Benthic Macroinvertebrate Program Update
Monitoring the health of the Middle River is a core function of the Friends of the Middle River (FOMR) and is now even more important and necessary with accelerating climate warming and instability, contributing to increasing environmental malfunction. Nutrient, E. coli, and Benthic Monitoring Programs are key components of FOMR’s monitoring efforts.
FOMR’s Benthic Monitoring Program collects aquatic bugs (macroinvertebrates—“macros” for short) from the Middle River and assesses river health by comparing macros tolerant of pollution with those less tolerant.
FOMR has been collecting and identifying aquatic macros down to the family level for over 10 years, one of only two citizen science organizations (to the best of my knowledge) in Virginia to do so (the other is Rivanna Conservation Alliance - RCA). Everyone else identifies macros to the order level, which yields less scientifically robust and accurate data. In order to better utilize our family-level data, we are attempting to become a DEQ (Virginia Department of Environmental Quality) Level Three citizen science program. This would mean that DEQ could use our data in many of the ways that they use their own data. Our data would have greater scientific legitimacy. Level Three recognition is really a no-brainer given that we are already collecting family-level data which is, by far and away, the most difficult part of becoming a Level Three program.
There are some other Level Three requirements, primarily involving quality assurance, which will make our data and results more scientifically defensible. We are beginning the process of converting our data to the same data metrics that DEQ and RCA use. We have closely modeled our program on RCA’s program. The staff at RCA have been very supportive and generous in helping us become Level Three. Ted Turner, a DEQ biologist, has also been extremely supportive and generous with his time and expertise. He serves as our lab and is an indispensable consultant. Phil Davis is our expert and talented certified benthic trainer. Kelli Burnett has been helping me manage the benthic program over the past year. She has a master’s degree in biology with considerable expertise in benthic monitoring (as part of her thesis, Kelli identified more than 18,000 aquatic macros to assess impacts on stream quality). Kate Guenther is our data guru. We couldn’t function without Kate. Most importantly, we have the most experienced and expert monitors in Virginia (seriously, not exaggerating) who make it all happen.
~Pete Cooper, Benthic Monitoring Chair
| | Above photo by Catherine Case | FOMR's E. coli Data in the News
In the past month, FOMR was asked to weigh in on a press release shared by the Environmental Integrity Project and the Shenandoah Riverkeeper about the levels of E. coli in the Shenandoah River. You can read a copy of the full published article HERE.
The gist of our response message was “It is important to evaluate data to see the possible ways it can be interpreted. The numbers can be misleading if one doesn’t understand the testing process.”
The Staunton News Leader ran the article on Oct 16th that discusses how to interpret what the data really means. FOMR feels this is an example of the importance of science literacy and careful consideration of the interpretation of data and we are grateful we were given the opportunity for our Science Committee to lend their expertise to the conversation. | | Best Management Practices
Reminder:
Friends of the Middle River and the Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative will be hosting a meet and greet to talk about financial assistance that is available throughout the state (and federally) to support agriculture preservation/conservation practices on private land for persons who own 20+ acres of land with conservation potential.
There is still space in this meeting for a few more local landowners to sit down with representatives from various organizations to talk in a round-robin, one-to-one format about your property and where you'd like to engage in conservation. The format for this discussion is informal, and aimed to provide landowners the opportunity to learn, all at one place and time, about many opportunities that could help your property pay for itself while engaging in conservation, or other resources for temporary planting or buffering opportunities on your land.
The meeting is Wednesday, November 29, 4:00-6:30pm in Bridgewater, VA.
You can read about it HERE! You can sign up HERE!
| | Seeking Folding Card Tables
FOMR is seeking donations of used folding square card tables (roughly 34 inches by 34 inches) for our benthic education programs. Tables do not have to be pretty, but do need to work. Email Kate at info@friendsofthemiddleriver.org if you have one to donate! Thank you! | | | Rent Paddling Films that Support FOMR!
As we enter the off-season for the river, we remind you of a way to stay connected to the feelings and inspiration rivers bring to you by taking some time this winter to watch short films from the Paddling Film Festival. 50% of the rental fees will go to support FOMR!
This month we highlight a film called On the Edge. Watch its preview HERE: Synopsis: Five women set out on an eight-day, 65-mile pack rafting journey deep in the wilderness of Montana. A trip inspired by self-growth, adventure and world-class west slope cutthroat trout fishing quickly evolves into a deeper exploration of how we are on the edge of a new climate era. The group begins to question what the future of conservation and ethical wilderness recreation will look like in a rapidly changing climate.
This film On the Edge is one of nine short documentary films in the Adrenaline Program 2023. You can rent the whole package for $18.50—which runs 2 hours and 17 minutes and you have a 10-day window to view the films. You can watch on your phone, tablet, computer or cast to your TV using AirPlay, Chromecast, Miracast, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick or HDMI.
In order for us to earn the donation, rent your films through the following link: https://paddlingfilmfestival.com/?ref=MIDDLERIVERVA
To see the package that includes On the Edge 1. Go to https://paddlingfilmfestival.com/?ref=MIDDLERIVERVA 2. Scroll down to “Ways to Watch” and click on the “Rent Films” button 3. When the new window opens, scroll down and click on the “Adrenaline 2023” block 4. Then click on the “Rent Now” button. 5. Click “Check Out,” double check your order, and pay. Thank you for supporting FOMR, and happy viewing! | | | Preservative Chemicals in Tires and Water Quality
Check out this article from the Associated Press about rubber preservative in tires and fish impacts.
"Also found in footwear, synthetic turf and playground equipment, the rubber preservative 6PPD has been used in tires for 60 years. As tires wear, tiny particles of rubber are left behind on roads and parking lots, breaking down into a byproduct, 6PPD-quinone, that is deadly to salmon, steelhead trout and other aquatic wildlife when rains wash it into rivers."
Commercial fishing groups are suing tire manufacturers about this environmental problem which is just beginning to come into public awareness.
| | | Above photo by the Department of Wildlife Resources | How Drought Affects Local Fish
Check out the following article from the Department of Wildlife Resources about how the current drought is affecting our local fish populations, HERE!
| | Appreciation for Volunteers:
The annual Middle River Cleanup is arguably FOMR’S largest and most visible activity and it utilizes our largest single bloc of volunteers- close to 100 persons who clean the river of trash in August and at a few other smaller cleanups during summer. It’s a sweaty, muddy, wet gig to clean up the river…but at the end of the day your efforts are sitting right in front of you and it is satisfying! Perhaps that satisfaction is in part what keeps people returning year after year. But a big part of it is credited to the dedication our member volunteers bring by caring about our river and our water. Cleanup volunteers, you are making a visible difference in our community and it is appreciated not only by FOMR but by the local county administrators. And folks who do this year after year do feel like they are seeing a reduction over time of trash overall, though we still find a ridiculous number of tires. | |
HERE is the sneak preview of our Giving Tuesday video designed to help us raise funds this year for our water quality monitoring programs! Thank you to Megan Nolde for creating this with us!
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