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by Dan Boward Who are these brave and enthusiastic souls? They are volunteers with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Stream Waders Program embarking on an annual wade-in. Since 2000, the staff of DNR’s Monitoring and Non-Tidal Assessment unit have been recruiting and training adult volunteers to gather stream-quality data. Their volunteer work supports the Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS), DNR’s professional statewide stream sampling program.
Because MBSS crews cannot examine every stream in
every watershed, these stream waders go a long way in helping bridge the gaps.
MBSS crews sample fish, reptiles and amphibians and collect data on water
chemistry and physical habitat, while Stream Waders sample aquatic invertebrates
- excellent indicators of stream quality - and collect stream site information.
Stream Wader sites are chosen from smaller sub-watersheds, and their samplings
provide localized data that are particularly useful to area governments and
watershed organizations.
How does the Stream Waders program work? Each February, MBSS biologists hold several all-day training sessions across the state. This training covers aquatic invertebrate sampling protocols, the proper use of a GPS unit, how to accurately take stream channel measurements, and procedures for obtaining landowner permission. The volunteers then divide up into teams, and each team is given the necessary maps and equipment and sent on its way. Actual stream sampling takes place during March and April. The highest priority sampling sites are those selected by local governments or watershed organizations, but volunteers are also able to choose sampling sites that are of interest to them. Take Plenty of Notes (use waterproof markers) How exactly is the Stream Waders data used? Local governments in Frederick, St. Mary’s, Anne Arundel and Worcester Counties use both Stream Waders and MBSS data to characterize stream conditions for watershed health profiles. The results help direct restoration money toward waterway improvements likely to have the greatest impact. Organizations such as the Ridge and Valley Stream Keepers of Southern Pennsylvania and Western Maryland, the Magothy River Association in Anne Arundel County, and the Port Tobacco Conservancy in Charles County collected data from over 80 sites to help develop watershed management plans. Such data has also been used to evaluate stream impacts from a fly-ash facility in Charles County, a logging operation in St. Mary’s County and a housing development in Baltimore County.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
uses Stream Waders data to help assess the quality of the state’s non-tidal
wetlands. Lastly, since Stream Waders may choose sampling sites close to or on
their property, the volunteers themselves may also make use of the data. Why are these dedicated citizens willing to work so hard for this cause? In a recent opinion poll of its volunteers, most said that they joined Stream Waders to learn about the environment. Others said they joined to support DNR stream monitoring efforts, to learn aquatic invertebrate sampling methods and to make new friends.
These survey results offer proof positive that DNR
has put together an effective environmental stewardship program, especially
since many of the volunteers told us they’re sharing what they’ve
So, next time you’re out driving on a blustery spring day and you come across a band of smiling folks with bug nets, buckets and GPS units heading toward a stream, stop, say hello and offer them a cup of hot coffee. Now you know why they’re out there, what they’re looking for and how they are helping DNR learn about the health of Maryland’s streams. By the way, the bug nets used by Stream Waders are one-size-fits-all, so if you’re interested in joining, send us an email at streamwaders@dnr.state.md.us. To learn more about the program, visit www.dnr.state.md.us/streams/mbss/mbss_volun.html.
Dan Boward... |
scores
of them emerge from their warm and cozy cars to wade into the icy waters of
Maryland’s freshwater streams - nets, buckets and Global Positioning System
(GPS) Units in hand.
Freshwater
aquatic invertebrates live on rocks, logs, debris and aquatic plants
during some period of their life. Scientifically speaking, they are
freshwater animals without a backbone that are larger than one-half
millimeter (about the size of a pencil point). The most commonly
encountered ones include insects such as
These
little critters are great for assessing stream health for several reasons.
Unlike fish, they are fairly immobile, so they are less able to escape the
effects of sediment and other pollutants that reduce water quality.
Therefore, they can give us reliable information on water and habitat
quality in streams. Aquatic invertebrates represent an extremely diverse
group of animals, and the large number of species show a wide range of
responses to stressors such as organic and toxic pollutants and sediment.
Lastly, many of them are long-lived (up to three years), allowing
detection of past pollution events such as pesticide spills and illegal
dumping. Perhaps best of all, these animals are found in almost every
water body and are quite easy to sample. They are also fairly easy to
identify.
So
stop by your local stream, pick up a submerged rock or stick and look at
what’s crawling on it. You may be surprised. Aside from being fish food,
these little critters can provide lots of information on the health of the
stream and its watershed.
learned
with family, friends and neighbors. High school and college teachers regularly
complete the training, which further circulates this knowledge. These volunteers
do so much more than just gather stream data - they enhance their understanding
of the natural world and ultimately become better environmental stewards.