Invertebrate Sampling and Stocking
The scouring floods of 2009 reduced the diversity of aquatic
invertebrates within the upper reaches of spillway Creek. The
flood removed the majority of the invertebrate population, i.e.
mayflies and stoneflies etc., that once inhabited the area and
the reduction in cobble created conditions for extremely slow
colonization of a valuable food resource in the upper reaches of
Spillway Creek.
After completion of the habitat project on spillway creek, the
addition of cobble coupled with a reduction of stream speed made
for an ideal condition to attempt a transplant of
macro-invertebrates from areas downstream back into Spillway
Creek. With the assistance of Rob Woodruff and many volunteers
for the Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation we captured
multiple kick-net hauls of mayflies, stoneflies, caddis flies
and many other species of invertebrates from Zone II and
transplanted them in to the upper structures of Spillway creek.
In the coming years we will continue to monitor the invertebrate
populations and record the success of supplementing the
invertebrate populations.
