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The Toccoa Bugs

The Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of TU has several members who are volunteers with Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. Under this EPD-sponsored program, participants periodically monitor the stream of their choice, collecting data to determine present water quality and to compile base-line data so that future changes in water quality can be noted. The monitoring procedures include such things as physical examination of the stream and riparian zone and analysis to measure turbidity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and others. Some of these tests are as simple as sticking a thermometer in the water and then taking a reading. Other tests, for example those to determine the presence fecal coli form bacteria, can involve laboratory procedures. Combined, all this data provides the basis for determining a stream's water quality.

Entomologists (bug scientists) have also found that a good indicator of a stream’s water quality is the macro invertebrates that are present. These critters -- insects, aquatic worms, snails, crawfish and such -- have a broad range of tolerance for less than ideal water quality. Some species like stoneflys only live in clean, highly oxygenated water while on the other end of the spectrum, midges can survive in the muck on the bottom of stagnant water.

Various systems have been devised whereby species are assigned numerical ratings based on their tolerance to pollution, then the species in a waterway can be observed and a water quality rating calculated from what is found. Some invertebrate monitoring systems are quite complex and involve identifying the organisms to the species level and determining populations counts for each and the bio-mass for the stream (this is work for an entomologist). Others are more layman-oriented and deal with the invertebrates on the family level. One of the most widely used invertebrate monitoring systems was developed by the Isaac Walton League. This is what the Hiwasee TU chapter over in Tennessee uses when they do their monthly monitoring at Reliance. The public is invited to observe these programs which are led by Don Denny. Don is most knowledgeable on the Hiwassee River and maintains an informative website giving all sorts of information on that river. Check out http://hiwassee.net/  for information on the Appalachia tailwater and if you get an opportunity to attend one of the bug sampling sessions, you'll learn something there and might have a chance to fish with Don afterwards when you can be guaranteed you'll learn a lot about that fishery.

Another macro invertebrate testing protocol is the one devised by the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program. Two Blue Ridge TU chapter members (who have completed the macroinvetebrate training) monitor a section of the Toccoa River tailwater. Paul Mailman and John Pool presented a program to TU chapter members and guests on biological monitoring procedures and then led the group in taking samples from the river, identifying what was found and completing the Adopt-A-Stream rating forms.

A wide assortment of critters turned up in the seine nets including: caddisfly, hellgrammite, mayfly, stonefly, cranefly, crawfish, damselfly, scuds, sowbugs, fish fly, aquatic worms, midge, snails.

As most Toccoa regulars might guess, an assortment of mayfly nymphs and cased caddis larva were plentiful with plenty of the little stonefly species present too. However, it was surprising that the most numerous invertebrate this day was sowbugs. Among the other interesting critters that showed themselves to the 24 bug sampling participants were some that would provide a mouth-full for a big brown: a full-grown hellgrammite, a juicy cranefly larva, a 3-inch aquatic worm, a giant black stonefly larva, and a crawfish that wasn't particularly happy to be in the specimen tray.

Along with helping Georgia Adopt-A-Stream compile water quality data, the invertebrate samplings are of interest to trout fishers in that they give an indication of what the fish might be eating and what fly might work. Since the bug collecting session, we've heard reports from Unicoi Outfitters in Blue Ridge that one of the program participants has been by for crawdad patterns and another buying materials to tie up sowbugs.

When Paul Mailman complied the macroinvetebrate sampling results on the form he'll submit to Adopt-A-Stream, the Toccoa rated "excellent".  The samplings are conducted on a quarterly basis by the "Hogback Boys" (the name of this Adopt-A-Stream team) and Paul Mailman, Jay Campbell and John Pool invite anyone interested to join them. Also Chapter member Mike Maginn does sampling on the Upper Toccoa for those who might want to observe there. For more about the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program (including a macro invertebrate guide and other information) visit http://www.riversalive.org/aas.htm