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How Benthic Macroinvertebrates Are a Good Indicator of Stream Health

CSEF · 2026 Earth & Environmental Sciences (Track 2) (Junior Division)

Quetzal Heacock

Overview

My project was to determine if stormwater discharge can impact the water quality in Widow White Creek. I collected benthic macroinvertebrates upstream and downstream of a storm drain, as a biological indicator for water quality. I sampled to the EPT index (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera). The upstream site had significantly more benthic macroinvertebrates than the downstream site. There were more individuals and it was more diverse at the upstream site. The downstream site had less on all of my sampling days. I found the percent EPT, taxa richness, and the Family Biotic Index for my analysis. In conclusion, is that storm drain discharge has a large impact on Widow White Creek.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2026 Earth & Environmental Sciences (Track 2) (Junior Division) · Entry J-09-08

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