Garrett County Math/Science Partnership Project

FIELD BIOLOGY RESEARCH PROJECT OUTLINE

Research Title and Researchers Name Introd ction !"b#ecti$es% &y'othesis% (re$io s )ork* Becoming Stewards of Cherry Creeks Schoolshed Liz Rees Gilbert

My students will engage in a phenology study of nearby Cherry Creek throughout the school year. We will discuss the meaning of stewardship and consider our role as stewards for Cherry Creek, located within our schoolshed. On October 9, 20 !, my " th# $th graders, led by regional fisheries manager %lan &lot' and his associate, participated in a (catch per unit effort, or fish per hour of electrofishing) sur*ey of the fish and macroin*ertebrates of Cherry Creek. We collected samplings from two habitats downstream and upstream of a bridge due for reno*ation. We will conduct a leaf pack e+periment this winter to sample macroin*ertebrates found in packs of lea*es from different species of trees and will compare the species found in the leaf packs with those collected on October 9th. ,n the spring we will participate in a (catch per unit effort, or fish per hour of electrofishing ( sur*ey in the same two habitats studied on October 9th, in order to compare data from the different seasons. We chose the two habitats downstream and upstream of the bridge at -te 2 9 because the bridge reno*ation may affect the .uality of the habitats, and we want baseline information for comparison of the .uality of the habitats after the reno*ation is completed. /he two sites are our school0s closest access to Cherry Creek, which is also in the 1oughiogheny -i*er Watershed. We are curious about Cherry Creek0s role as a wildlife corridor in these two watersheds. We outfitted students in Cabelas high waders, hip boots, long-handle nets, and rubber gloves. DNRs staff used electroshock equip ent, buckets, clove oil, easuring board, and charts to easure and docu ent the species of fish and cra!fish collected in the sa pling. We used kick seines, buckets, " la inated #trea $acroinvertebrate charts, a large white sheet, ice cube tra!s, twee%ers, and agnified viewers for the field investigation of acroinvertebrates. We used DNRs #trea &abitat 'ssess ent (ield Data #heet to anal!%e our data and draw conclusions to rate the qualit! of the two habitats. )his led to a discussion of potential restoration pro*ects. We carried field guides, drinking water, first aid supplies and sunscreen to the site as well. , ha*e applied for a 2 300 grant for further study of Cherry Creek and a restoration pro4ect from the Maryland 5tate 6epartment of 7ducation 5choolshed Mini#8rant 9rogram, funded by Chesapeake :ay ;oundation. /he M59 7<%: %cademy has pro*ided e.uipment and materials.

St dy +rea ,escri'tion -ethods and -aterials

(otential So rces of f nding and (rofessional S ''ort Res lts and ,isc ssion

)he ain li iting factors of the two habitats were a high water te perature due to the lack of native vegetation on the tall banks and turbidit! due to erosion fro the lack of vegetation on the banks. 't the downstrea site we observed little cobble or logs and ore sinking areas. #hallow pools, runs and a riffle were present. )he banks were unstable and less than +,- of the banks were covered with vegetation. 'lan indicated two new species of fish were collected. Central #tone Roller and Red (in /ickerel. #even fish species were collected for a total of 01 during the hour of electrofishing. $ore than ,2 benthic acroinvertebrates were collected representing 10 different ta3a. $acroinvertebrates were abundant, though no #toneflies, and the fish were do inant. We also observed a 4reat 5lue &eron fl!ing over the creek, a 6ingfisher nesting hole, raccoon tracks. #peckled 'lder was the ost prevalent wood! shrub and above the banks was an abundance of native wildflowers. )he 5iological Condition Categor! of

the downstrea

site was 7#lightl! 8 paired.9

)he upstrea site *ust a few !ards awa! was a re arkabl! different habitat. )here were no cobble, no logs, but nu erous sinking areas: it was a ostl! channeli%ed deep pool. )he banks were also unstable with less than +,- covered b! vegetation, but upstrea there was a little ore shade fro 'spen )rees reaching over the creek. on the southern side: the bank was own and onl! one foot high on the northern side. We found + new species, according to 'lan. Rock 5ass and 5lacknose Dace. We collected + Central #tone Rollers with 5lack #pot Disease, a parasite that favors a higher water te perature. )here was a greater nu ber of fish here than downstrea , with the White #ucker do inant. (ive species for a total of ;2 fish were collected during the hour of electrofishing. No $ottled #culpin were present. $acroinvertebrates were few in nu ber at 1<, but rated co on and fish were do inant. =nl! " different ta3a were collected. $idges, which are tolerant of fair-qualit! water were the ost abundant acroinvertebrates. ' flock of geese nurtured b! an e plo!ee of the landowner inhabits this area. )here are fewer wildflowers on the bank, since it is owed to the edge of the bank. )he 5iological Condition Categor! of the upstrea site was 7$oderatel! i paired.9

Concl sions
Compared to the moderately impaired upstream habitat, the slightly impaired downstream habitat is shallower, rockier, and the creek bed is firmer. We sank deeper in the creek bed upstream of the -te 2 9 bridge. =pstream the water passed through fewer riffles, was less o+ygenated, held fewer numbers of species but had more of those few different species. ,t also harbored a parasite that was not collected downstream a few yards away from the deep pool upstream. %lan helped students discern solutions that could be achie*ed with restoration efforts, which would help us become better stewards of Cherry Creek, per the permission of landowners on either side of the creek. /hey could include adding riffles to increase o+ygen in the water, planting trees abo*e the bank to reduce water temperature and increase bank stability, and to add cobble to reduce erosion of the creek bed. '. 6lot%, >personal co unication, =ctober ?, +210@ Klotz, Alan. "To Calculate Catch per Unit Effort." N.p., n.d.

References

StreamHealth Map. Maryland Department of Natural Re ource , n.d. !e". #$ %ct. #&'(.