Rapid Bioassessment for Volunteers SALMON RIVER WATERSHED
Towns in Salmon River Watershed
•Bolton
•Colchester
•Columbia
•East Haddam
•East Hampton
•Glastonbury
•Haddam
•Hebron
•Lebanon
•Marlborough
Previous Monitoring Efforts
Key:
Red = new site, included in 2008 bioassessment
Green = ongoing DEP/other site, not included in 2008 bioassessment
Macroinvertebrate & Water Quality
Macroinvertebrate are assessed based on their pollution tolerance
The Higher the number of species in the Most Wanted generally relates to Water Quality
~~~~~~~~~
# of Types
of Most Water Quality
5 or More Exceptional
3-4 Excellent
1-3 Very Good
0 Need More Info
What do the Numbers Mean
• ♦ Most Wanted – The most sensitive to pollution, requiring a narrow range of environmental
• conditions. When abundant they are a sign of a non‐impaired stream;
• ♦ Moderately Wanted – Less sensitive to pollution and found in a variety of water quality conditions.
• When abundant, more information is needed about upstream conditions to infer water quality;
• ♦ Least Wanted – Least sensitive to pollution and tolerant of the widest range of conditions. When
• they make up the majority of a sample, they indicate some level of water quality impairment.
How Clean is the Salmon? Stream Site Most Moderate Least Total #Judd Brook 4 (36%) 5 (46%) 2 (18%) 11Fawn Brook (downstream) 4 (33%) 7 (58%) 1 (8%) 12Pine Brook 3 (43%) 3 (43%) 1 (14%) 7Blackledge River 3 (33%) 4 (45%) 2 (22%) 9Fawn Brook (upstream) 3 (30%) 6 (60%) 1 (10%) 10Jeremy River 3 (27%) 7 (64%) 1 (9%) 11Moodus River 2 (33%) 4 (67%) 0 6Meadow Brook 0 4 (100%) 0 4
# of Types of Most Water Quality 5 or More Exceptional3-4 Excellent1-3 Very Good0 Need More Info
InstructionsRapid Bioassessment in Wadeable Streams and
Rivers by Volunteer Monitors
Protocol Developed by:
Michael Beauchene
Connecticut DEEP
Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse
Planning and Standards Division
Volunteer Monitoring Coordinator
Overview of Procedure
• Site selection (set up)• Collect (scrub & kick)• Process (observe & sort)• Identify • Voucher• Submit• Congratulations
Riffle dwelling benthic macroinvertebrates
Riffle:Shallow fast
running water,
substrate mostly
composed of cobbles, gravel, and
sand
Step 1: Set upStep 1: Set upEstablish the sampling station
– Select an appropriate riffle area– Define the upper and lower boundaries
UPPER BOUNDARY
LOWER BOUNDARY
Step 1: Set upStep 1: Set up Establish the sampling station
– Select an appropriate riffle area
– Define the upper and lower boundaries
– Visualize where you can put the net into the water 6 times
LOWER BOUNDARY
UPPER BOUNDARY6
54
3
21
Step 2: CollectStep 2: Collect
1. Plant net firmly on the bottom2. In front of net, lift cobbles3. In front of net, “wash” cobbles,
and move them to the side4. “Kick” the sand and gravel in
front of the net with your boot
Step 2: CollectStep 2: Collect
12
Collect Samples from Locations 1 & 2
DUMP CONTENTS OF KICKS 1&2 INTO TRAY A
Step 2: CollectStep 2: Collect
3
4
Collect Samples from Locations 3& 4
DUMP CONTENTS OF KICKS 3&4 INTO TRAY B
Step 2: CollectStep 2: Collect
56
Collect Samples from Locations 5 & 6
DUMP CONTENTS OF KICKS 5&6 INTO TRAY C
1
3
2
4
56
Step 2: CollectStep 2: CollectThe sample collection is complete when there are 3 trays each with the contents from 2 locations
Step 3: Process the sampleStep 3: Process the samplePick out large debris from each tray and sort insects by like types into the ice cube tray
Step 3: Process the sampleStep 3: Process the sampleProcessing is complete when you have found as many of the different types as possible and put representatives of each type into the ice cube trays
Note: This chart is for preliminary sorting purposes when implementing RAPID BIOASSESSMENT FOR VOLUNTEER MONITORS. This chart is not intended to produce definitive identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates. It was designed to complement a series of field identification cards and the RBV data sheet. Additional information about the RBV program is available at http://dep.state.ct.us/wtr/volunmon/volopp.htm or by contacting Mike Beauchene at (860-424-4185) [email protected] *Drawings represent the approximate maximum size of each organism.
Panel 1: Drunella (Mayfly)
Panel 11: Stenonema (Mayfly)
Panel 2: Isonychia (Mayfly)
Panel 14: Odonata (Damselfly)
Panel 4: Peltoperlidae (Stonefly)
Panel 3: Epeorus (Mayfly)
Panel 5A: Perlidae (Stonefly)
Panel 5B: Pteronarycs (Stonefly)
Panel 5C: Misc. Stoneflies
Panel 13A: Corydalus (Dobsonfly)
Panel 14: Odonata (Dragonfly)
Panel 15B: Isopod
Panel 15A: Amphipod
Panel 8A Brachycentrus (Caddisfly)
Panel 6A: Glossosoma (Caddisfly)
Panel 7: Rhyacophia (Caddisfly)
Panel 9: Hydropsychidae (Caddisfly)
Panel 10: Chimarra (Caddisfly)
Panel 12: Psephenus (Water Penny Beetle) Panel 13B:
Nigronia (Fishfly)
Panel 6B: Apatania (Caddisfly)
Panel 8B Lepidostoma (Caddisfly)
Panel 15C: Leech
Panel 15D: Midge Larva
Panel 15E: Black Fly Larva
Panel 15F: Snail
Panel 15G: Worm
Step 4: IdentifyStep 4: IdentifyStart with the one ice cube well and weave your way through
Kicks 1&2 Kicks 3&4 Kicks 5&6
Most wanted
contrasted with least wanted is
not the same as
with good versus evil
Step 5: Voucher
Play it safe- when in doubt add one in
If it is not in the voucher it does not exist
A voucher is at least 1 of each different type of organisms collected at the site. In addition a label written in pencil with date, stream, collectors, and location is placed inside. The voucher is the data. Each voucher is verified by CT DEEP.
1
3
2
4
56
Stream: Salmon River
Date: 10/01/2015
Time: 10 AM
Location: Upstream Route Whatever
Town: Colchester
Collector: Mickey, Donald and Goofy
Label voucher with pencil and info:
Step 6: Submit the DataPat Young, Watershed Coordinator
Salmon River Watershed Partnership1066 Saybrook Road
Haddam, CT 06438 Or Arrange for Pick-Up or Drop-Off
Samples were transported to DEEP for interpretation.
SAFETY FIRST
ACCESS TO THE STREAM
PARKING/TRAFFIC
STEEP BANKS
POISION IVY/PRICKER BUSHES
ANGRY LANDOWNERS
SAFETY FIRST
WADING IN THE STREAM
SLIPPERY ROCKS
FAST FLOW
DEEP SPOTS
COLD WATER COLLECTING THE ORGANISMS
HIDDEN SHARP DEBRIS
GLASS
METAL
OTHER
Not Getting a good Voucher
-Poor sorting due to too much material &/or muddied water
-Rushed sorting due to nuisance insects, rain, snow, hunger, other commitments
-Thinking someone else put one in already
-Not using enough alcohol
-Not labeling or using pen on your label