Volunteer Water Quality Volunteer Water Quality MonitoringMonitoring

Part of The Missouri Stream Team ProgramPart of The Missouri Stream Team Program

CFM MDC DNR

AndAnd

CITIZENS!CITIZENS!

GOALSGOALS

Inform and EducateInform and Educate

Establish a Monitoring NetworkEstablish a Monitoring Network

Enable CitizensEnable Citizens

Halt DegradationHalt Degradation

INTRODUCTORY LEVELINTRODUCTORY LEVEL This is the entry level of This is the entry level of

monitoring that includes monitoring that includes watershed mapping, visual watershed mapping, visual assessment of stream and assessment of stream and biological monitoring.biological monitoring.

The emphasis is education about The emphasis is education about watersheds and biological watersheds and biological monitoring.monitoring.

Classes offered in spring and early Classes offered in spring and early summer.summer.

INTRODUCTORY LEVELINTRODUCTORY LEVEL

The NRCS Short Course will be The NRCS Short Course will be counted as an Introductory Level counted as an Introductory Level VWQM workshop!VWQM workshop!

LEVEL 1LEVEL 1• This level includes chemical and physical This level includes chemical and physical

monitoring.monitoring.

• A quality control designation of Level 1 A quality control designation of Level 1 indicates that the volunteer has indicates that the volunteer has completed the 8-hour Level 1 workshop.completed the 8-hour Level 1 workshop.

• Classes offered in late summer/early fall.Classes offered in late summer/early fall.

LEVEL 1 (cont.)LEVEL 1 (cont.)

• To be eligible, must have attended To be eligible, must have attended

Intro class AND submitted Visual Intro class AND submitted Visual

Survey and Macroinvertebrate data.Survey and Macroinvertebrate data.

• Class in which you are provided Class in which you are provided

chemical monitoring equipment.chemical monitoring equipment.

LEVEL 2LEVEL 2

• Data assigned the quality control Data assigned the quality control designation of Level 2 indicates the designation of Level 2 indicates the volunteer has successfully completed the volunteer has successfully completed the Level 2 Quality Assurance/Quality Control Level 2 Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) workshop.(QA/QC) workshop.

• To be eligible, must have attended To be eligible, must have attended Level 1 class AND submitted Stream Level 1 class AND submitted Stream Discharge and Water Chemistry data.Discharge and Water Chemistry data.

LEVEL 3LEVEL 3 The designation of Level 3 indicates that The designation of Level 3 indicates that

program personnel have evaluated the program personnel have evaluated the volunteer in the field at their monitoring volunteer in the field at their monitoring site.site.

To be eligible, a volunteer must successfully To be eligible, a volunteer must successfully complete the Level 2 Workshop AND complete the Level 2 Workshop AND regularly submit Chemical, Invertebrate, regularly submit Chemical, Invertebrate, Stream Discharge, and Visual Survey dataStream Discharge, and Visual Survey data. .

BIOLOGICAL BIOLOGICAL MONITORINGMONITORING

Benthic MacroinvertebratesBenthic Macroinvertebrates

BenthicBenthic = = Stream bottomStream bottom

MacroMacro = = Can see without Can see without

microscopemicroscope

InvertebrateInvertebrate = = Organism without Organism without

a backbonea backbone

Vital in Stream EcosystemsVital in Stream Ecosystems

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES

Non-MobileNon-Mobile

Species with Different TolerancesSpecies with Different Tolerances

Continuous MonitoringContinuous Monitoring

Easy to CollectEasy to Collect

Inexpensive EquipmentInexpensive Equipment

Easy to IdentifyEasy to Identify

No Chemicals NeededNo Chemicals Needed

KKinging

……SSalmon!almon!

CCameame

OOverver

GGreat…reat…

Nymph

Larva

PPhilliphillip

FForor

CATEGORIES OF CATEGORIES OF POLLUTION TOLERANCEPOLLUTION TOLERANCE

Pollution SensitivePollution Sensitive

Somewhat Pollution TolerantSomewhat Pollution Tolerant

Pollution TolerantPollution Tolerant

HeadHead

ThoraxThorax

AbdomenAbdomen

GillsGillsYES!YES!

TailsTails

WingpadsWingpads

LegsLegs

Mayfly Nymph Mayfly Nymph

Gills on theGills on theAbdomenAbdomen

MDC photo

Mayfly NymphMayfly Nymph

Gills on theGills on theAbdomenAbdomen Photo courtesy of North

American Benthological Society (NABS)

Head

Thorax

AbdomenNO Gills

May see gillson Thorax

‘Hairy Armpits’

Two Tails

Stonefly NymphStonefly Nymph

May see Gills on the ThoraxMay see Gills on the Thorax

Not on the abdomenNot on the abdomen

MDC photo

Stonefly NymphStonefly Nymph

Gills on the ThoraxGills on the Thorax

Not on the abdomenNot on the abdomen

To Scale!!

MDC photo

Stonefly NymphStonefly NymphMDC photo

Head Thorax

Abdomen

Prolegs

Crunchy

“Mmmm,CreamFilled!”

Case

6 Legs

Caddisfly LarvaCaddisfly Larva

““CreamCreamFilled!”Filled!”

Crunchy!Crunchy!

6 Legs

Prolegs

MDC photo

Sand CaseCase

Caddisfly LarvaCaddisfly Larva

MDC photo

Caddisfly LarvaCaddisfly Larva

Leaf CaseLeaf Case

MDC photo

BlueBlueBugBugCardCard(front)(front)

BlueBlueBugBugCardCard(back)(back)

SegmentedSegmentedLegs?Legs?

Wingpads?Wingpads?Hair likeHair liketails?tails?

Prolegs? Filaments?Prolegs? Filaments?

Crunchy all the way throughCrunchy all the way through

Riffle Beetle LarvaeRiffle Beetle Larvae

6 Legs?6 Legs?Gills?Gills?

Oar likeOar liketails?tails?

FatFatAbdomen?Abdomen?

LargeLargeEyes?Eyes?

MDC photo

Riffle Beetle AdultRiffle Beetle AdultMDC photo

Water PennyWater Penny

MDC photo

Water PennyWater PennyHeadHead

LegsLegs

GillsGills

MDC photo

Water PennyWater Penny

MDC photo

Gilled SnailGilled Snail

MDC photo

Gilled SnailGilled Snail

Opening to the rightOpening to the right

MDC photo

HellgrammiteHellgrammite(Dobsonfly Larva)(Dobsonfly Larva)

Large mandiblesLarge mandibles Gill tuftsGill tufts

Lateral filamentsLateral filaments

MDC photo

““Somewhat Tolerant” CategorySomewhat Tolerant” CategoryCrayfishCrayfish

MDC photo

SowbugSowbug MDC

photo

SowbugSowbug MDC

photo

ScudScud

MDC photo

““Pickled” ScudPickled” ScudMDC photo

Alderfly LarvaAlderfly Larva

No gillsNo gills

MandiblesMandibles

Single tailSingle tailw/ “A” w/ “A” shapedshaped

basebase

MDC photo

Fishfly LarvaFishfly Larva

No gills underNo gills underLateral FilamentsLateral Filaments

BreathingBreathingtubestubes

MDC photo

Fishfly LarvaFishfly Larva

MDC photo

Damselfly NymphDamselfly Nymph

Oar ShapedOar ShapedTails (Gills)Tails (Gills)

MDC photo

Damselfly NymphDamselfly Nymph

MDC photo

Watersnipe Fly LarvaWatersnipe Fly Larva

Body segmentsBody segments‘‘FeatheryFeathery

horns’horns’ Photo courtesy of NABS

Crane Fly LarvaCrane Fly Larva

Finger-likeFinger-likeprojectionsprojections

Super squishy!Super squishy!

Photo courtesy of NABS

““Other Beetle Larva”Other Beetle Larva”

Many different types!!!Process of elimination

Photo courtesy of NABS

Dragonfly NymphDragonfly Nymph

SegmentedSegmentedlegslegs

Lower lipLower lip

Large eyesLarge eyes

WideWideabdomenabdomen

MDC photo

DragonflyDragonflyNymphNymph

MDC photo

Dragonfly NymphDragonfly Nymph

MDC photo

Freshwater MusselsFreshwater Mussels

Put back thisend down!!

MDC photo

Aquatic WormAquatic Worm(Aquatic Earthworm)(Aquatic Earthworm)

“Tolerant” Category

MDC photo

Aquatic WormAquatic Worm(Horsehair Worm)(Horsehair Worm)

MDC photo

Midge Fly LarvaMidge Fly Larva(Bloodworm)(Bloodworm)

MDC photo

Midge FlyMidge FlyLarvaeLarvae

HeadHead

ProlegsProlegs

Photo courtesy of NABS

Black Fly LarvaBlack Fly Larva

Fat ButtFat Butt

Filter FeedingFilter FeedingMouthpartsMouthparts

MDC photo

Black Fly LarvaeBlack Fly Larvae

Fan-likeFan-likestructuresstructures

SuctionSuctionRingRing

Fat ButtFat Butt

Photo courtesy of NABS

LeechLeech

MDC photo

Sampling MethodsSampling Methods

Lets go sample!Lets go sample!

EQUIPMENTEQUIPMENT

3’x3’ net3’x3’ net

3-pronged garden tool (optional)3-pronged garden tool (optional)

Sorting pan and/or white ice cube traySorting pan and/or white ice cube tray

ForcepsForceps

Squirt bottleSquirt bottle

Hand lensHand lens

D-frame net (optional)D-frame net (optional)

Replicate SamplingReplicate Sampling

SAMPLING STREAM SAMPLING STREAM HABITATSHABITATS

To determine water quality using To determine water quality using invertebrates:invertebrates: Three net setsThree net sets Three different microhabitatsThree different microhabitats

One or two net sets do not provide accurate One or two net sets do not provide accurate representation of water quality.representation of water quality.

What are habitat types in Missouri streams?What are habitat types in Missouri streams?

How do I find three habitats to sample?How do I find three habitats to sample?

STREAM HABITATSSTREAM HABITATS

Ozark StreamsOzark Streams

RifflesRiffles

Root MatsRoot Mats

Prairie & Lowland Prairie & Lowland StreamsStreams

Root MatsRoot Mats

Snags/Woody DebrisSnags/Woody Debris

Non-FlowNon-Flow

Ozark StreamsOzark Streams

RifflesRiffles

Root MatsRoot Mats

Prairie & Lowland Prairie & Lowland StreamsStreams

Root MatsRoot Mats

Snags/Woody DebrisSnags/Woody Debris

Non-FlowNon-Flow

STREAM STREAM HABITATSHABITATS

SAMPLE ANALYSISSAMPLE ANALYSIS

Remove invertebrates from the netRemove invertebrates from the net

Record the time spent removing Record the time spent removing the invertebrates from the netthe invertebrates from the net

Identify the invertebratesIdentify the invertebrates

Count the invertebrates and record Count the invertebrates and record resultsresults

Front:InvertDataSheet

Back:InvertDataSheet

Example 1:InvertDataSheet

Example 2:InvertDataSheet

FACTORS THAT AFFECT FACTORS THAT AFFECT RATINGRATING

SubstrateSubstrate

Depth and VelocityDepth and Velocity

SeasonSeason

Water TempWater Temp

FACTORS THAT AFFECT FACTORS THAT AFFECT RATING RATING (cont.)(cont.)

FlowFlow

Water ChemistryWater Chemistry

Physical FactorsPhysical Factors

ID to OrderID to Order

Observation:Observation:High density, high diversity, many High density, high diversity, many sensitive species such as stoneflies, sensitive species such as stoneflies, caddisflies, and mayflies.caddisflies, and mayflies.

Analysis:Analysis:No problem, good water quality.No problem, good water quality.

ANALYZING ANALYZING INVERTEBRATE DATAINVERTEBRATE DATA

Observation:Observation: High diversity, low density of species High diversity, low density of species

present.present.

Analysis:Analysis: Possibly due to poor habitat conditions.Possibly due to poor habitat conditions.

ANALYZING ANALYZING INVERTEBRATE DATAINVERTEBRATE DATA

Observation:Observation:Low diversity, high density of species Low diversity, high density of species present.present.

Analysis:Analysis: Organic pollution (nutrient enrichment) or Organic pollution (nutrient enrichment) or

sedimentation; excessive algal growth sedimentation; excessive algal growth resulting from nutrient enrichment.resulting from nutrient enrichment.

ANALYZING ANALYZING INVERTEBRATE DATAINVERTEBRATE DATA

Observation:Observation:Low diversity, low density, or no bugs Low diversity, low density, or no bugs but the stream appears clean.but the stream appears clean.

Analysis:Analysis: Toxic pollution (e.g., chlorine, acids, Toxic pollution (e.g., chlorine, acids,

heavy metals, oil, herbicides, heavy metals, oil, herbicides, insecticides); unproductive.insecticides); unproductive.

ANALYZING ANALYZING INVERTEBRATE DATAINVERTEBRATE DATA

Training Record FormsTraining Record Forms

In order for you to get credit for In order for you to get credit for today’s workshop, we must have the today’s workshop, we must have the training record form filled out and training record form filled out and turned in before you leave!turned in before you leave!

Chapter 12, page Chapter 12, page

(even if you have attended this (even if you have attended this workshop previously)workshop previously)