| FOMR's fall benthic monitoring was completed on October 18th. Seven certified monitors and nine assistant monitors helped collect the critters and record the data at nine monitoring sites.
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| Each site monitored has a "score" - a number between 0 and 12 - from the Virginia Save Our Streams (SOS) Multimetric Index. The SOS Multimetric Index score is a representation of the suitability of the stream for aquatic life. The score is determined by the number and kind of aquatic critters found in a water sample. Click here for more info on our monitoring program.
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| | SOS Index Scores
An SOS Index score of 9 to 12 = Acceptable ecological conditionAn SOS Index score of 8 = Ecological condition cannot be determined at this time (Gray Zone) An SOS Index score of 0 to 7 = Unacceptable ecological condition
Sites & Scores (all sites are on main stem of Middle River):1. Summerdean Road, Summerdean 3 graph2. Cattleman Road, Swoope 5 graph
3. Dog Back Lane, Swoope 9 graph
4. Green Hills Lane, Churchville 8 graph 5. Eastwood Drive, Churchville 8 graph6. Honeysuckle Hill, Middle River Road, Franks Mill 8 graph
7. River Ridge, Verona 7 graph
8. Cline Lane, Laurel Hill 9 graph
9. Dam Town Road, Ft. Defiance 9 graph
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Many thanks to the following FOMR volunteers who collected the samples and counted the critters: Pete Cooper, Paul Bugas, Sherry Stanley, Sara Jordan, Ann Cline, Adrie Voors, Chris & Kaylee Kasnosky, Reese Bull, Phillip Davis, Dustin Staton, David Fuller, Rick Chittum and Whit Morriss.
Thank you Kate Guenther for entering our data.
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| Bacteria Monitoring in Upper Middle River
In July, FOMR began an E. coli monitoring program in the Upper Middle River area. This includes the main stem of the River from Summerdean downstream to the bridge over the River on Rt. 254. It includes Back Creek and Eidson Creek also.
Volunteers collect water samples once a month from 12 different sites on the three waterways mentioned above plus one sample from Bells Creek just before it enters Middle River. |
| | | What is E. coli bacteria? "E. coli" is an abbreviation for Escherichia coli - a bacteria that grows at elevated temperatures and is associated only with the fecal material of warm-blooded animals.
The presence of E. coli in aquatic environments indicates that the water has been contaminated with the fecal material of man or other animals.
Fecal coliform concentrations are reported in units of the number of bacterial colonies (CFUs) per 100 milliliters of sample water (#CFU/100 mL). In Virginia, a concentration less than 235 CFU/100 mL is considered OK for human recreational purposes.
Anything over 235 CFU/100 mL is considered unhealthy. The presence of fecal contamination is an indicator that a potential health risk exists for individuals exposed to the water.
If you would like to see the E. coli concentration levels for the 13 sites from July through October, please click here. |
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