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

At the end of the day…

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

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

Step 4= Identify

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) mike.Beauchene@po.state.ct.us *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

Field Identification Cards

Step 4: IdentifyStep 4: Identify

Step 4: IdentifyStep 4: Identify

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

Fill in datasheet

Step 4: IdentifyStep 4: Identify

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.

2011 RBV Locations

SAFETY FIRST

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

Major Sources of

Disappointment

POOR COLLECTION

POOR VOUCHER

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

Poor sampling location

Poor sampling location

Poor sampling location

Poor sampling location