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Talina retrieving a sample.
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Macroinvertebrate Monitoring along Paradise Creek
Paradise Creek is located in the Palouse River hydrologic basin of
Idaho and Washington. It drains through agricultural, forestry and
human activity areas, which has resulted in poor water quality
throughout the basin. In 1991 PCEI began managing restoration projects
along Paradise Creek, but had limited funding to monitor the effects of
restoration efforts.
Past macroinvertebrate monitoring along Paradise Creek has indicated
that the creek is still in an unhealthy condition, even though PCEI has
put forth efforts to restore the habitat along the creek in the hopes to
improve the water quality.
Talina Gossen decided to
focus her CAP project on replicating the past study as close as
possible to see if there have been any improvements since the last
study.
With the help of Steve Wells from EcoAnalyst and Fred Rabe, former UI
Professor, Talina was able to collect sample throughout Paradise Creek
and ID the macros. Steve spent a considerable amount of time sorting
and identifying the samples and will spend some time doing statistical
analysis to see what the final assessment indicates. With the help of
Lee Anne Eareckson with the Moscow High School, Talina gave a
presentation to her advanced biology class and also had them help sort
one of the macro samples. Talina hopes that the students will begin
thinking more about how they can have an impact on the water quality of
Paradise Creek and that her CAP will help educate them about this issue
that is very present in their community.
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A sample of midges.
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