National Park Service-National Capital Region Grant for Monitoring Stream Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Cooperator will implement the spring sampling of the biological stream monitoring protocol [Norris and Sanders (2009)] to collect data used to calculate stream health. Faunal observations (including herpetofauna, mussels and crayfish), benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, physical habitat assessment and water chemistry data will be collected at thirty-seven (37) stream locations across ten (10) parks in the National Capital Region of the National Park Service. While conducting the monitoring work at each site additional samples will be collected for processing and subsequent DNA analysis. Note that the collection and initial processing of water samples are within the scope of this agreement but the actual DNA sequencing is out of scope and will be funded in a separate agreement or modification.

Benthic macroinvertebrate samples will be collected and preserved for identification in the laboratory. Macroinvertebrate samples will be identified to the finest taxonomic scale possible (genus). 

Cooperator will calculate the benthic index of biotic integrity (BIBI) for each sampling location based on the most up-to-date methods implemented by the Maryland Biological Stream Survey Program.

All data (including photographs) will be entered into an MS Access database provided by the NPS and thoroughly checked by members of the field crew. Following data entry all data will undergo a 100% check by someone other than the person who entered the data. At the conclusion of the field season all data, including photographs and data sheets, will be transferred to the NCRN Data Manager.

Following the field season cooperators will provide a summary of monitoring activities including any interesting or novel observations. Cooperators will also participate in a brief (typically 1-2 hr.) meeting (referred to as an Operational Review) to review all aspects of the field season ranging from safety to field procedures to data management. Cooperator input is incredibly important to ensure the continuation of a safe and successful monitoring program.