Chris Nagai Nick Foster Christen Dschankilic Streams of Science

Pickering Watershed

How We Didn’t Do It Study Chemicals Precise indication of quality Brief snapshot Expensive Study fish Data represents greater time period Difficult to catch Collection can damage live samples

How Did We Do It? Study Benthic Macroinvertebrates Positives Represents good time period Good indication of quality Easy to collect Negatives Collection can damage samples Difficult to ID

The Protocol Systematic set up of transects Systematic set up of transects Notation of riparian data, etc Collection of sample with D-nets Randomized selection of insects to be counted Identify samples

Credible Carefully followed protocol Protocol recognised by Citizen’s Environment Watch (CEW) as well as Conservation Authority

Indices % Aquatic Worm %Midge%Sowbug # of Taxa %Snail %Dominant Taxa %EPT%Diptera%Insects Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) Based on these indices our streams can be rated unimpaired or possibly impaired

Aquatic Worm % Indicates an area with low oxygen levels Indicates an area with low oxygen levels This makes it harder for other macroinvertebrates to survive A high percentage often indicates poor water quality A high percentage often indicates poor water quality

Midge % Midges are found in almost every type of habitat Midges are found in almost every type of habitat A high percentage of midges indicates unhealthy stream conditions A high percentage of midges indicates unhealthy stream conditions However, their absence is often unexpected and can indicate potential damage of a stream. However, their absence is often unexpected and can indicate potential damage of a stream.

# of Taxa A high number of taxa (groups) indicates good water quality This is because in order for a great variety of species to exist at the same site, there must be a diverse range in habitats.

EPT This index consists of three groups of macroinvertebrates; mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies All three require high quality stream environments Thus, a high percentage of EPT indicates good water and habitat quality.

HBI This index shows the nutrient levels of the stream It incorporates the tolerance value of each group to give a snap shot of the nutrient conditions A low HBI value implies low nutrient conditions A high HBI implies excessive nutrient conditions.

Gandi Possibly impaired (5 unimpaired, 2 possibly impaired, 3 impaired) Midge levels are declining and EPT is rising River appears improving Not enough bugs found, therefore technically not valid data

Urfe This year was found to be potentially impaired. 3 unimpaired 3 possibly impaired, 4 impaired Doing well in 2007 and 2008

Little Rouge Unimpaired (7 unimpaired, 3 possibly impaired) River is improving EPT is starting to decline, Midges are on the rise River is good, but needs help to stay that way

Box Grove Box Grove is possibly impaired (4 unimpaired, 1 possibly impaired, 5 impaired) Consistently large amounts of Midges with low EPT and poor HBI Small river next to subdivision under construction Rainbow trout nest found.

Conclusion Our rivers appear to be improving from past years Action should be taken to keep it that way. Human activity like construction (Box Grove) can be detrimental