T HE R OLE OF C ITIZEN S CIENTISTS IN THE R ESTORATION OF T ROUT B ROOK Maine Water & Sustainability Conference – April 1, 2014 Kate McDonald, Cumberland County SWCD Project Scientist Fred Dillon, South Portland Stormwater Program Coordinator
Presentation Overview • Partners • WMP Overview • Basis / rationale for method • Process to date • Method / Results • Technology transfer • Discussion / Questions
Stakeholder Involvement is Critical! Fred Dillon Wendy Garland Tom Mikulka Carolyn Gleason City of South Portland Maine DEP Cape Elizabeth Resident Cape Elizabeth Student Dr. Lois Ongley Kathy Bock Ryan Messier Kate McDonald Unity College Cape Elizabeth H.S. U.S.M. CCSWCD
Trout Brook Watershed • Stream bank erosion • Inadequate buffers • Yard waste dumping • Stream channel alteration • Decreased dissolved oxygen • Elevated chloride • Elevated nutrients
Problem Identification How can we leverage our watershed stakeholders’ expertise to monitor watershed recovery?
Plan Conception • Service learning project with Unity College (2011) • Water quality internship (2012) • “We need more data!” • Management Plan Finalized (2012)
Citizen Monitoring • Bug sampling • Led by Tom Mikulka – local resident & citizen scientist • Kathy Bock & CEHS Senior AP Enviro. Science Students
Importance of “Bug” Sampling Benthic Macroinvertebrates • Key WQ / habitat standard • Found in most surface waters • V. good indicators of long- term impacts to WQ
DEP ROCK BAGS • Deploy for 4-8 weeks once every 5 years • Sampling season from July-Sept • Robust assessment for determination of WQ compliance
TB KICK NETS • ~4 hrs to collect & analyze samples • Rapid screening tool to determine improvements from BMPs • Corresponds well with rock bags
TB KICK NETS 1 • ~4 hrs to collect & analyze samples 1 • Rapid screening tool to determine improvements from BMPs 1 • Corresponds well with rock bags 2
TB KICK NETS • ~4 hrs to collect & analyze samples • Rapid screening tool to determine improvements from BMPs • Corresponds well with rock bags
CEHS Enviro. Science TB KICK NETS 5/30/13 TB#1 • ~4 hrs to collect & analyze samples 1 4 1 3 • Rapid screening 1 2 2 2 tool to determine 11 5 improvements 11 5 2.2 from BMPs • Corresponds well with rock bags
Trout Brook Kick Nets
Kick Nets vs. Rock Bags 5 4 2 1 3 1-K
Kick Nets vs. Rock Bags NOT a replacement method for 5 regulatory compliance, but… 4 2 1 3 1-K
Kick Nets vs. Rock Bags …does correspond pretty well 5 with DEP rock bag method Stream Kick Net Water Maine DEP 4 Date Sample Site Biotic Index Quality Method 5/30/13 TB Site 1 2.2 Fair Impacted 2 1 6/5/13 TB Site 1 1.9 Poor Impacted 10/21/13 TB Site 1 2.2 Fair Impacted 3 10/21/13 TB Site 1 2.4 Fair Impacted 6/5/13 TB Site 2 2.2 Fair Impacted 6/5/13 TB Site 3 2.4 Fair Impacted 6/5/13 TB Site 4 2.1 Fair Impacted 1-K 6/6/13 TB Site 5 2.2 Fair Impacted 6/6/13 TB Site 6 2.3 Fair Impacted 6/12/13 RB Site 1 2.6 Good Non-impacted 10/30/13 KB Site 1 2.1 Fair Impacted
Implications for Use Elsewhere • Excellent service learning opportunity, but… • Tech. expertise for sample program design* and bug id. critical • Potential resources: MEDEP S&WCDs Interlocal SW groups (ISWG, BASWG, etc) Universities Trout Unlimited *Timing also important – ideally in Sept to correspond w/ DEP rock bags
Acknowledgments
QUESTIONS / DISCUSSION
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