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Stream Monitoring
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The winter Accotink Creek stream monitoring brought out a number of volunteers, some new to stream monitoring. Participants included park volunteers Steve Reynolds, Philip Latasa, Pat Boyd, Duane Murphy, and Eva Tahan, along with park staff Axel Boy, Ken Fulling, and Julie Tahan. The activity was led by Joanna A. Cornell, M.S., Watershed Specialist with the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. |
Introductions and overview;
left to right; Alex, Steve, Philip, Joanna, Pat 
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Monitoring crew enjoyed low 60s degree weather and a nice stroll
in the woods as we walked toward the Cross County Trail on the way to Accotink Creek. Julie carried the big red gloves. 
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Stream monitoring is one way people of all ages can get involved in helping to monitor the health of the Accotink Creek. Lake Accotink Park is one site along the creek where monitoring is done quarterly. |
| Several folks were wondering if Julie had the big red gloves for handling the larger stream critters. All were relieved to find out the red gloves were for disturbing the stream bottom while giving your hands some additional protection from the cold - and for disturbing all sized creatures. |
All a blur during setup.
Left to right; Eva, Philip, Joanna, Alex (behind Joanna), Steve (in foreground assembling table), Ken's arm and leg appearing behind Pat, and Julie. 
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Enthusiastic volunteers get an effective streamside tutorial of macroinvertebrates identification. Left to right; Philip, Ken, Pat, Joanna (Accotink Creek in background)
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Each session includes a short orientation in which participants learn (or review) stream monitoring methodology and the basics of benthic macroinvertebrate identification. Benthic macroinvertebrates are animals that lack a backbone and are generally visible to the naked eye. They live in the lower areas of streams, under rocks, for at least part of their life cycle. They include larval forms of many common insects such as Dragonflies, Damselflies and Craneflies; and crustaceans like crayfish and scuds. |
| The next steps involved the "stream dance" to create a '2' on the Richter scale to jolt critters loose from their homes at the bottom of the stream so they flow into the collection net, followed by sorting the critters into trays for identification and counting. The photographers were enjoying the stream dance and were captivated by discovery of hundreds of critters so they did not take pictures of those activities. After the critters were counted they were returned to the stream and the nets were rinsed and inspected to remove any critters missed during the sorting process. Stay tuned for another stream monitoring event where then "stream dance" pictures will be featured. The critters where returned to the stream as shown below. | |
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Returning critters to their homes. Left to right; Steve, Ken, Eva
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Happy crew packing up - all smiles.
Left to right; Julie (removing table leg), Joanna (performing a little jig), Pat (removing boot) 
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| The volunteers handled with respect and sorted the stream critters, including the fearsome looking, but relatively harmless hellgrammites. After just a few hours of training, the volunteers acquired the skills they will use to safeguard stream health. The hidden life forms of the streambed provide a key piece of the water quality puzzle. To get involved in the future, learn more about monitoring at: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/environmental/sps_monitor.htm. | |