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Volunteer MonitoringAquatic Macroinvertebrates
Why Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Makes
Sense
Helps communities make informed decisions and improve water quality.
Captures the excitement and attention of local communities and citizens to water quality issues.
Obtains long-term data or new data on water bodies that otherwise may go unmonitored.
http://www.cannontwp.org/
Volunteer Stream Monitoring Procedures
Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps)
“Our data show that citizens can collect samples of stream macroinvertebrates as well as determine physical/chemical characteristics of the stream on a level comparable to aquatic ecologists.”
- Linda Wagenet, NY
Stream Habitat Assessment
Visual assessment of stream conditions and watershed characteristics.
Assessment should include approximately 300 feet of stream length.
Provides clues to the causes of stream degradation.
Instructions for Completing Stream Habitat Assessment
Data Sheet
I. Stream, Team, Location Information Site ID – assigned by MiCorps Date – month, day, year Time – record time when monitoring begins; 24-hr time
(1:00 PM recorded at 13:00) Location – name of road from which you access study
site Names – name and phone number of person completing
datasheet, as well as names of other team members
Instructions for Completing Stream Habitat Assessment
Data Sheet
II. Stream and Riparian Habitat Stream Width– take width
measurements at several points in 300 foot section and indicate average width.
Stream Depth – take depth measurements at several points in 300 foot section and indicate average depth.
Stream channelized – signs of dredging, armored banks, straightened channels
Instructions for Completing Stream Habitat Assessment
Data Sheet
II. Stream and Riparian Habitat (cont.) Stream Flow – general flow volume in relation to
annual average flow Dry = no standing or flowing water Stagnant = water present but not flowing Low = flowing water present, but flow volume
considered below average for stream Medium = water flow is average range for the stream High = water flow is above average for the stream
Instructions for Completing Stream Habitat Assessment
Data Sheet
II. Stream and Riparian Habitat (cont.) Highest Water Mark – max height to
which the stream water level rises at the site, based on visible evidence present; distance above the present water level.
Riffle
Pool
Overhanging Vegetation
Large Woody Debris
Large Rocks
Undercut Bank
Rooted Aquatic Vegetation
Slightly Turbid Oily Sheen
Foam
Instructions for Completing Stream Habitat Assessment
Data Sheet
II. Stream and Riparian Habitat (cont.) Substrate – material that makes up the bottom of the
stream; percentages should add up to 100% Bank Stability and Erosion – erosion may occur as a
result of natural flow, or may be caused by human activities
Instructions for Completing Stream Habitat Assessment
Data Sheet
II. Stream and Riparian Habitat (cont.) Plant Community
Estimate % of stream covered by overhanging vegetation
Plants in stream: Algae on surfaces of rocks or plants Filamentous Algae – algae that appear
stringy or ropy strands Macrophytes – plants that can be seen
with microscope Plants on the bank/riparian zone – within the
first 20 ft. or so of the stream edge
Instructions for Completing Stream Habitat Assessment
Data Sheet
II. Stream and Riparian Habitat (cont.) Riparian Zone – average or most representative
vegetated area that surrounds the stream
Excellent Poor
Instructions for Completing Stream Habitat Assessment
Data Sheet
III. Sources of Degradation Evaluate importance of potential sources in terms
of pollutant inputs Severity Ranking – for each source evaluate how
severe the pollutant loading is (magnitude or quantity of pollutants likely to be delivered to the stream)
Instructions for Completing Stream Habitat Assessment
Data Sheet
Site Sketch Draw a sketch of the 300 foot study site from a
bird’s eye view. Include enough detail that someone unfamiliar with
the site could easily find it again.
GREAT JOB!
Stream Habitat Assessment Complete!
Macroinvertebrate Sampling Procedure
Macroinvertebrates indicate the ecological condition of the stream.
Macroinvertebrate data used to calculate the MiCorps Stream Quality Index, which provides summary of stream conditions.
What is a Macroinvertebrate?
Animals without backbones that are larger than ½ mm.
These animals live on rocks, logs, sediment, debris, and aquatic plants.
Important part of the food chain, especially for fish.
Why macroinvertebrates are good indicators of
water quality
Indicates local conditions
Respond quickly to stress
Easy to sample
Long history of use
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Stream Location Stream Name – name found on U.S. Geological
Survey topographic map for the area Location – name of road for which you access the
study site Date – month, day, year Start Time Major Watershed – Bear Creek & HUC Code Latitude and Longitude
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Monitoring Team Name of person completing sheet Name of person doing in-stream macroinvertebrate
collecting Other team members participating in assessment
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Stream Conditions Average water depth – taken from Stream Habitat
Assessment Sheet Siltation – silt that settles on gravel, cobble, and
woody debris in the main channel Embeddedness – extent to which gravel, cobble, or
boulders are surrounded or covered by fine materials (sand and silt).
Fish and wildlife – frogs, turtles, ducks, etc.
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Macroinvertebrate Collection Generally 45minutes in small
stream and up to 1 hour at large river site.
Habitats sampled using a dip net (D-net) and/or hand picking (forceps).
Collecting should begin at downstream end of the stream reach and work upstream.
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Macroinvertebrate Collection (cont.) Sample a number of times at
each habitat. BE AGGRESIVE All organisms* collected should
be place in tray and place macroinvertebrates into jars of later identification.
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Riffles Sample at fast part of riffle and
slow part of riffle. Do a lil’ dance!!! Can hand pick off of rocks.
Riffle
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Pools Scoop some sediment in
your net. Find soft bottom areas that
contain silt since it is more productive habitat than just sand.
Pool
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Undercut bank/overhanging vegetation Jab net into undercut bank. For overhanging
vegetation, put net under the bank at base of plants – shake vegetation using your net trying to shake insects off.
Undercut Bank
Overhanging Vegetation
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Aquatic Plants Keep net opening pointed
upstream and move net through vegetation trying to shake vegetation.
Use your hands to agitate vegetation and dislodge insects into net.
Rooted Aquatic Vegetation
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Cobbles/Submerged Wood Small logs and rocks can
be pulled out of water to search for insects
Logs – be sure to check under bark
Rocks – caddisfly homes often look like small piles of sticks or clumps of gravel attached to rocks.
Large Woody Debris
Large Rocks
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Runs Somewhat smoothly
flowing segment of stream.
Sample with D-net, skimming along bottom. Run
Stream Macroinvertebrate Datasheet
Stream Margin Refers to sides of stream (undercut
bank, overhanging vegetation, etc.)
Leaf Packs Look for decomposing leaf pack. Use hands and forceps.
Leafpacks
Identification and Assessment
Shells
Single Shell Pouch Snail
Spiral shell with opening usually on left side
Does not have a plate-like covering over the shell opening
Group 3: Tolerant
Shells
Single Shell Gilled Snail
Spiral shell with opening usually on right side
Plate-like covering over the shell opening
Group 1: Sensitive
Shells
Double Shell Clams
Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
No Legs
With Tentacles, Brushes, or “Tails” Water Snipe Fly Larva
Two fringed “tails” Group 1: Sensitive
No Shells
No Legs
With Tentacles, Brushes, or “Tails” Crane Fly Larvae
white or grey with tentacles Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
No Legs
With Tentacles, Brushes, or “Tails” Midge
Small and thin Colors vary brown, green, red Group 3: Tolerant
No Shells
No Legs
With Tentacles, Brushes, or “Tails” Blackfly Larvae
Look like bowling pins, usually black in color
Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
No Legs
With Tentacles, Brushes, or “Tails” Other True Flies
Never possess true (jointed) legs, though they may have several prolegs.
Group 3: Tolerant
Already Seen…
Other True Flies…
No Shells
No Legs
Worm-Like Leech
Flattened lengthwise Sucker Group 3: Tolerant
No Shells
No Legs
Worm-Like Aquatic Worms
Segmented Resemble earth worms Group 3: Tolerant
No Shells
Legs
10+ Legs Crayfish
Resemble miniature “lobsters”
Pair of pinchers Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
10+ Legs Scud
Flattened sides and hump back
Resembles shrimp Swims on side Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
10+ Legs Sowbug
Walks on bottom Resembles potato bug Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
Wings
Beetle-like, wings hard Beetle Adults
Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
Wings
Leathery wings True Bugs
Sucking mouthparts Group 3: Tolerant
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
No Obvious Tails Beetle Larvae
Generally well sclerotized Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
No Obvious Tails Caddisfly Larvae
Worm-like, soft bodies Head contains hard covering Known for construction of cases Group 1:Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
No Obvious Tails Water Penny
Resemble circular crustations on rocks Sucker-like Group 1: Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
No Obvious Tails Dragonfly
Stout bodies Large eyes on side of head Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
One or Two Tails Net-spinning caddisfly larvae
Long anal proleg Three dorsal plates Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
Net-spinning caddisfly larvae
Caddisfly larvae
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
One or Two Tails Alderfly Larva
Distinct, single tail Smaller than Hellgrammite (Dobsonfly Larva) “Spines” on side Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
One or Two Tails Hellgrammite Larva
No distinct single tail Generally larger “Spines” on side Group 1: Sensitive
Alderfly Larva
Hellgrammites
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
One or Two Tails Stonefly Nymph
Two tails Gills (when present) are tufts or filamentous and
can be present under head, by legs, or on abdomen
Group 1: Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
Two or Three Tails Mayfly Nymph
Usually 3 tails, but can have 2 Gills on sides of abdomen Group 1: Sensitive
No Shells
Legs
Three Pairs of Legs
No Wings
Three Tails Damselfly Larva
Slender body Paddle-like “tails” on end Group 2: Somewhat-Sensitive
Stream Quality Score
Total stream quality score should be calculated as indicated on the survey form.
Score is used to rank site as excellent, good, fair, or poor.
Name(s) of those determining the ID of insects in the sample should be recorded, as well as numerical rating of confidence in the identifications.
Excellent Work!
Now you give it a try!
