&1, N'LL'o, 5 M\ 1(19,/ i tr:> '7 GEORGIA ADOPT-A-STREAM LEVELS II and III Biological an:d CheInical Monitoring Habitat EnhanceInent Georgia Department ofNatural Resources Environmental Protection Division August 1997 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This manual draws on the experience of many wonderful citizen monitoring, stewardship and education programs. The Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program gratefully acknowledges the following organizations for their advice and use of materials: Save Our Streams, Izaak Walton League of America TexasWatch LaMotte Company EP A Rapid Bioassement Protocols TVA Water Quality Monitoring Network Aquatic Project Wild Gainesville College University of Georgia's Landscape Architect Students The many dedicated volunteers and volunteer organizers in Georgia The preparation of this manual was financed in part through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the provisions of section 319(h) of the Federal Pollution Control Act, as amended. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 Quality Assurance Certification 3 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING 4 PFrYSICAL/CfDEMICALTESTS 7 HABITAT ENHANCEMENT 9 APPENDICES 14 SOME BACKGROUND ON AQUATIC INSECTS 15 WHY ARE CfDEMICAL TESTS IMPORTANT? 18 WATER QUALITY CRITERIA " 24 WfDERE TO ORDER EQUIP:MENT 25 HOW TO MAKE A KICK SEINE 27 FORMS 28 INTRODUCTION Georgia Adopt-A-Stream encourages volunteers to learn about water quality conditions of local streams, rivers and lakes. This manual describes methods to further evaluate water quality and more opportunities to protect and improve water quality. Level I emphasizes watersheds walks and visual surveys as evaluation tools. Levels II and III focuses on biological and chemical monitoring of water quality and habitat. Likewise, Level I volunteers help improve water quality by cleaning up litter in and around their adopted stream. In Levels II and III, volunteers can choose a habitat enhancement project to improve water quality. In all Adopt-A-Stream levels, gathering and sharing information about the adopted stream, and reporting problems when noticed, helps protect water quality. The difference between Levels II and III is one of increasing activity. Level II volunteers choose one of the activities below, in addition to the Level I activities. Level III volunteers choose two or more or the activities below, in addition to Level I activities. Biological Monitoring Physical/Chemical Monitoring Habitat Enhancement 4 times a year (quarterly) 12 times a year (monthly) one time project Biological and Chemical Monitoring require training. Training workshops are available at the Adopt-A-Stream Regional Training Centers, through some community Adopt-A-Stream programs, and periodically around the state. Training will include an overview of the program, monitoring techniques and quality assurance tests. These activities help protect water quality and streams because: Regular monitoring provides specific information about the health of your local stream. Both long-term trends and immediate changes in water quality can be documented. Biological monitoring will detect changes in water quality and habitat and provides an indication of overall stream health. Chemical monitoring, however, provides specific information about water quality parameters that are important to aquatic life--such as dissolved oxygen and pH. Habitat enhancement projects improve streambanks or the streambed. Habitat enhancement projects may stop a streambank from eroding, and therefore decrease the amount of sediment entering a stream or improve in-stream habitat for fish to feed, hide and lay eggs. 2 Quality Assurance Certification Ifvolunteers wish to ensure their data is of the highest quality, volunteers can become quality assurance (QAlQC) certified. Quality assured volunteer data will be used by various local and state assessments of water quality conditons. To become a QAlQC volunteer, the following conditions must be met. Quality assurance certification will be a part of every chemical and biological training workshop. Water quality data collected on streams, rivers and lakes has many informational purposes. However, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream will only keep a permanent record of data collected by quality assured volunteers. Chemical Certification 1. Volunteer's methods and test kits must achieve results within 10% of those obtained by a certified Adopt-A-Stream trainer. 2 Volunteers and their test kits must be QAlQC certified annually. 3. Volunteers must sample once a month for one year and send results to Georgia Adopt-A- Stream. Biological Certification 1. Volunteers must demonstrate the abilityto collect a macroinvertebrate sample to a certified Adopt-A-Stream trainer. 2. Volunteers must identify, with 90% accuracy, not less than 20 macroinvertebrates and correctly calculate the SOS Index for water quality. 3. Volunteers must be QAlQC certified annually. 4. Volunteers must sample once every three months for one year and send results to Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. 3 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING (based on the Save Our Streams program, Izaak Walton League ofAmerica) Biological monitoring involves identifying and counting macroinvertebrates. The purpose of biological monitoring is to quickly assess both water quality and habitat. The abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrates found is an indication of overall stream quality. Macroinvertebrates are aquatic insects, crayfish, and snails that live in various stream habitats and are used as indicators of stream quality. Macroinvertebrates are present during all kinds of stream conditions--from drought to floods. These insects and crustaceans are impacted by all the stresses that occur in a stream environment, both man-made and naturally occurring. Follow steps one through three to complete a biological sample of your stream. 1. Find a sampling location in your stream. Macroinvertebrates can be found in many kinds of habitats--places like riffles (where shallow water flows quickly over rocks), packs ofleaves, roots hanging into the water, old wood or logs, or the stream bed. If present, rime areas will have the most macro invertebrates. If you have a stream with rimes, follow step 2a. If your stream has a muddy or sandy bottom (and no rimes), you will sample using the method in step 2b. Sample the same strech of stream each time, to ensure consistency (for example 50 yard strech). Sample every three months, approximately once each season (spring, summer, fall and winter). Equipment List: Optional: kick screen or D-frame net sorting pans or white plastic tub tweezers or forceps pencils and clipboard hand lens Biological Survey SOS Macroinvertebrate guide rubber waders or old tennis shoes rubber gloves preservation jars or baby food jars rubbing alcohol, for preservation bucket with screen bottom (for muddy bottom sampling) / For streams with rimes: 2a. In this "rocky bottom" method, you will sample two different habitat-sriffles and leafpacks. First, identify three riffle areas. Mayfly Collect macroinvertebrates in all three riffles with a kick seine, sampling a 2 x 2 foot area (the kick seines are usually 3 x 3 feet). Look for an area where the water is 3 to 12 inches deep. Place the kick seine downstream and firmly wedge the seine into the streambed. Gently rub any loose debris off rocks and sticks so that you catch everything in the seine. When you have "washed off' all the rocks in a 2 x 2 foot area, kick the streambed with your feet. Push rocks around, shuffle your feet so that you really kick up the streambed. Now gently lift the seine, being careful not to loose any of the 4 macroivertebrates you have caught. Take the seine to an area where you can look it over or wash the contents into a bucket. Now look for decayed (old, dead) packs ofleaves next to rocks or logs or on the streambed. Add 4 handfulls of decayed leaves to your sample. The total area of stream you will sample is 16 square feet. For muddy bottom streams: 2b. In this method, you will sample three different habitats, using aD-frame (or dip) net. The habitats are: vegetated margins, wood debris with organic matter, and sand/rock/gravel streambed (or substrate). In this method you will scoop the stream a total of 14 times or 14 square feet. Each scoop involves a quick forward motion of one foot. To maintain consistency, collect the following numbers of scoops from each habitat each time you sample: - 7 scoops from vegetated margins - 4 scoops from woody debris with organic matter - 3 scoops from sand/rock/gravel or coarsest area ofthe stream bed As you collect your scoops, place the contents of the net into a bucket. Separate the samples collected from the rocky stream bed and vegetated margin or woody debris samples. Keep water in the bucket to keep the organisms alive. Note descriptions below of each muddy bottom habitat and collection tips: Vegetated margins This habitat is the area along the bank and the edge of the waterbody consisting of overhanging bank vegetation, plants living along the shoreline, and submerged root mats. Vegetated margins may be home to a diverse assemblage of dragonflies, damselflies, and other organisms. Move the dip-net quickly in a bottom-to-surface motion, jabbing at the bank to loosen organisms. Each scoop of the net should cover one foot of submerged (under water) area. Woody debris with organic matter Woody debris consists of dead or living trees, roots, limbs, sticks, leafpacks, cypress knees and other submerged organic matter. It is a very important habitat in slow moving streams and rivers. The wood helps trap organic particles that serve as a food source for the organisms and provides shelter from predators, such as fish. To collect woody debris, approach the area from downstream and hold the net under the section of wood you wish to sample, such as a submerged log. Rub the surface of the log for a total surface area of one square foot. It is also good to dislodge some of the bark as organisms may be hiding underneath. You can also collect sticks, leaflitter, and rub roots attached to submerged logs. Be sure to thoroughly examine any small sticks you collect with your net before discarding them. There may be caddisflies, stoneflies, riffle beetles, and midges attached to the bark. 5 Sand/rock/gravel streambed In slow moving streams, the streambottom is generally composed of only sand or mud because the velocity of the water is not fast enough to transport large rocks. Sample the coarsest area of the streambed--gravel or sand may be all you can find. Sometimes, you may find a gravel bar located at a bend in the river. The streambed can be sampled by moving the net forward (upstream) with a jabbing motion to dislodge the first few inches of gravel, sand, or rocks. You may want to gently wash the gravel in your screen bottom bucket and then discard gravel in the water. If you have large rocks (greater than two inches diameter) you should also kick the bottom upstream of the net to dislodge any borrowing organisms. Remember to disturb only one foot upstream of the net for each scoop. Each time you sample you should sweep the mesh bottom of the D-Frame net back and forth through the water (not allowing water to run over the top of the net) to rinse fine silt from the net. This will avoid a large amount of sediment and silt from collecting in the pan, which will cloud your sample. 3. Place macroinvertebrates in a white sorting pan or plastic sheet. Separate creatures that look similar into groups. Use the SOS identification guide to record the types and numbers of each kind of insect. As you sort through your collection, remember that each stream will have different types and numbers of macroinvertebrates. Calculate a score for your stream using the index on the Adopt-A-Stream Survey form. Use the table below to intrepret your results. If you find: You may have: Variety of macroinvertebrates, lots of each kind Healthy stream Little variety, with many of each kind Water enriched with organic matter A variety of macroinvertebrates, but a few of each kind, Toxic pollution or No macroinvertebrates but the stream appears clean Few macroinvertebrates and the streambed is covered with sediment Poor habitat from sedimentation 6 PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL TESTS Physical/Chemical testing allows information to be gathered about specific water quality characteristics. A variety of water quality tests can be run on fresh water--including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, settleable solids, water clarity, phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorine, total dissolved solids, and many others. Adopt-A-Stream recommends that four core measurements be taken when doing physical/chemical testing--temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and settleable solids. Phosphorus, nitrogen, and alkalinity may be added to your list as interest and equipment allows. See "Why Chemical Testing is Important" in the appendix for detailed descriptions of each water quality characteristic. If you choose to conduct chemical testing as an activity, plan on sampling regularly--at least once a month at the same time and the same location. Regular monitoring helps assure that your information can be compared over time. Water quality and environmental conditions can change throughout the day so monitoring at approximately the same time of day is important. Also, chemical testing during or immediately after a rain may produce very different results than during dry conditions. Therefore, it is very important to record weather conditions. If conditions are unsafe for any reason including high water or slippery rocks, DO NOT SAMPLE. Equipment List: water testing kit with dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, settleable solids (may also include alkalinity, phosphate, and nitrate) rubber gloves safety glasses container to bring back waste chemicals (old milk jug) bucket with rope (if sampling off a bridge or in deep water) Physical/Chemical Stream Survey pencil first aid kit Detailed instructions on each chemical test are available with the kit, however a few recommendations are listed below. 1. Measure air and water temperature in the shade, avoid direct sunlight. 2. Rinse glass tubes or containers twice with stream water before running a test. 3. Collect water for tests approximately midstream, one foot below surface. If water is less than one foot deep, collect approximately one-third of the way below surface. Collect samples at stream base flow. 4. Read values on titrators (small syringe) at the plunger tip. 7 Safety Notes: Read all instructions before you begin and note all precautions. Keep all equipment and chemicals out of the reach of small children. In the event of an accident or suspected poisoning, immediately call the Poison Control Center (listed on the inside cover of most telephone books) . Avoid contact between chemicals and skin, eyes, nose or mouth. Wear safety goggles or glasses, and rubber gloves, when handling chemicals. After use, tightly close all chemical containers. Be careful not to switch caps. 8 HABITAT ENHANCEMENT (from Protecting Community Streams: A GUidebook/or Local Governments in Georgia, Atlanta Regional Commission, 1994) Stream habitat enhancement projects directly improve the health of streams by improving the adjacent (riparian), streambank or streambed habitat. All three of these areas function together to make up a stream ecosystem. Stream habitat enhancement projects can be complicated. Check with your local Soil and Water Conservation Service, Cooperative Extension Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, or a private consultant be sure your efforts will yield the results you seek. Also, a Corps of Engineers permit may be needed before any material is placed in a stream or adjacent wetlands. Small projects are usually exempt. Call the Corps' office in Savannah at 1-800-448-2402 for more information on Georgia streams. Stream habitat enhancement projects may occur on private property, with permission of landowners, or on public property, in cooperation with the local or state agency responsible for property management. Habitat enhancement projects involve three major activities: riparian reforestation streambank stabilization streambed restoration Riparian Reforestation The contribution of trees and woody understory vegetation to the maintenance of stream health cannot be overstated. Streamside forested areas not only provide habitat, shade, and forage for both aquatic and land based species, but their ability to filter pollutants and rainfall provides a buffer - a last line of defense - from watershed runoff Restoring streamside areas is one of the most cost-effective steps a community or Adopt-A-Stream program can take to protect stream health. The objective should be to replicate or mimic the natural ecosystem as much as possible, therefore a mix of young and older native plant and tree species are preferred. Follow these steps to conduct a riparian reforestation project: 1. Evaluate current water quality conditions -- take "before" pictures and/or conduct physical/chemical, biological or visual assessments. 2. Choose a site(s) that needs additional vegetation to protect water quality from stormwater runoff 3. Purchase a variety of plants that will tolerate wet conditions. 4. Plant trees, shrubs and grasses in the area immediately adjacent to your stream. Plant enough so that the vegetation will actually protect the stream--filter pollutants in stormwater, stops sediment from entering water, etc. 5. Water after planting and as needed. 6. Check each.week for four to six weeks to ensure that plants are healthy. 9 7. Once plants are well established, evaluate water quality improvement -- take "after" photograph and/or compare with initial water quality tests. Streambank Stabilization If you have an eroding or collapsing streambank, you need to first determine the cause of the problem. Streambank erosion occurs for a number of reasons, including increased stream velocity, obstacles in the stream, floating debris, wave action, and direct rainfall. Streambank failure occurs when a large section of streambank collapses into the stream channel. Among the causes of streambank failure are downcutting of the streambed and undercutting of the bank, increased load on the top of the bank, and internal pressure from uneven water absorption. Selection of an appropriate bank stabilization method requires careful analysis of each site. No single method is appropriate in all situations. Technical advice will often be needed. Consult the Soil and Water Conservation Commission's "Guidelines for Streambank Restoration". One technique to stabilize streambanks is called "soil bioengineering", which involves using vegetation as the structural control to stabilize banks. Planting of woody vegetation, such as Figure 1. Examples of soil bioengineering techniques, willow cuttings. . :.- '." -'; Figure 2. Examples of soil bioengineering techniques, live fascines or wattles. willows (either as individual live cuttings or in bundles of cuttings), grow into a dense network of protective vegetation. See Figures 1 through 3. The vegetation's root structure provides resistance to the sliding and shear displacement forces involved in slope erosion. In some cases, a 10 solely vegetative approach may be all that is needed. In others, conditions such as excessive stream velocities or poor soil conditions may require a combination of vegetative and structural elements (such as stone walls or bulkheads). Figure 3. Examples of soil bioengineering techniques, branch packings. Streambed Restoration Prior to any streambed restoration, upstream conditions should be assessed. Without corrective measures or retrofitting upstream, stormwater flows could quickly destroy any streambed restoration work. If the stream is in equilibrium, or if appropriate corrective measures are in place, streambed restoration can recreate the habitat conditions needed to support aquatic life. Several goals may be accomplished when restoring a streambed, including: ~ Replacement of pools and riffles (in north Georgia and Piedmont areas) ~ Velocity control ~ Restoration of the stream gradient and normal flow channel ~ Removal of major stream obstructions ~ Restoration of suitable channel patterns such as: meandering -- repetitive bends irregular -- more or less straight braided -- stream separates and rejoins around islands Restoration of substrate (removal of sediment and replacement with gravel and cobbles, as appropriate) 11 Some of these techniques permit the stream water flows to work to restore healthier streambed conditions; others require excavation and physical realignment of the stream channel. Three basic techniques include deflectors, in-stream boulders and drop structures. Deflectors can easily be constructed of common, local materials such as cobbles, boulders and logs and are adaptable to a variety of conditions and stream sizes. They are sited in the channel with the intent of deflecting the current into a narrower channel. Deflectors can use the streamflow for a variety of purposes, including deepening channels, developing downstream pools, enhancing pool riffle ratios and assisting in the restoration of meander patterns with channelized reaches. There are several deflector designs. Figure 4 (left) shows a simple double "wing deflector" that consists of rock structures on each bank deflecting the streamflow to a central channel. Single deflectors along one bank are also used as shown in Figure 4 (center). Deflectors can be offset on opposite banks of a stream to imitate meanders, as shown in Figure 4 (right). (pennsylvania DER, 1986). A third type of deflector is the V-type, which is placed in the middle of the channels with the point of the "V" pointing upstream deflecting water towards both banks. This type of deflector helps re-establish riffles and pools downstream. An underpass deflector is a log placed across a small stream several inches off the bottom. Water is deflected under the log which helps remove sediment deposits and restore pools. (Gore, Ed. 1985) (Kumble, 1990). Figure 4. Double Wing, Single and Offset Deflectors. Drop structures include a number of variations such as weirs, check dams, sills and plunges. They can serve a variety of functions in streambed restoration depending upon their design, including: slowing streamflow; deepening existing pools; and creating new pools upstream and downstream. Structures with notches can be used to control heavy stormwater flows and can help re-establish deep pools immediately downstream. Drop structures can 12 Figure 5. Log Drop Structure be made of concrete, logs or boulders. Log or boulder structures can be used to replicate small falls or rapids. Single log dams across a stream bed are simple and effective in restoring plunge pools (figure 5). The K-dam is a variant of the single log dam, so named by adding downstream bracing. In some areas, especially headwater areas, reintroducing beavers has been effective in restoring habitat. Their dams function as drop structures in headwaters and on small streams. Boulder placement is a third in-channel treatment that can assist streambed restoration. Boulders can be used to reduce velocity, restore pools and riffles, restore meanders, provide cover and protect eroded banks by deflecting flow. Boulders can be placed randomly or in a pattern. Placing them in a "y" pointed upstream produces eddies that replicate riffles as well as restores downstream pools Figure 6. Upstream "V" boulder placement (Figure 6). Combined with placement of cobbles and gravel, boulder placement can also help restore the stream substrate. Excavation and fill may also be necessary to restore the stream gradient, the normal flow channel and the stream channel pattern, including meanders and braids, where appropriate. Channel pattern restoration should be combined with streambank restoration and re-vegetation. Streams that have been severely degraded by large amounts of sediment or heavy stormwater flows may require greater restoration work. Sediment may have to be removed mechanically and replaced with gravel and cobbles to replicate the original streambed. Major debris accumulation that is obstructing flows may also need removal. Additional references: ~ Guidelines for Streambank Restoration. Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. 1994. A Georgia Guide to Controlling EROSION with Vegetation. Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. 1994. Protecting Community Streams: A Guidebook for Local Governments in Georgia. Atlanta Regional Commission. 1994. ~ Gore, James A., editor. The Restoration of Rivers and Streams. 1985. ~ Barnett, John L. Stream Restoration Along the Greenways in Boulder, Colorado. 1991. ~ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Resources. A Streambank Stabilization and Management Guide for Pennsylvania Landowners. 1986. 13 APPENDICES 14 SOME BACKGROUND ON AQUATIC INSECTS To understand and identify aquatic insects, one must start with how all animals are classified. The most general category is first, with the species level being the most specific. Volunteers will learn to identify aquatic insects to the order level. A stonefly is classified as an example. Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family, Genus, and Species Animal (all animals) Arthropoda Insecta (all insects) Plecoptera (all stoneflies) Perlidae (Golden Stonefly) Life Stages of Insects Identifying insects is complicated because of the different stages they pass through during their development. The changes that occur from the egg stage to the adult are often dramatic. The incredible change of a caterpillar into a butterfly is well known. Most aquatic insects experience similar changes. The process of changing form during the life cycle is called metamorphosis. Three types of metamorphosis are possible: ametabolous, incomplete, and complete. Ametabolous Metamorphosis. This type of metamorphosis means without change and refers to the lack of change between the immature and adult stages. It's found only in a few very primitive orders of insects that have no wings as adults. Some species are semiaquatic. Incomplete Metamorphosis. Insects with incomplete metamorphosis pass through three distinct stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The time required to complete each stage varies widely. Normally the greatest amount of time is spent in the nymphal stage. In most cases, the entire cycle requires one year to complete, although this also varies with different species. Nymphs often look similar to their adult stage. As nymphs mature, the adult wings begin developing in stiff pouch-like structures on the thorax called wing pads. This is an obvious and unique characteristic of insects with incomplete metamorphosis. The wing pads on fully mature nymphs will be quite dark, almost black, in color. The orders of aquatic insects with incomplete metamorphosis include: 12weeks / L Mating \ Emergence 1-3 weeks f Young nymph Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera) Dragonflies and Damselfies (Order Odonata) Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera) Water Bugs (Order Hemiptera) 15 Complete Metamorphosis. Insects with complete metamorphosis pass through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The addition of the pupal stage separates insects with complete metamorphosis from those with incomplete metamorphosis. While the length of time needed to complete each stage again varies widely, the entire cycle usually takes one year. Most of the cycle is generally spent in the larval stage. Unlike nymphs, larvae bear little resemblance to the adults and show no development of wing pads. It is during the pupal stage that the wing pads and other adult features develop. The orders of aquatic insects Dobsonflies and Alderflies (Order Megaloptera) Caddisflies (Order Trichoptera) Aquatic Moths (Order Lepidoptera) Aquatic Flies (Order Diptera) Aquatic Beetles (Order Coleoptera) Growth and Development The growth of insects occurs in a series of stages called instars. The exoskeleton of insects must be periodically shed in order for growth to continue. The process of shedding the old exoskeleton is called molting. When the old exoskeleton is cast aside, a new, slightly larger one is present underneath. The old empty exoskeleton is often referred to as a shuck. Except for mayflies, molting stops once the insect reaches the winged adult stage. Most insects molt five or six times during their development. Mayflies, stoneflies, dragonflies, and damselfies, however, may molt 15-30 times before reaching their adult stage. Recognizing the insects's stage and degree of development can help the angler determine what insect to imitate. Mature nymphs and larvae often become more active in the water as they move to emergence or pupation sites. This increased activity makes them more available to fish and , thus, makes them more important to imitate. Looking for and imitating the most mature insects will normally produce the best fishing. One of the most vulnerable periods in the insect's life cycle is during emergence from immature to the adult stage. At the time of emergence, mature nymphs or pupae typically crawl out of the water or swim to the water's surface. Those that emerge in the surface film must break through the surface tension, and that can take from several seconds to over a minute. Thus during emergence, the insects are no longer protected by the shelter of the lake of stream bottom. Fish 16 readily take advantage of the insects' vulnerability and often feed selectively on emerging nymphs or pupae. The angler who recognizes this activity will find fast fishing by imitating the shape and action of the natural. Adult insects often rest on the water's surface after emerging from the nymphal or pupal shuck. Then, after mating, most aquatic insects return to the water to lay their eggs. Insects resting or laying eggs on the surface provide fish with many easy meals. Source: An Angler's Guide to Aquatic Insects and their Imitations, Hafele and Roederer, 1987. 17 WHY ARE CHEMICAL TESTS IMPORTANT? (based on the Citizen Monitoring Handbook, published by the LaMotte Company) This section describes some chemical and physical tests you can conduct and why they are important. Physical/Chemical testing should be conducted at least once a month because this type oftesting measures the exact sample of water taken, which can vary weekly, daily or even hourly. A basic set oftests includes temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and settleable solids. Test kits that measures these four parameters will cost approximately $130.00. Replacement chemicals are inexpensive and will be needed after one year. Advanced tests include total alkalinity, orthophosphate and nitrate. A test kits that includes both basic and advance tests costs approximately $280.00. Some groups may wish to work with a certified laboratory to sample for fecal coliform bacteria or chlorophyll a. TEMPERATURE Water temperature is one factor in determining which species mayor may not be present in the system. Temperature affects feeding, reproduction, and the metabolism of aquatic animals. A week or two of high temperatures may make a stream unsuitable for sensitive aquatic organisms, even though temperatures are within tolerable levels throughout the rest of the year. Not only do different species have different requirements, but optimum habitat temperatures may change for each stage of life. Fish larvae and eggs usually have narrower temperature requirements than adult fish. Measuring Temperature A thermometer protected by a plastic or metal case should be used to measure temperature in the field. Record air temperature by placing the dry thermometer in the shade until it stabilizes. Record the temperature of the air before measuring water temperature. To measure water temperature, submerge the thermometer in a sample of water large enough that it will not be affected by the temperature of the thermometer itself or hold directly in the stream. Significant Levels Temperature preferences among species vary widely, but all species can tolerate slow, seasonal changes better than rapid changes. Thermal stress and shock can occur when water temperatures change more than 10 to 2 0 C in 24 hours. Many biological processes are affected by water temperature. Temperature differences between surface and bottom waters help produce the vertical water currents which move nutrients and oxygen throughout the water column. 18 What Measured Levels May Indicate Water temperature may be increased by discharges of water used for cooling purposes (by industrial or utility plants) or by runoff from heated surfaces such as roads, roofs and parking lots. Cold underground water sources, snow melt and the shade provided by overhanging vegetation can lower water temperatures. pH The pH test is one of the most common analyses in water testing. An indication of the sample's acidity, pH is actually a measurement of the activity of hydrogen ions in the sample. pH measurements are on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7.O. considered neutral. Solutions with a pH below 7.0 are considered acids, those between 7.0 and 14.0 are designated bases. The pH scale is logarithmic, so every one-unit change in pH actually represents a ten-fold change in acidity. In other words, pH 6 is ten times more acidic than pH 7; pH 5 is one hundred times more acidic than pH 7. Significant Levels A range of pH 6.5 to pH 8.2 is optimal for most aquatic organisms. Rapidly growing algae or submerged aquatic vegetation remove carbon dioxide (C02) from the water during photosynthesis. This can result in a significant increase in pH levels. Low or high pH can effect egg hatching, kill sources of food for fish and insects, or make water impossible for any aquatic life to survive. In Georgia, Mountain and Piedmont streams will have pH ranges of6.0 to 8.0. Coastal black water streams will naturally have more acidic conditions, with pH values of 3.5 to 6.0. pH values of some common substances: pH 0.5 battery. acid 2.0 lemon juice 5.9 rain water 7.0 distilled water 8.0 salt water 11.2 ammorua 12.9 bleach 19 DISSOLVED OXYGEN Like land organisms, aquatic animals need dissolved oxygen (DO) to live. Fish, invertebrates, plants and aerobic bacteria all require oxygen for respiration. Sources of Dissolved Oxygen Oxygen dissolves readily into water from the atmosphere at the surface until the water is "saturated" (see below). Once dissolved in water, the oxygen diffuses very slowly, and distribution depends on the movement of aerated water by turbulence and currents caused by wind, water flow and thermal upwelling. Oxygen is produced by aquatic plants, algae and phytoplankton as a by-product of photosynthesis. Dissolved Oxygen Capacity of Water The dissolved oxygen capacity of water is limited by the temperature and salinity of the water and the atmospheric pressure (which corresponds with altitude). These factors determine the highest amount of oxygen dissolved in water that is possible. Temperature Effect As water temperature changes, the highest potential dissolved oxygen level changes. Lower temperature = Higher potential dissolved oxygen level Higher temperature = Lower potential dissolved oxygen level The temperature effect is compounded by the fact that living organisms increase their activity in warm water, requiring more oxygen to support their metabolism. Critically low oxygen levels often occur during the warmer summer months when decreased capacity and increased oxygen demand, caused by respiring algae or decaying organic material, coincide. Significant Levels The amount of oxygen required varies according to species and stage oflife. DO levels below 3 ppm are stressful to most aquatic organisms. DO levels below 2 or 1 ppm will not support fish; levels of 5 to 6 ppm are usually required for growth and activity. Fish and invertebrates that can move will leave areas with low dissolved oxygen and concentrate in areas with higher levels. What Measured Levels May Indicate A low dissolved oxygen level indicates a demand on the oxygen in the system. Pollutants, including inadequately treated sewage as well as decaying natural organic material, can cause such a demand: Organic materials accumulate in bottom sediments and support microorganisms 20 (including bacteria) which consume oxygen as they break down the materials. Some wastes and pollutants produce direct chemical demands on any oxygen in the water. In ponds or impoundments, dense populations of active fish can deplete dissolved oxygen levels. In areas of dense algae, DO levels may drop at night or during cloudy weather due to the net consumption of dissolved oxygen by aquatic plant respiration. High dissolved oxygen levels can be found where stream turbulence or choppy conditions increase natural aeration by increasing the water surface area and trapping air under cascading water. On sunny days, high dissolved oxygen levels occur in areas of dense algae or submerged aquatic vegetation growth due to photosynthesis. In these areas, watch for the lowest DO levels before sunrise each morning and highest levels just after noon. SETTLEABLE SOLIDS Settleable Solids refers to sediment and other matter suspended in fresh and salt water. Settleable solids is an easy, quantitative method to measure sediment and other particles found in surface water. An Imhoff cone (a plastic or glass 1 litter cone) is filled with one litter of sample water, stired, and allowed to settle for 45 minutes. The solids settle in the cone and are measured as a volume of the total, in milliters per liter. This measurement is a reproducable analogue to turbidity. Excessive solids in water block sunlight and clog fish and macroinvertebrate gills. Sediment that settles on the streambed can smother habitat for fish and other aquatic life. NUTRIENTS -- Nitrate and Phosphate Eutrophication The addition of phosphorus, nitrogen and other nutrients to a body of water results in increased plant growth. Over time, dead plant material builds up and, combined with sediments, fills in lakes and reservoirs. When excess nutrients and sediment are added, the speed of this natural process is increased significantly. Plants, especially algae, are very efficient users of phosphorus and nitrogen. By the time an algae bloom is observed, the nutrients may no longer be measurable but may continue to impact the ecosystem. By sampling upstream from areas of algae blooms, the source of excess nutrients may be identified. Algae blooms will usually be found in lakes and reservoirs. If excessive algae are found in streams, the nutrient content is probably very high. The macroinvertebrate population will reflect a high input of nutrients--you will find little variety of macro invertebrates but many of one or two kinds. High flow rates in streams may prevent the establishment of floating aquatic plants and 21 algae despite the presence of high levels of nutrients. As the summer progresses and flow rates drop, once rapidlyflowing streams can become choked with algae. Wide, slow moving and tidal areas downstream may exhibit algae blooms weeks earlier. Sources of Nutrients Nitrogen and phosphorus enter water from human and animal waste, decomposing organic matter and fertilizer runoff Phosphates also are found in some industrial effluents, detergent wastewater from homes, and natural deposits. Measuring Nitrate Nitrogen occurs in natural waters as nitrate (N03), nitrite (NOz), ammonia (NH3) and organically bound nitrogen. Nitrate test results are expressed as "nitrate nitrogen" (N03-N), meaning "nitrogen that was in the form of nitrate." Some test kits and the literature express levels only as nitrate (N03)' Both expressions refer to the same chemical and concentrations, but use different units of measure: Nitrate Nitrogen ppm x 4.4 = Nitrate ppm Significant Levels Unpolluted waters generally have a nitrate-nitrogen level below 1 ppm. Nitrate-nitrogen levels above 10 ppm (44 ppm nitrate) are considered unsafe for drinking water. Phosphorus Phosphorus occurs in natural waters in the form of phosphates - orthophosphates, polyphosphates and organically bound phosphates. Simple phosphate test kits measure reactive phosphorus (primarily orthophosphate) which is the form of phosphate applied as fertilizer to agricultural and residential lands. Organically bound phosphates in water come from plant and animal matter and wastes. Organically bound phosphates and polyphosphates cannot be measured directly. They must first be broken down or "digested" by adding an acid and oxidizer and boiling the sample. After the digested sample cools, an orthophosphate test is performed to measure total phosphorus. Results are expressed as phosphate (P04).. Significant Levels Total phosphorus levels higher than 0.03 ppm contribute to increased plant growth (eutrophication). Total phosphorus levels above 0.1 ppm may stimulate plant growth sufficiently to surpass natural eutrophication rates. 22 ALKALINITY Alkalinity of water is its acid neutralizing capacity. It is the sum of all the bases found in a sample including carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide content. The alkalinity, and therefore buffering capacity, of natural waters will vary with local soils. 23 WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA Waters in the state of Georgia are classified by use. For example, most streams, rivers and lakes are designated for "fishing" use. Other classifications include recreation, drinking, wild and scenic. Different protection levels are assigned to different uses. Thus drinking water may have stricter requirements for dissolved oxygen and temperature than water classified as primarily used for trout fishing. All waters of the state should be "free from materials associated with municipal or domestic sewage, industrial waste or any other waste which will settle to form sludge deposits that become putrescent, unsightly, or otherwise objectionable". There are numerous criteria for specific chemicals and metals. The general criteria for several parameters are listed below. Fishing, Recreation and Drinking Water: Dissolved Oxygen Daily Average Minimum Dissolved Oxygen for Trout Streams: Daily Average Minimum pH Within range of Temperature Maximum 5.0 mg/l 4.0 mg/l 6.0 mg/l 5.0 mg/l 6.0 to 8.5 Nitrate Phosphate No set standard No set standard 24 WHERE TO ORDER EQUIPMENT: (prices as of 1/94) Nets for Biological Monitoring: BioQuip Products 17803 LaSalle Ave. Gardena, CA 90248-3602 310-324-0620 kick seines ($34.25 each) D-nets ($46.00 each) forceps (about $2 each) Nichols Net and Twine/lzaak Walton League's SOS kick seine 2200 Highway 111 Granite City, IL 62040 618-797-0211 -kick seine(larger mesh), poles not included (about $20), ask for SOS net. Ward's Natural Science 5100 W. Henrietta Road P.O. Box 92912 Rochester, New York 14692-9012 1-800-962-2660 D-Frame Aquatic Nets (10W0615) 34.50 each Replacement Bags 9.80 each Forcepts (14W0520) 2.90 each Glass Vials with PETE Snap Caps 21 ml (17WOI90) 14 ml (17W0189) 9.20 per dozen 8.25 per dozen Glass Vials with Plastic Screw Caps 7.4 ml (17WOI63) 4.20 per dozen 22 ml (17W0189) 6.12 per dozen REMEMBER-YOU CAN ALSO MAKE YOUR OWN KICK SEINE! 25 Chemical Testing Kits: LaMotte Company 1-800-344-3100 Dissolved Oxygen #5856 pH #5858 Thermometer #1066 Imhoff Cone (settable solids) #0512 $45.00 $43.00 $16.00 $37.95 Ortho-phosphate 0.2-10.0 ppm, #3114, $59.50, 50 tests Nitrate-Nitrogen 0.25-10 ppm, #3110, $56.00, 50 tests Total Dissolved Solids Pocket Meter #1,0-1990 ppm, $44.95 Water Quality Educator Kit #5870 (pH, DO, temperature, turbidity, alkalinity, Nitrate-nitrogen, Phosphate and educational books and a CD -ROM) $299.00 Wide Range pH Indicator Paper (#2912) 4.40 per box 200 Hach Company 800-227-4224 Ask for education catalog, variety of chemical testing equipment and supplies. General Lab and Field Supplies: VWR Scientific 1230 Kennestone Circle Marietta, GA 30066 404-423-13 54 -forceps (about $2 each), plastic trays Action Products International 344 Cypress Rd. Ocala, FL 34472-3108 800-772-2846 -bug magnifying cubes (large $0.78 each, packs of25 only/small $0.32 each, packs of 100 only) Rubber boots - Georgia Rubber Company, discount stores 26 HOW TO MAKE A KICK SEINE For collecting macroinvertebrates (courtesy of the Tennessee Valley Authority) Materials: 3 foot by 3 foot piece of nylon or metal window screening 4 strips of heavy canvas (6 inches by 36 inches) 2 broom handles or wooden dowels (5 or 6 feet long) finishing nails thread sewing machine hammer iron and ironing board 1. Fold edges of canvas strips under, 1/2 inch, and press with iron. 2. Sew 2 strips at top and bottom and then use other 2 strips to make casings for broom handles or dowels on left and right sides. Sew bottom of casings shut. 3. Insert broom handles or dowels into casings and nail into place with finishing nails. Speed method: 1. Lay 3 foot by 3 foot piece of screening over broom handles. 2. Staple or nail screen to broom handles. ~ " ~~" " " -' . T ._......---.. 1'2 ... :;p I> " 27 FORMS 28 Group. Stream site ..... late Quarter Porm Completed by Phone ( ) _ GEORGIA ADOPT-A-STREAM _ LEVEL II and III ACTIVITY SUMMARY _ _ _ Send a copy to your local partner, your local government contact, and Georgia Adopt-A-Stream each quarter, before March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. Attach latest results from Physical/Chemcial or . Biological Monitoring. Activity Physical/Chemical Testing (once each month) Date Completed January February March April May June July August September October November December Biological Monitoring (once each quarter) 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Habitat Enhancement Project (one time project) Riparian Reforestation Streambank Stabilization Streambed Restoration Level I Activities current? Are you a qualtiy assured volunteer? _ _ _ yes no _ _ _ yes no Comments - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GEORGIA ADOPT-A-STREAM Biological and Physical/Chemical Survey Use this form and the Adopt-A-Stream methods to record important information about the health of your stream. By keeping accurate and consistent records of your physical/chemical tests and data from your macroinvertebrate samples, you can document current conditions and changes in water quality. Name of Stream location Individual or group Members present QA/QC Certified Volunteer Present? Date Weather conditions o clear 0 cloudy Drain County o rain within last 24 to 48 hours? PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL TESTS BASIC TESTS Air Temperature Water Temperature pH Dissolved Oxygen Settleable Solids ADVANCED TESTS Total Alkalinity Nitrate Ortho-phosphate LAKES Clarity (Secchi Disk Depth) Sample 1 Sample 2 ( C) ( C) ( 1-14 ) ( mg/l) (ml/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) ( meters) Special Lab Analysis Name of laboratory preforming tests Sample 1 Sample 2 Fecal Coliform Chlorophyll A ( per 100 ml ) ( mg/l) COMMENTS _ _ MACROINVERTEBRATE COUNT (based in part on the Save our Streams Program, Izaak Walton League of America) Sample using the riffle or the muddy bottom method. For riffle method, test 3 habitats within a 30-foot area to ensure you have a truly representative sample. Record each sample separately or the one which gives the best diversity. For muddy bottom, method take 7, 4, or 3 scoops in each of the three habitats outlined in the manual. Habitat selected for sampling: o riffle o leaf pack/woody debris o streambed with silty area (very fine particles) o streambed with sand or small gravel o vegetated bank o other (specify) Use letter codes (A= 1-9, B= 10-99, C= 100 or more) to record the numbers of organisms found in a 2 foot by 2 foot area riffle area. Then add up the number of letters in each column and multiply by the indicated value. The following columns are divided based on the organism's sensitivity to pollution. SENSITIVE D caddisfly larvae D hellgrammite D mayfly nymphs D gilled snails o riffle beetle adult o stonefly nymphs o water penny larvae SOMEWHAT-SENSITIVE D beetle larvae D clams D crane fly larvae D crayfish D damselfly nymphs D dragonfly nymphs D scuds D sowbugs D fishfly larvae D alderfly larvae D atherix TOLERANT D aquatic worms D blackfly larvae D leeches o midge larvae o pouch snails D # of letters times 3 = - - - - value + D # of letters times 2 = - - - - value + o # of letters times 1 - - - - value + Now add together the three index values = _ _ total index value. The total index value will give you an indication of water quality of your stream. Good water quality is indicated by a variety of different kinds of organisms, with no one kind making up the majority of the sample. WATER QUALITY RATING D 0 Excellent (>22) Good (17-22) o Fair (11-1 6) o Poor 11) Return to: Georgia Adopt-A-Stream EPD - 7 MLK Dr. Suite, 643 Atlanta, GA 30334 GEORGIA ADOPT-A-STREAM ONE YEAR RECORD OF PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DATA JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC Temperature pH Dissolved Oxygen Settleable Solids Alkalinity Nitrate O-Phosphate Clarity (Secchi Disk) Other Other Biological Index /' side 3 bottom I top 4 6 1 I Bar lines indicate relative size Stream Insects & Crustaceans T 1 I GROUP ONE TAXA Pollution sensitive organisms found ingoodquality water. 1 Stonefly: OrderPlecopfera. 1/2' - 11/2', Slegs with hooked tips, antennae, 2 lair-like tails. Smooth (no gills) on lower half of body. (See arrow.) 2 CaddisOy: Order Trichoptera. Up to 1',S hooked legs on upper third of body, 2hooks at back end. May be inastick, rock or leaf case with its head sticking out. May have fluffy gill tufts on lower half. 3 Water Penny: Order Coleoptera. 1/4', flat saucer-shaped body with araised bump on one side and Stiny legs on the other side. Immature beetle. 4 Riffle BeeUe: OrderColeoptera. 1/4', oval body covered with tiny hairs, Slegs, antennae. Walks slowly underwater. Does not swim on surface. 5 Mayfly: OrderEphemeroptera. 1/4' -1', brown, moving, plate-like or feathery gills on sides of lower body (see arrow), Slarge hooked legs, antennae, 2 or 3 long, hair-like tails. Tails may be webbed together. 6 GilledSnail: Class Gastropoda. Shell opening covered by thin plate called operculum. Shell usually opens on right 7 Dobsonfly(Hellgrammite): Family Corydalidae. 3/4' - 4',dark-colored, Slegs, large pinching jaws. eight pairs feelers on lower ha~ of body with paired cotton-like gill tufts along underside, shcrt antennae, 2tails and 2pairs of hooks at back end. GROUP TWO TAXA Somewhatpollution tolerant organisms can be in goodorfair quality water. 8 Crayfish: OrderDecapoda. Up to S". 2large claws, 8 legs. resembles small lobster. 9 Sowbug: OrderIsopoda. 1/4' - 3/4". gray oblong body wider than itishigh, more than 6 legs. long antennae. Save OUf Streams Izaak Walton league ofAmerica 1401 Wilson Blvd. level B Arlington, VA 22209 I .:~ :; -.. ~.~ 22 ~ Bar lines indicate relative size GROUP TWO TAXA continued 10 Scud: OrderAmphipoda. 1/4", white to grey, oody higher than itis wide, swims SideWdYS, more than 6 legs, resembles small shrimp. 11 Aldertlylarva: Family Sialidae. 1" long. Looks like small hellgrammite but has 1long, thin, branched tail at mel< end (no hooks). No gill tufts underneath. 12 Rshfly larva: Family CorydaJidae. Up to 11/2" long. Looks like small hellgrammite but often a lighter reddish-tan color, or with yellowish streaks. No gill tufts underneath. 13 Damselfly: SuborderZmJptera.1/2" -1",large eyes, 6thin hooked legs, 3broad oar-shaped tails, positioned like atripod. Smooth (no gills) on sides of lower half of body. (see arrow.) 14 Watersnipe Fly Larva: FamilyAthericidae (Atherix). 1/4"-1",pale to green, tapered body, many caterpillar-like legs, coni(21 hmd, feathery Rooms" at back end. 15 Crane Fly: SuborderNemalocera.1/3" -2", milky, green, or light brown, plump caterpillar-like segmented body, 4finger-like lobes at mel< end. 16 Beetle Larva: OrderColeoptera. 1/4"1", Iightcolored, 6 legs on upper half of body, feelers, antennae. 17 Dragon Fly: SuborderAnisoplera. 1/2" - 2", lar\i.. eyes, 6 hooked legs. Wide oval to round abdomen. 18 Clam: Class Bivalvia. GROUP THREE TAXA Pollution tolerant organisms GIn be in anyquality of water. 19 Aquatic Worm: Class Oligochaefa. 1/4" - 2", (2n be very tiny; thin worm-like body. 20 Midge Fly Larva: SuborderNematocera. Up to 1/4", dark head, worm-like segmented body, 2tiny legs on each side. 21 B/~k11y Larva: Family Simulidae. Up to 1/4", one end of body wider. Black head, suction pad on end. 22 Leech: OrderHirudinea. 1/4" - 2", brown, slimy body, ends with suction pads. 23 Pouch SnailandPond Snails: Class Gastropoda. No operculum. Breathe air. Shell usually opens on lett 24 Othersnails: Class Gastropoda. No opereuem. Breathe air. Snail shell coils in one plane.