Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

2012 Training Program - Segment 3
Benthic Macroinvertebrates & Stream Health

Introduction

stream

Small watercourses, such as streams, are homes to lots of tiny animals that live on and under the rocks, on the water plants, or on bits of wood lying in the stream. These animals include larval insects, clams, mussels, worms, and leeches. Collectively they are called macroinvertebrates - animals without backbones - and can be seen with the naked eye. Macroinvertebrates are a good indicator of stream health. An experienced biologist, with only a cursory examination of the macroinvertebrate assemblage, can determine the site-specific conditions of a stream. The Rapid Bioassessment (RBA) has become one of the standard methods to gather such biological data.

cricket

This training segment provided participants with a discussion, including identification, of stream macroinvertebrates; a review of the RBA method; a hands-on exercise to identify organisms and determine the health of a hypothetical stream; and ended with an optional field stream survey demonstration.


Background Materials

water insect on a leaf
Classroom Presentations
Supplemental Training Materials

Content Last Updated March 17, 2020.