Volunteers and their Data ~ What We Know about Blue Thumb Streams

Stream Protection through Education ~ volunteers who monitor and educate the public

Blue Thumb volunteers collect information about streams. Blue Thumb is a nonpoint source education project.

Focus of presentation is streams.

Chemical monitoring and site observations

Fish collections Macroinvertebrate collections

Habitat Information

These different pieces of information fit together to give a good picture of a stream.

Volunteers gather data over months and years. The stream data is meaningful.

Stream data becomes MORE meaningful when you have a dependable comparison.

High quality streams have been designated for all Oklahoma ecoregions. High Quality Streams known to have high quality fish and macroinvertebrate populations, in-stream and riparian habitat, and water quality.

Blue Thumb staff works with volunteers to review stream data and compare it against the high quality streams.

Different fish and macroinvertebrate species have different abilities to tolerate pollution and habitat changes. How does the life in YOUR stream compare to the life in your ecoregion’s high quality streams?

Important – Volunteers can see trends, changes at their own sites.

Volunteers review data they have gathered and work with staff to produce reports.

Use information to educate citizens about local streams.

People want to know about local stream health. People can protect streams.

Also available: Data reports from the OCC Water Quality Division

Displays/exhibits News articles Presentations Creek cleanup events Watershed groups

Some streams need help… some streams are wonderlands of life.

Physical Habitat + Biological Community + Water Chemistry Stream Health

A Tale of Two Streams Same ecoregion – Cross Timbers Same size – 3 rd Order Monitored regularly Fish collection and habitat assessment in 2006 Delaware Creek Osage County Coffee Creek Oklahoma County

Same ecoregion – Cross Timbers

Same size – 3 rd Order

Monitored regularly

Fish collection and habitat assessment in 2006

Physical Habitat

Physical Habitat

87.9 Total Points 107.4 8.9 Streamside Cover 9.9 4.6 Bank Vegetation Stability 3.2 4.6 Bank Stability 9.3 0 Channel Sinuosity 12.3 8.7 Channel Alteration 13.7 15.6 Flow 1.4 10.3 Presence of Rocky Runs or Riffles 2.2 3.8 Canopy Cover Shading 16.5 16.5 Pool Variability 20 2.2 Pool Bottom Substrate 4 12.8 Instream Cover 14.9 Time 11-Aug-06 Date 07-Jun-06 Coffee Creek: Hwy 66 SiteName Delaware Creek: Hwy 97 Bridge OK520710-01-0090C WBID OK121300-01-0150M 36247 SAMPLEID

Coffee Creek: Hwy 66 Habitat Assessment 8/11/2006 87.9 High Pool Variability Flow Streamside Cover Moderate Instream Cover Presence of Rocky Runs or Riffles Channel Alteration Bank Stability Bank Vegetation Stability Low Pool Bottom Substrate Canopy Cover Shading Channel Sinuosity Delaware Creek: Hwy 97 Habitat Assessment 6/7/2006 107.4 High Pool Variability Canopy Cover Shading Channel Alteration Channel Sinuosity Streamside Cover Bank Stability Moderate Instream Cover Bank Vegetation Stability Low Pool Bottom Substrate Presence of Rocky Runs or Riffles Flow

Coffee Creek: Hwy 66 Habitat Assessment 8/11/2006 87.9 High Pool Variability Flow Streamside Cover Moderate Instream Cover Presence of Rocky Runs or Riffles Channel Alteration Bank Stability Bank Vegetation Stability Low Pool Bottom Substrate Canopy Cover Shading Channel Sinuosity Delaware Creek: Hwy 97 Habitat Assessment 6/7/2006 107.4 High Pool Variability Canopy Cover Shading Channel Alteration Channel Sinuosity Streamside Cover Bank Stability Moderate Instream Cover Bank Vegetation Stability Low Pool Bottom Substrate Presence of Rocky Runs or Riffles Flow Cross Timbers High Quality Reference 84.0

Physical Habitat + Biological Community Fish Bugs + Water Chemistry Stream Health Delaware Creek Coffee Creek

Fish Collection

We keep at least one specimen of all species in a jug of formalin to quality check our field identification.

Sometimes the fish are too big for the jug so we take a photo.

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scoring criteria for fish. <18% 18-36% >36% Proportion individuals as lithophilic spawners <20% 20-45% >45% Proportion insectivorous cyprinid individuals >25% 10-25% <10% Proportion tolerant individuals <33% 33-67% >67% Number of intolerant species <33% 33-67% >67% Number of sunfish species <33% 33-67% >67% Number of sensitive benthic species <33% 33-67% >67% Number of species 1 3 5 Metrics

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score interpretation for fish. Few species and individuals present; tolerant species dominant; diseased fish frequent E 20 – 37% Top carnivores and many expected species absent or rare; omnivores and tolerant species dominant D 47 – 57% Intolerant and sensitive species rare or absent C 67 – 73% Decreased species richness, especially intolerant species B 80 – 87% Comparable to pristine conditions, exceptional species assemblage A 97 – 100 % Attributes Condition % of reference

Physical Habitat + Biological Community Fish Bugs + Water Chemistry Stream Health Delaware Creek Coffee Creek

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (Bugs) Collect

Wash

Pick

You can compare a creek against itself over time.

You can document a drought.

Physical Habitat + Biological Community Fish Bugs + Water Chemistry Stream Health Delaware Creek Coffee Creek

Water Chemistry

Physical Habitat + Biological Community Fish Bugs + Water Chemistry Stream Health Delaware Creek Coffee Creek

A Tale of Two Creeks