CDPHE Invert Protocols
| Protocol Name | Collection and Preservation of Benthic Macroinvertebrates | |
|---|---|---|
| Citation Information | CDPHE, 2010, Collection and Preservation of Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Appendix to Policy 2010-1, CO Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division, WQCDSOP-001. | |
| Title | Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling Protocols | |
| Author | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment | |
| Publication Year | 2010 | |
| Abstract | The use of benthic macroinvertebrates for assessing and monitoring the condition of lotic systems has become increasingly widespread and acceptable in the domain of Colorado’s water quality standards setting. Macroinvertebrates are particularly suitable indicators of the condition of lotic systems as they are found in almost all freshwater environments, are easy to sample and identify, and different taxa show varying degrees of sensitivity to pollution and other impacts. The recent advent of statewide multimetric indices or the “bioassessment indicator tool” necessitates supplementary macroinvertebrate data from which to support the use of this indicator tool within the Water Quality Control Division’s assessment methodology.
This standard operation procedure describes semi-quantitative methods for collecting a single aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate sample from perennial, wadeable streams. Perennial is defined as a well-defined channel that contains water year round during a year of normal rainfall with the aquatic bed located below the water table for most of the year. A perennial stream exhibits the typical biological, hydrological, and physical characteristics commonly associated with the continuous conveyance of water. Wadeable is defined as a waterbody that can be safely traversed when collecting samples. Separate protocols are provided for hard-bottomed and soft-bottomed streams. Benthic macroinvertebrate data collected on unwadeable large rivers or intermittent type streams are beyond the scope of this procedure. | |
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