T HE R OLE OF C ITIZEN S CIENTISTS IN THE R ESTORATION OF T ROUT B - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE ROLE OF CITIZEN SCIENTISTS IN

THE RESTORATION OF TROUT BROOK

Kate McDonald, Cumberland County SWCD Project Scientist Fred Dillon, South Portland Stormwater Program Coordinator

Maine Water & Sustainability Conference – April 1, 2014

Presentation Overview

• Partners
• WMP Overview
• Basis / rationale for method
• Process to date
• Method / Results
• Technology transfer
• Discussion / Questions

Stakeholder Involvement is Critical!

• Dr. Lois Ongley

Unity College Fred Dillon City of South Portland Wendy Garland Maine DEP Tom Mikulka Cape Elizabeth Resident Carolyn Gleason Cape Elizabeth Student Kathy Bock Cape Elizabeth H.S. Ryan Messier U.S.M. Kate McDonald CCSWCD

Trout Brook Watershed

• Stream bank erosion
• Inadequate buffers
• Yard waste dumping
• Stream channel

alteration

• Decreased dissolved
• xygen
• 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

• f 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

• ~4 hrs to collect &

analyze samples

• Rapid screening

tool to determine improvements from BMPs

• Corresponds well

with rock bags

1 1 1 2

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

• ~4 hrs to collect &

analyze samples

• Rapid screening

tool to determine improvements from BMPs

• Corresponds well

with rock bags

1 1 1 2 4 3 2 2 5 11 5 11 2.2 CEHS Enviro. Science 5/30/13 TB#1

Trout Brook Kick Nets

1 2 3 4 5 1-K

Kick Nets vs. Rock Bags

1 2 3 4 5 1-K

Kick Nets vs. Rock Bags

NOT a replacement method for

regulatory compliance, but…

1 2 3 4 5 1-K

Kick Nets vs. Rock Bags

…does correspond pretty well with DEP rock bag method

Date Sample Site Kick Net Biotic Index Stream Water Quality Maine DEP Method 5/30/13 TB Site 1 2.2 Fair Impacted 6/5/13 TB Site 1 1.9 Poor Impacted 10/21/13 TB Site 1 2.2 Fair Impacted 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 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