Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan./Feb. 2000)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream

Volume 7, Number 1, January / February 2000
Michele Droszcz and Harold Harbert, Editors

Hydropsychidae: The Net Spinning Caddisflies

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

By Becky Blasius and Kristen Sanford EPD Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program

Order: Trichoptera Family: Hydropsychidae

Members of the family Hydropsychidae are commonly known as net spinning caddisflies. Hydropsychid larvae are most commonly known for the intricately spun silk capture nets for straining food out of moving waters. There are approximately 145 species of Hydropsychidae north of Mexico.
All hydropsychid larvae spin nets as a means of capturing food. The nets consist of silk strands produced by salivary glands that have been modified for this particular purpose. Different genera, however, weave meshes of varying dimensions. This means that each genera specializes their nets in order to capture food particles within a certain size range. Algae, fine organic particles, and small aquatic invertebrates are prey found within these different size nets.
Life Cycle
Caddisflies go through a complete metamorphosis, including five larval instars, a pupal stage, and a winged adult stage. Complete metamorphosis takes approximately 3 weeks. When the larva is full grown, it attaches its case to a stationary object in the water and closes the case to pupate. The pupa uses its mandibles to work its way out of the case. It then crawls out of the water onto an object in order to complete its final molt to adulthood.

Places you can find them
Due to the method of feeding, hydropsychids build their concave nets, facing upstream, in flowing water. In many streams, it is common to find thousands of these nets fastened to rocks and boulders located within the current. They might also be found underneath waterfalls and other cascading waters.
What their presence indicates about water quality
According to the EPT Index, freshwater quality is generally considered good if members of the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera orders are found. However, Hydropsychids have evolved to become fairly tolerant to pollution. Therefore, be careful of assessing the quality of your stream. Just because you find hydropsychids does not mean that the stream is free of pollution.
Fun Facts
Hydropsychid larvae are able to produce sound by rubbing their femora (femur) across ridges located on the bottom surface of the head. The purpose of producing these sounds might be to repel potential predators, or keep other hydropsychids from constructing nets within its territory.

The order, Trichoptera, generally indicates good water quality, but the Hydropsychidae are fairly tolerant to pollutants.

Governor Roy Barnes signed this proclamation at a ceremony in Columbus, GA.

Adopt-A-Stream Calendar of Events

The following are workshops, taught by certified AAS trainers, which provide training in visual, biological and chemical monitoring of streams and wetlands. Please call to register.

What
Visual/Chemical Biological Visual/Chemical Biological Biological Visual/Chemical Biological Visual/Chemical Biological (same day) Biological

Who
Augusta AAS Fulton AAS Fulton AAS Ga. Wildlife Federation Fulton AAS Fulton AAS Fulton AAS Augusta AAS Augusta AAS Chattooga AAS

When
Jan. 15 Jan. 29 Feb. 5 Feb. 12 Feb. 19 March 4 March 11 March 18 March 18 April 22

Where
Augusta Sandy Springs S. Fulton Newton Co. S. Fulton N. Fulton N. Fulton Augusta Augusta Polk/Floyd Co.

To Register
706-821-0632 404-730-8006 404-730-8006 770-929-3350 404-730-8006 404-730-8006 404-730-8006 706-828-2109 706-828-2109 706-802-5322

There's more! AAS workshops are conducted throughout the State. Call one of these numbers to learn about upcoming workshops in your region of the State.

Where

Who

To Register

Coastal GA West GA Central GA South GA

Dr. Joe Richardson Dr. Becky Champion Sylbie Yon Dr. David Hedgepeth

912-356-2809 706-687-4090 706-485-9243 912-333-5611

Community Watershed Workshops Begin Their Fourth Year

The Community Watershed Workshops began in 1997 through a joint effort by DeKalb County Department of Parks and Recreation, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. The steering committee has grown to include Peavine Watershed Alliance, City of Atlanta, Fulton County and Gwinnett County and has officially named itself the Community Watershed Network. Along with offering workshops, the Community Watershed Network is preparing a Watershed Owners Manual and will be distributing a video called "Building a Watershed Alliance," which is being developed by the Peavine Watershed Alliance. This year's workshops will be held on March 14, May 9, September 12, and December 5. The workshops provide opportunities for people to meet, share information and obtain resources to start or sustain watershed management activities. If you live in the Metro Atlanta area and are not receiving workshop invitations, call 404-675-1636.

Environmental Education Alliance Conference

This conference will focus on Watersheds and Water Education. It will be held March 3-5 in Gainesville. For registration information call Peter Gordon at 770-535-1976 or go to the website at www.eealliance.org.

The Sixth National Volunteer Monitoring Conference
Will be held April 27-29 in Austin, Texas. For more information and to pre-register, go to www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/notice.html

Citizen Soil Watch Workshop
The City of Roswell and Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper are sponsoring a Citizen Soil Watch Workshop on Tuesday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the Roswell City Hall Courthouse. To register, call Alice Champagne at 404-352-9828, ext. 16.

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Workshops in 2000

To Register Call 404-675-1636

Workshop Title

Brief Description

Getting Started with

This workshop takes you through the steps of

Adopt-A-Stream, Lake

selecting a waterbody, developing a monitoring plan

and Wetland

and registering your project with Georgia Adopt-A-

Stream. Then you'll learn how to use maps and site

visits to assess the quality of the waterbody and its

watershed.

Advanced

If you have been conducting biological monitoring

Macroinvertabrate

and wish to learn more in-depth identification

Identification

methods, this is the workshop for you!

Walking Through A

Learn about wetlands, their functions and values and

Wetland: Wetlands Of

the various types of wetlands in Georgia. Learn how

Georgia

you can monitor and protect wetlands.

Date February 12 April 15 June 17 Sept. 30
June 3
May 13

Advanced Chemical Monitoring
Affective Outreach: Educating others about water quality, watersheds and nonpoint source pollution. Reduce NonPoint Source Pollution In Your Home

The Advanced Chemical Workshop will take place in a private water testing lab. Duncan Cottrell, Lab Manager and AAS trainer, will compare lab methods to the AAS methods for testing water samples. He will discuss Quality Assurance and demonstrate lab procedures to test for fecal Coliform.
The most important thing you can do as an AAS participant is teach others about water quality, nonpoint source pollution and watersheds. This workshop will provide affective ways to conduct outreach activities.
We all contribute to nonpoint source pollution. Learn simple ways you can reduce nonpoint source pollution in your home.

Sept. 2 January 26 Feb. 15 March 11
August (TBA)
April 11

Time
9:00 a.m. 1 9:00 a.m. 1 9:00 a.m. 1 9:00 a.m. 1

Location
Roswell Rockdale County Forsyth County Clayton County

10:00 a.m. - 3 Dahlonega

10:00 a.m. 2 Newman Wetland Center, Clayton Co.

10:00 a.m. 2
7:30 p.m. 9 1:30 p.m. 9 10 a.m.-11:30

GWF Alcovy River site, Newton County
City of Canton

9:00 a.m. -12 DeKalb County

6:00 p.m. 8

EPD Tradeport, Water Protection Branch Office

The Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Newsletter is published six times per year. For More information about the Georgia Adopt-AStream program or to contribute to the newsletter, call or write to:
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Environmental Protection Division 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101 Atlanta, GA 30354 (404) 675-1639

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