Why Assess Biological Why Assess Biological Water Quality?Water Quality?

Role in government decision makingRole in government decision making Decide which areas need help firstDecide which areas need help first Provide baseline dataProvide baseline data Gauge effect of changes to Gauge effect of changes to

watershedwatershed

Biological MonitoringBiological Monitoring Biological monitoring involves Biological monitoring involves

collecting, identifying and collecting, identifying and counting macroinvertebratescounting macroinvertebrates

The purpose of biological The purpose of biological monitoring is to quickly assess monitoring is to quickly assess both both water and habitat qualitywater and habitat quality

Healthy streams are characterized Healthy streams are characterized by by abundant and diverseabundant and diverse macroinvertebrate populations macroinvertebrate populations Monitoring involves Monitoring involves quarterly quarterly samplingsampling by volunteers by volunteers

Macros are aquatic insects, mollusks Macros are aquatic insects, mollusks and crustaceansand crustaceans

Macros live in various stream habitats Macros live in various stream habitats and and derive their oxygen from the derive their oxygen from the waterwater

These organisms are impacted by all the These organisms are impacted by all the stresses that occur in a stream stresses that occur in a stream environment, both man-made and environment, both man-made and naturally occurringnaturally occurring

What are What are MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Macros as Indicators of Macros as Indicators of Water QualityWater Quality

NotNot very mobile very mobile

Present during ALL stream events (though Present during ALL stream events (though recent recent heavy rainsheavy rains can affect resultscan affect results))

Relatively easy to catch, view and identifyRelatively easy to catch, view and identify

They are affected by the physical, chemical They are affected by the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the streamand biological conditions of the stream

Their absence provides early warning Their absence provides early warning signalsignal

Water Penny

Aquatic Sowbug

Rat-tailed maggot

Right-handed snail

or gill snail

Leech

Blood Midge Larva

Planaria

Freshwater mussels

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J