Habitat & Biology 

Habitat Assessment

This training enables you to assess your stream's ability to support aquatic life through adequate habitat in the stream corridor. We strongly encourage our samplers to complete this assessment annually to track any changes to habitat.  Sometime between the May and July Sampling events is a good time to do it!

Biological assessment

This training enables you to collect and identify macroinvertebrate creatures in your stream to help you further understand your stream’s quality.  Some organisms can tolerate more pollution, and others are more sensitive.  The presence or absence of certain macroinvertebrates tells you about longer term water quality conditions than the “snapshot” conditions of one-time sampling results. 

Simplified Biological Assessment Approach (NEW as of 2022)


Advanced Biological Assessment Approach (based on USEPA protocol)