Maine Audubon is seeking volunteers passionate about exploring nature, walking through streams, and safeguarding water quality for its community science project investigating water quality and stream health. Volunteers had the opportunity to collect stream samples in June 2022.
In collaboration with the Trout Unlimited Merrymeeting Bay chapter, Maine Audubon is seeking volunteers to assist in sampling Frost Gully Brook. The study aims to identify the presence of sensitive, moderately sensitive, and tolerant macroinvertebrates in the water after dam removal. Last summer, the final of three dams obstructing the Frost Gully Brook system was dismantled, restoring the tributary that feeds the Harraseeket River, which eventually flows into Casco Bay.
Participants will be part of teams of three or four, collecting samples at a specific location in Freeport over the upcoming year. Maine Audubon will provide comprehensive training, including the necessary equipment, maps of survey streams, data forms, and detailed instructions. In-person training will be held on May 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Selene’s Fly Shop in Gardiner. Advance registration is required at maineaudubon.org/events. Alternatively, an online training option is available, consisting of two videos accessible at maineaudubon.org/projects/stream-explorers/. For any inquiries, please contact hyoung@maineaudubon.org.
The data gathered by these community scientists will contribute to a better understanding of water quality and the overall health of streams and rivers. According to Maine Audubon, macroinvertebrates are valuable indicators of environmental changes. Certain species necessitate cold, clean water and optimal habitats, while others can survive in warmer, polluted water or subpar habitats. Thus, the presence or absence of specific species provides valuable information about both water quality and the ecological well-being of a stream.
Macroinvertebrates also play a vital role as a food source for various aquatic and semi-aquatic species, forming the foundation of the stream food web. A scarcity of insects in a stream can disrupt the entire food web.
