available for download. - The University of Maine

THE ROLE OF CITIZEN SCIENTISTS IN
THE R ESTORATION OF TROUT 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
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Partners
WMP Overview
Basis / rationale for method
Process to date
Method / Results
Technology transfer
Discussion / Questions
Stakeholder Involvement is Critical!
Fred Dillon
City of South Portland
Wendy Garland
Maine DEP
Tom Mikulka
Cape Elizabeth Resident
Carolyn Gleason
Cape Elizabeth Student
Dr. Lois Ongley
Unity College
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
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 longterm 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
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
5/30/13
TB#1
1
1
1
2
5
11
4
3
2
2
11
5
2.2
Trout Brook Kick Nets
Kick Nets vs. Rock Bags
5
4
1
3
1-K
2
Kick Nets vs. Rock Bags
NOT a replacement method for
5
regulatory compliance, but…
4
1
3
1-K
2
Kick Nets vs. Rock Bags
5
…does correspond
pretty well
with DEP rock bag method
1-K
Date
5/30/13
6/5/13
10/21/13
10/21/13
6/5/13
6/5/13
6/5/13
6/6/13
6/6/13
6/12/13
10/30/13
Kick Net
4
Sample Site Biotic
Index
TB Site 1
2.2
TB Site 1
1.9
TB Site 1
2.2
TB Site 1
2.4
TB Site 2
2.2
TB Site 3
2.4
TB Site 4
2.1
TB Site 5
2.2
TB Site 6
2.3
RB Site 1
2.6
KB Site 1
2.1
Stream
Water
Quality
Fair
Poor
3Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Good
Fair
Maine DEP
Method
Impacted
2
1 Impacted
Impacted
Impacted
Impacted
Impacted
Impacted
Impacted
Impacted
Non-impacted
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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