Bioassessment of the Lawson's Fork

Here are some scenes from our first day (September 6, 2001) on the Lawson's Fork. We collected macroinvertebrates in order to characterize the "health" of the stream because the number and types of species present are valuable "bio-indicators" of water quality. We found the developmental stages of mayflies, dragonflies, stoneflies, and dobsonflies, as well as crayfish, clams and snails. Based on our assessment that day, the water quality of Lawson's Fork was "good" on a scale of poor, fair, good and excellent. Special thanks to Jeremy Pike, a graduate student at Clemson University, for sharing his expertise, time, and equipment with us!!

Stepping into the Lawson's Fork for the first time!		Jeremy Pike (right foreground), a graduate student at Clemson University, explains the sampling procedures that we will be using for the bioassay (Beth, Josh, Margaret, Kris and Prof. Lane listen in). Jeremy's thesis research includes conducting similar bioassays all along the Lawson's Fork watershed.
Ginny searches for the insect larvae that cling to rocks.		We disperse in groups to sample different areas.
Here Alan and Barry are digging through the nets to make sure nothing was overlooked, while Copeland (or is that Chris?) searches for critters that will be sorted by "similar species" into the wells of the ice cube tray at his feet.		Beth and Carter listen to Jeremy explain his research project.
Shiel discovers some mayfly 'larvae' in the leaf ltter as Dr. G. looks on.		Final sorting of our critters (by closely related species) into ice cube trays.

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