River Stewards Report
River Stewards Training- June 1st 2013 Gladwin Recreation Area 9am-2pm
Attendees:
Kate Schuster
Harley Holsinger
Mike Read
Bill Holler
Bill Pike
Dan Provost
Wes Alexander
Bruce Barlow
Kristin Thomas
Erin Quetell
Kristin Thomas from Michigan Trout Unlimited led a River Stewards Training at the Gladwin Recreation
Area for the Leon P. Martuch Chapter of TU. The training covered stream flow, habitat mapping, and
macro invertebrate collection and identification. Unfortunately, due to the high water levels, the
participants were unable to get in-stream practice; however, Kristin held a simulation in the grass using
the flow meter, range finder, and dip nets.
Here is an overview of the training by subject:
Flow
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Cold water streams depend on ground water to regulate temperature
o Keep the river cool in summer and warm in winter
Excessive ground water withdrawal can inhibit the natural ecosystem
Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool
o State of Michigan regulated tool
o Used to prevent adverse resource impact on the water withdrawal
o Estimate the effect of water withdrawal
o Based on a model through various sampling throughout the state
Information TU wishes to collect:
o Small streams and tributaries
o Cold-transitional streams
o Use the water withdrawal assessment tool and add to the existing information
When measuring flow it is important to:
o Choose a spot with consistent depth and flow in cross section
o Straight simple run, evaluating upstream and downstream for obstructions
o Divide stream into 20 sections
o Measure in the middle of each section
o <2.5 ft. deep measure at 60%
o >2.5 ft. deep measure 80% and 20%
o Flow meter accurate to 1 decimal place
o Measure for 40 seconds for each reading
o Use English scale ft./sec
o Depth of water must be at least 6 in deep
Stream Mapping
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Bedform structure: Run, Riffle and Pool
o Identify the bedform structure for each section monitored
Substrate evaluation: sand, silt, gravel, cobble and boulder
o Use % of area monitored
o Ex: 30% gravel, 40% cobble, 15% sand, 10% silt 5% boulder etc.
o Ideally the proportion of each substrate is relatively even
Fish habitat
o Deep water
 Cool pools
o Woody debris
 Overhang for protection
o Aquatic vegetation
 Areas for protection and macro-invertebrate habitat
Barriers to fish passage
o Ex: undersized culverts, misaligned culverts, log jams/heavy woody debris etc.
Road stream crossing issues
o Increased sediment input, undersized crossing, bank erosion due to crossing
Erosion issues
o Along river bank, near road-stream crossings, blow outs etc.
Macro Invertebrate Collection and Identification
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Use a dip net (D-net) for macro invert collections
Identify species based on pollution sensitivity
o Very Sensitive
 Species include:
 Caddisfly larvae
 Mayfly nymph
 Stonefly nymph
o Sensitive
 Species include:
 Water mite
 Damselfly nymph
 Dragon fly nymph
o Tolerant
 Species include:
 Flat worm
 Freshwater shrimp
o Very Tolerant
 Species include:
 Midge larvae
 Mosquito larvae
 Snails whose shell opens to the left
** There are more macro invertebrates that span the levels of pollution sensitivity, the ones listed are
the most commonly found**