Kansas StreamLink Stream Assessments
Getting a Closer Look at Your Local Water System


measuring the river


a one person handheld kicknet

As part of the stream assessment, participants start out with a visual assessement, measuring the stream, getting a look at the banks, river flow etc.

Macroinvertebrates can tell a lot about water quality. To hunt these critters, we use hand nets and kicknets. They are then sorted and categorized, as having different varieties can show flourising or contaminated water.


a kicknet, consisting of a fine netting, two dowel rods and weights/floats


a kicknet in action: one or two people hold the dowels into the soil, while another walks and kicks upstream, stirring up the macros.

Afterwards, using hands and tweezers, the macroinvertebrates are dug out of the mesh.
 
Macroinvertebrates are identified on the Streamlink Macro sheet. To identifiy macroinvertebrates for yourself, check out the identification key at the Izaac Walton League of America
In the end, it's all about a good walk and taking a closer look.
Commonly found Macroinvertebrates
StoneFly Larvae
  • Found under stones and amongst debris
  • Finding stoneflies indicates good water quality
  • Predatory towards other insects and macroinvertibrates
  • Often found in riffles

Stonefly adult
Caddisfly Larvae
  • generally live at the bottom of flowing water in casings of debris and sediment
  • They eat algae, plants and microorganisms
  • Adults live for only a day or two
  • Larvae color can range from green and yellow to brown
  • Larvae tend to curl up when on a flat surface
 caddisfly adult
Mayfly Larvae
  • Young mayfly nymphs live in freshwater, and absorb oxygen from the water through their gills.
  • The adults fly.
  • They are only found in very clean water containing lots of oxygen.
  • They walk on the sediment, and occasionally swim.
  • They often hide under rocks.
  • They are herbovores, eating plants and algae
full grown Mayfly
Damselfly Larvae
  • The damselfly nymph is longer and more slender than the dragonfly nymph and has a tail with 3 filaments, each of which contains the gills that allow the nymph to breathe oxygen underwater. 
  • very predacious


damselfly adult


all images© StreamLink 2005

funded in part by U.S. EPA SECTION 319 GRANT provided by KANSAS DEPT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT