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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!