Loudoun Wildlife has been conducting benthic macroinvertebrate surveys around the county since 1996. We submit our survey data to Virginia Save Our Streams (VA SOS), a program administered by the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA). VA SOS then approves and aggregates the data for the state and submits it to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, which in turn uses the information to identify impaired streams to target for further monitoring, habitat restoration and pollution control efforts.
Loudoun Wildlife is a partner with IWLA’s Clean Water Hub, where all our biological and chemical data are accessible by individual sites. If you are interested in viewing this data, click on “Explore the Map” and type in “Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy” in the search by organization field.
Stream Monitoring Teams
What We Monitor: Our stream monitoring program involves sampling benthic macroinvertebrates, which are the insects and other small creatures that live at the bottom of streams. The type and quantity of aquatic organisms tell a good story about the quality of water in the stream.
When: Stream monitoring is conducted twice a year, in the spring and the fall.
How: A certified monitor conducts a survey of a stream’s health with a team of volunteers using the Virginia Save Our Streams (SOS) monitoring protocol. The equipment such as nets, magnifying glasses, and field tables, are provided by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.
Team members wade into the stream and use a net to collect a sample of aquatic organisms.The organisms are then sorted, identified, and recorded on a data sheet before they are released back into the stream. Once the sampling is completed, the raw data is plugged into a series of formulas to compute a score of stream health ranging from one (unacceptable ecological condition) to twelve (acceptable).
Time Commitment:It takes a monitoring team approximately three hours to complete a survey and generate a score of stream health. Volunteers assist by transporting equipment, holding the net in the stream, placing sample aquatic organisms in collection trays, and counting the number of each type of organism collected. Volunteers are not required to have experience in stream monitoring and will be given instructions by the certified stream monitor who leads the survey.
We currently have 19 active sites (JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary has two) all over the county.
Click on map to enlarge.
Hellgrammite. Photo by Amie Ware
Water Penny. Photo by Amie Ware
Stonefly. Photo by Amy Ulland
1. Black Branch 2. Sweet Run Tributary 3. Tuscarora Creek, W&OD 4. South Fork Catoctin Creek 5. North Fork Catoctin, Hillsboro 6. Town Branch 7. Beaverdam Run 8. Goose Creek 9. JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary
10. Crooked Run 11. Limestone Branch 12. Tuscarora Creek, IWL Park 13. Tuscarora Creek, Westpark 14. N Fork Catoctin Creek, Upstream 15. N Fork Catoctin Creek, Downstream 16. Dry Mill Branch 17. Broad Run, Willowsford 18. Unnamed Tributary, Round Hill
