Stream Quality Assessment

Biological Monitoring

WHY Monitor Stream Quality?WHY Monitor Stream Quality?

To determine if To determine if

problems exist in ourproblems exist in our

streams and rivers. streams and rivers.

HOW do we Monitor Stream HOW do we Monitor Stream Quality?Quality?

Stream quality can be Stream quality can be assessed by assessed by determining the kinds determining the kinds of animals that live of animals that live within the stream within the stream (Biotic Assessment)(Biotic Assessment)

Other indicators may Other indicators may be stream odor, be stream odor, appearance, and appearance, and surroundings (Abiotic surroundings (Abiotic Assessment)Assessment)

Biotic AssessmentBiotic Assessment

Seines may be used Seines may be used to collect stream to collect stream inhabitantsinhabitants

Group members can Group members can help to dig up help to dig up critters to be caught critters to be caught in the seine, by in the seine, by scraping rocks or scraping rocks or shuffling their feetshuffling their feet

What kind of critters do we look for?What kind of critters do we look for? MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

““Macro”= large Macro”= large enough to be seen enough to be seen with the naked eyewith the naked eye

““Invertebrate” = Invertebrate” = without a backbonewithout a backbone

Aquatic Aquatic macroinvertebrates macroinvertebrates can be indicators of can be indicators of water qualitywater quality

There are 3 groups of There are 3 groups of Macroinvertebrates:Macroinvertebrates:

Group One Taxa – pollution sensitive Group One Taxa – pollution sensitive organisms; if these critters are present, you organisms; if these critters are present, you have little pollution in the waterhave little pollution in the water

Group Two Taxa – moderate pollution-tolerant; Group Two Taxa – moderate pollution-tolerant; these guys may indicate that the water has these guys may indicate that the water has some pollution, but not a lot of pollution.some pollution, but not a lot of pollution.

Group Three Taxa – heavy pollution-tolerant; Group Three Taxa – heavy pollution-tolerant; these critters may indicate very heavy pollutionthese critters may indicate very heavy pollution

Group One TaxaGroup One Taxa

Pollution sensitive organisms Pollution sensitive organisms found only in high quality waterfound only in high quality water

Stonefly NymphStonefly Nymph

1/2” - 1 1/2” in length1/2” - 1 1/2” in length 6 legs with hooked 6 legs with hooked

tipstips Long antennaeLong antennae 2 hair like tails2 hair like tails

Mayfly NymphMayfly Nymph

1/4”-1” in length1/4”-1” in length 6 large hooked legs6 large hooked legs Plate-like gills on Plate-like gills on

sides of bodysides of body Many long feelers Many long feelers

on lower half of on lower half of bodybody

AntennaeAntennae 2 to 3 long, hair-like 2 to 3 long, hair-like

tailstails

Water Penny Beetle LarvaeWater Penny Beetle Larvae

1/4” in length1/4” in length 6 tiny legs on bottom 6 tiny legs on bottom

side of bodyside of body Flat, saucer-shaped Flat, saucer-shaped

body with raised body with raised bumps on top side of bumps on top side of bodybody

Gilled SnailGilled Snail

Shell opens on the Shell opens on the rightright

Opening covered by Opening covered by thin plate called thin plate called operculumoperculum

Caddisfly LarvaeCaddisfly Larvae

Up to 1/2” in lengthUp to 1/2” in length 6 hooked legs on 6 hooked legs on

upper third of bodyupper third of body 2 hooks at back end2 hooks at back end May be found in rock, May be found in rock,

stick, or leaf casestick, or leaf case Typically greenish Typically greenish

colored body with colored body with dark headdark head

Dobsonfly Larvae Dobsonfly Larvae (Hellgrammite)(Hellgrammite)

3/4” - 4” in length3/4” - 4” in length 6 legs6 legs Many feelers on lower Many feelers on lower

half of bodyhalf of body 4 hooks at back end4 hooks at back end Fan shaped gill tufts Fan shaped gill tufts

on sideson sides Short antennaeShort antennae

Riffle BeetleRiffle Beetle

1/4” in length1/4” in length Oval body covered Oval body covered

with tiny hairswith tiny hairs 6 legs6 legs AntennaeAntennae Both larva and adult Both larva and adult

are commonly found are commonly found in the waterin the water

Larva

Adult

Group Two TaxaGroup Two Taxa

Somewhat pollution tolerant Somewhat pollution tolerant organisms that can live in organisms that can live in moderate quality water.moderate quality water.

CrayfishCrayfish

1/2” - 6” in length1/2” - 6” in length 8 legs8 legs 2 large claws2 large claws Resemble small Resemble small

lobsterslobsters

Dragonfly NymphDragonfly Nymph

1/2” - 2” in length1/2” - 2” in length 6 hooked legs6 hooked legs Large eyesLarge eyes Usually buried in mud Usually buried in mud

or found clinging to or found clinging to root massesroot masses

Damselfly NymphDamselfly Nymph

1/2” - 1” in length1/2” - 1” in length 6 thin hooked legs6 thin hooked legs 3 broad oar shaped 3 broad oar shaped

tailstails Large eyesLarge eyes

Crane Fly LarvaeCrane Fly Larvae

1/3” - 2” in length1/3” - 2” in length Plump caterpillar-like Plump caterpillar-like

segmented bodysegmented body Finger-like lobes at Finger-like lobes at

back endback end Typically white in Typically white in

color, can be green or color, can be green or brownbrown

ClamClam

Clams in Ohio Clams in Ohio streams come in streams come in variety of sizes, variety of sizes, shapes, and colors shapes, and colors according to the according to the species.species.

Group Three TaxaGroup Three Taxa

Pollution tolerant organisms that Pollution tolerant organisms that can handle poorer water quality.can handle poorer water quality.

LeechLeech

1/4” - 2” in length1/4” - 2” in length Ends with suction Ends with suction

padspads

Aquatic WormAquatic Worm

1/4” - 1” in length1/4” - 1” in length Look like earthwormsLook like earthworms Can be very thinCan be very thin

Midge LarvaeMidge Larvae

Up to 1/4” in lengthUp to 1/4” in length 2 legs on each side2 legs on each side Worm-like segmented Worm-like segmented

bodybody Rapid squirming Rapid squirming

movementmovement

Black Fly LarvaeBlack Fly Larvae

Up to 1/4” in lengthUp to 1/4” in length One end of body One end of body

widerwider Suction pad on larger Suction pad on larger

endend Black headBlack head

Pouch SnailPouch Snail

Shell opens on the Shell opens on the leftleft

No operculumNo operculum Breathe airBreathe air

HabitatHabitatWhere do you find macroinvertebrates?Where do you find macroinvertebrates?

Under rocksUnder rocks Around tree rootsAround tree roots Around beds of vegetationAround beds of vegetation Around litter or other debrisAround litter or other debris In riffle zonesIn riffle zones

Streamside HabitatStreamside Habitat

Tree overhangTree overhang Roots and logs jutting Roots and logs jutting

into the streaminto the stream Rocks and boulders Rocks and boulders

along the stream along the stream edgeedge

Provide homes and Provide homes and shelter for animalsshelter for animals

Riffle ZonesRiffle Zones

Areas where water is Areas where water is visibly flowing over visibly flowing over rocks and stream rocks and stream bottombottom

Look like small rapidsLook like small rapids The movement over The movement over

the rocks allows the rocks allows oxygen to enter the oxygen to enter the waterwater

Abiotic AssessmentAbiotic Assessment

pHpH

Indicates whether the Indicates whether the stream is basic, acidic, or stream is basic, acidic, or neutralneutral

Acidic: 0-6.9Acidic: 0-6.9 Neutral: 7.0Neutral: 7.0 Basic: 7.1-14Basic: 7.1-14

Most macroinvertebrates Most macroinvertebrates live best in a slightly basic live best in a slightly basic pH (approx. 8)pH (approx. 8)

What sorts of things can What sorts of things can change the pH of a change the pH of a stream to dangerous stream to dangerous levels?levels?

AlkalinityAlkalinity

Indicates the stream’s Indicates the stream’s ability to neutralize acidsability to neutralize acids

If a lot of acid is needed If a lot of acid is needed to cause the stream’s to cause the stream’s pH, it can neutralize well. pH, it can neutralize well. It has high alkalinity. It has high alkalinity. (Good)(Good)

If the pH drops with just If the pH drops with just a little acid, the alkalinity a little acid, the alkalinity is low. (Bad)is low. (Bad)

Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen

Indicates the amount of Indicates the amount of oxygen that is oxygen that is dissolved in the dissolved in the water…necessary for water…necessary for plants and animals!plants and animals!

How does the water How does the water replenish its oxygen?replenish its oxygen?

NitratesNitrates

Form of Nitrogen (NOForm of Nitrogen (NO33) ) that is essential to life.that is essential to life.

High levels of nitrates High levels of nitrates can be toxic!can be toxic! Try not cleaning your fish Try not cleaning your fish

tank for a year…tank for a year… Why? Nitrogen combines Why? Nitrogen combines

with Oxygen to form with Oxygen to form nitrate (NOnitrate (NO33). Too much ). Too much Nitrogen removes too Nitrogen removes too much oxygen and causes much oxygen and causes the fishies to suffocate.the fishies to suffocate.

Healthy Levels – 1 mg/LHealthy Levels – 1 mg/L Toxic Levels – 10 mg/LToxic Levels – 10 mg/L Water treatment plant – 30 mg/LWater treatment plant – 30 mg/L

PhosphatesPhosphates

Essential for lifeEssential for life Phosphorus can be Phosphorus can be

dissolved or suspendeddissolved or suspended Similar to Nitrates:Similar to Nitrates:

High levels – toxicHigh levels – toxic Low levels – toxicLow levels – toxic Moderate levels - healthyModerate levels - healthy

Stream FlowStream Flow

Choose a section of the Choose a section of the creek.creek.

Use a tape measure to find Use a tape measure to find the width and depth of a the width and depth of a 100 foot area.100 foot area.

Float a rubber ducky from Float a rubber ducky from one end to the other and one end to the other and time its flow. time its flow.

100 ft. area

Speed of Ducky: 100 ft. / _____sec. = _______ ft./sec.

Avg. Width x Avg. Depth x ______ ft./sec. = _________ ft.3/sec. **Stream Flow**

TurbidityTurbidity

Clearness or Clearness or cloudiness of water.cloudiness of water.

The deeper you can The deeper you can see (clearer), the see (clearer), the healthier the stream.healthier the stream.

Equipment: Turbidity Equipment: Turbidity TubeTube

Other Stream Quality IndicatorsOther Stream Quality Indicators

Water appearanceWater appearance Water odorWater odor Stream bank shapeStream bank shape Stream bottom coverStream bottom cover Streamside vegetationStreamside vegetation Land uses within the watershedLand uses within the watershed Pipes entering the streamPipes entering the stream This is called the Qualitative Habitat This is called the Qualitative Habitat

Evaluation Index (QHEI)Evaluation Index (QHEI)

Riparian CorridorRiparian Corridor

Streamside forestsStreamside forests Protects streambanks Protects streambanks

from erosionfrom erosion Protects water quality Protects water quality

by filtering out by filtering out pollutantspollutants

Provides wildlife Provides wildlife habitathabitat

Stream Bank Without Stream Bank Without VegetationVegetation

Point Source DischargesPoint Source Discharges

Discharge entering a Discharge entering a stream or river from a stream or river from a pipe or tile, i.e.pipe or tile, i.e.

Agricultural field tileAgricultural field tile Storm drainsStorm drains Factory outputsFactory outputs Water treatment plant Water treatment plant

outletsoutlets

Need More Information ?Need More Information ?

Check with Ohio EPA for more specific Check with Ohio EPA for more specific information and expertise on setting up a information and expertise on setting up a water quality monitoring program, water quality monitoring program, especially for chemical monitoringespecially for chemical monitoring

Both ODNR and Ohio EPA can assist with Both ODNR and Ohio EPA can assist with Quality Habitat Environmental Index Quality Habitat Environmental Index (QHEI)(QHEI)

Happy Critter Hunting!Happy Critter Hunting!