site
Choose one or more riffles in your stream reach
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Sampling protocol
Fill out the top portion of the biological
assessment form
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Sampling protocol traveling kick

• Set net in riffle
• Kick and stir 1/2 meters above net
• Rinse net in pan containing a small amount of
  water
• Repeat at five different locations in riffle to
  produce one composite sample
• Inspect and remove large debris
• Identify organisms and calculate score
• Carefully rinse net and pan before sampling
  another stream

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Sampling protocol low gradient

• Estimate habitat present
• Jab net in representative habitat
• Rinse net in pan containing a small amount of
  water
• Repeat at ten different locations in the reach
  to produce one composite sample
• Inspect and remove large debris
• Identify organisms and calculate score
• Carefully rinse net and pan before sampling
  another stream

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For each site, how many kick-net samples should
be taken?
What should you do if your reach does not have
any riffles?
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For each site, how many kick-net samples should
be taken?
Five. These can be combined to form one
composite sample.
What should you do if your reach does not have
any riffles?
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For each site, how many kick-net samples should
be taken?
Five. These can be combined to form one
composite sample.
What should you do if your reach does not have
any riffles?
Look for other habitats that might support
macroinvertebrates. Use the low gradient sampling
protocol if necessary.
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• Goals for this module
• Understand how biomonitoring is used to evaluate
  the health of a stream
• Learn how to sample the stream community
• Learn how to identify organisms in the stream
• Learn how to quantify your findings

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• Tools for identification
• Images from the reverse side of the
  bioassessment form
• Dichotomous key (included in training manual)
• Field guides (Voshell, J. R. 2002. A guide to
  common freshwater invertebrates of North America.
  McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company,
  Blacksburg, VA)

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Identify the following macroinvertebrates
B
C
A
B. Newton 2003
F
D
E
Images from http//www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent525
/water/aquatic/index.htm
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Identify the following macroinvertebrates
B
C
A
Crane fly larva
Caddisfly larva
Water Penny
B. Newton 2003
F
D
E
Mayfly larva
Scud (isopod)
damselfly larvae
Images from http//www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent525
/water/aquatic/index.htm
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• Goals for this module
• Understand how biomonitoring is used to evaluate
  the health of a stream
• Learn how to sample the stream community
• Learn how to identify organisms in the stream
• Learn how to quantify your findings

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Scoring your site
Fill out the bottom portion of the biological
assessment form
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X
X
X
X
X
X
X
3
2
2
9
4
2
15
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Submit your data

• Give the form to your area coordinator or send
  it to the watershed watch office
• Each site should be assessed once a year in the
  summer
• Ask your area coordinator for help

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• Goals for this module
• Understand how biomonitoring is used to evaluate
  the health of a stream
• Learn how to sample the stream community
• Learn how to identify organisms in the stream
• Learn how to quantify your findings