Yet another great day for sampling for aquatic insects in the Winnicut River was had on Wednesday, September 14th. Exeter volunteer David Loch assisted WRWC project director Jean Eno (perhaps the other way around!), and Andy Gould from the Coastal Program also helped.
Biotic scores will be posted as soon as the data sheets are completed. These scores are indicative of the kinds of insects found during sampling, with values assigned to certain insects having various tolerances to polluted water conditions. We found some insects that are somewhat intolerant of polluted water, which is a good thing, but while a positive consideration at first glance, it would have been more reassuring if we had found insects that are outright intolerant of unhealthy water.
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| Exeter volunteer David Loch collects the day's bucket of water for holding the 5 samples that will be collected via kicknet. He is just downstream of the bridge on Winnicut Rd. in Stratham, NH. |
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| This little branch of the Winnicut main stem has just the right depth and riffling for our purposes! |
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| The bridge is hard to see here, but it runs right to left near the top of the photo. So, looking upstream. |
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| Facing upstream. Winnicut Rd. bridge in Stratham. Notice the old timbers from the former grist mill that once stood at this location. |
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| "Scrubbing" for bugs! The flow of the water pushes insects and debris scrubbed off the rocks straight into the net. After 30+ seconds of scrubbing by hand, one volunteer will then use their feet for kicking up gravel, which also helps send insects into the net. |
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| The flow from the left (immediately to David's left) and the flow from the right (over by where the bucket sits) are the result of a secondary culvert next to the bridge which splits the main stem for a brief time. |
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| Once under the bridge and through the culvert, the river returns to one stem. Here, the camera is facing downstream from the Winnicut Rd. bridge in Stratham, NH |
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