Unit Information:

1. What is a watershed?
2. Why do we need to monitor the water in streams?
3. What is pollution? What is non-point pollution?
4. What is the riparian zone?
5. What are some physical parameters measured during stream monitoring?
6. What is canopy cover and why is it important?
7. Why is water temperature important?
8. What is turbidity and why is it important?
9. What are some chemical tests done during stream monitoring?
10. What is DO and why is it important?
11. How does oxygen get into the water?
12. What is pH? (What does it measure?) What is neutral on the pH scale?
13. How do phosphates & nitrates affect streams?
14. What is biological testing?
15. What are benthic macroinvertebrates?
16. What part of a stream do we use for collecting macros? Why?
17. What are three groups (orders) of insects that are indicators of good water quality?
18. What are the three body parts of insects? How many legs do insects usually have?
19. What two life cycles might insects experience? Why don’t larvae lay eggs?
20. What is FFG? What are the four groups? What do they eat? Know some examples for each group.
21. Be able to identify the following:
    • mayfly larva
    • stonefly larva
    • caddisfly larva
    • cranefly larva
    • sowbug
    • scud
    • blackfly larva
    • water boatman
    • water beetle (adult & larva)
    • midge larva
    • water mite
    • crayfish
    • aquatic earthworm
    • flatworm
    • snail (right vs. left)
    • mussel

Review Notes from class (html) - updated 11/16/15

Student Water Quality/Macroinvertebrate Project:

• Water Quality/Macroinvertebrate Project - includes project criteria, water quality and macroinvertebrate data, links to background information, and pictures of samples projects
• Pacific Education Institute developed the manual, Field Investigations: Using Outdoor Environments to Foster Student Learning of Scientific Processes (.pdf). Our CAM East Fork Lewis River WQ/Macros project is described in Section 4: Using Data Collected Over Time to Identify Patterns and Relationships (pp 58-66). Other information used in our wq/macros project: Types of Field Investigations - Documenting Field Investigations (pp 3-6) provides additional information and guidelines given to students about how to complete their projects.

Documents & Classroom Activities:

• Macroinvertebrate Ecology (.pdf) worksheet - used with the Maryland State Envirothon "Macroinvertebrate Ecology" article below.
• My Macro ID Guide (.pdf) - learn your macros by sketching them and noting their distinguishing their features; blank booklet (Use with "Know Your Macros" slideshow listed below)
• Macroinvertebrate Classification (.pdf) worksheet - used with Freshwater Macroinvertebrates from Streams ... laminated field guide
• field site & water quality record form (.pdf)
• macros collection form (.pdf); macros class totals (.xls) spreadsheet for compiling student data
• PTI/OWEB analysis (.pdf); Virginia Stream Study PTI form: Sample Record and Assessment Form
• EFL water quality map (.pdf) - Clark Co., WA (older version of E Fork Lewis River watershed map). The current map for the East Fork can be found at Clark County's Water Resources Stream Health page.
• EFL water quality map analysis (.pdf)
• Answer sheet (blank form) to be used with Macros ID Practice Sets listed below
• Aquatic Organism & Food Processing (.pdf) worksheet - used with ODFW The Stream Scene. (scroll down to "The Stream Scene" and select the chapter "Aquatic Organisms." We use the first three sections (Aquatic Organisms, Food Processing, River Continuum)
• FFG/River Continuum analysis (.pdf) - Use with ODFW's The Stream Scene Ch 9: Aquatic Organisms (pdf) curriculum listed below and the River Continuum model diagram on p. 315. More info on The River Continuum Concept (Stroud Water Research Center; see also: Microbes and Molecules); River Continuu research at H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon; (www.btwatershed.org - link not currently working); Who Eats What in a Stream (shows stream foodwebs, part of the "Stream Biology & Ecology" website)
• Mussels worksheet - use with Freshwater Mussels of the Pacific Northwest (download a copy from Xerces Society)

Resources:

• Review macros identification using the "Know Your Macros" slideshow, or test your knowledge with one of the "Macro ID Practice Sets." See other examples at nwnature.net's: Freshwater Macroinvertebrates. Links to other macroinvertebrates & water quality resources.

External Links (resources found on other websites):

• "Macroinvertebrate Ecology" (pdf) is a 12-page .pdf document created by the Maryland State Envirothon. Provides some background information on aquatic invertebrate
• The Stream Scene: Watersheds, Wildlife and People - Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife publication. In particular, we use Ch 9: "Aquatic Organisms - Food Processing." Other resources available from Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds webpage.
• USGS: East Fork Lewis River near Heisson, WA stream gage | Science in Your Watershed
• Washington NatureMapping: Water Module has some helpful information about water quality testing and macroinvertebrates. Scroll down the left panel ("table of contents") to select the information you need
• Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of WA - summary table from WA NatureMapping
• A Citizen's Guide to Understanding and Monitoring Lakes and Streams - WA State Dept. of Ecology
• What's in Your Water? - Information on chemicals, characteristics and organisms found in "natural waters" (DO, pH, temperature, bacteria, ...) and "drinking water" (pH, bacteria, arsenic, pharmaceuticals, ...), by Utah State University Cooperative Extension.
• Understanding Water Quality - Water On the Web (WOW)
• Wolftree's Ecology Field Guide -- Choose "Ecological Field Guide" (pdf)
• Washington State DOE River & Strem Water Quality Monitoring

• more Freshwater Macroinvertebrate and Water Quality Resources