The Stream Team is a group of volunteers who regularly monitor the biological health of a stream (or streams) within the Honey Creek Watershed.  Often, volunteers are families or property owners who are interested in the health of a river or creek that flows through their property.

What is it?

Water quality information is gained by collecting macroinvertebrates, small insects, crustaceans, and mollusks that live part or all of their lives in the sediment of streams.  Some species of macroinvertebrates can survive even if the water is very polluted, other species can only live in clean, healthy streams.  Therefore, by collecting samples of the macro-invertebrates and identifying the species, you can get a good idea about the water quality in that stream!

Why get involved?

Having a volunteer sample the same area of stream several times a year produces a history of how the water quality has changed over time.  If a volunteer finds the type and number of macroinvertebrates has changed significantly during a sampling, there may be a new source of pollution in the area that needs to be addressed promptly.

Volunteers are provided with all the equipment they'll need (nets, ID guides, data sheets, etc).  Also, the Association holds a one-day training for volunteers every summer.  No Experience Necessary!  In the fall, all Stream Team volunteers meet to  celebrate World Wide Monitoring Day and share and discuss their data from the pervious year.  

Types of Macroinvertebrates

Mayfly larva                Stonefly larva                        Water Pennies

In Stream Team training you will learn that Mayfly larva, Stonefly larva, and a few other species are very sensitive to water pollution.  If you find several of these species in your stream, you have excellent water quality!

On the other hand, Water Pennies are tolerant of water pollution.  Finding many Water Pennies and not the more sensitive species means you have poor water quality.