Welcome to
The Dunkard Creek
Watershed Association stream study page
April 26,
2008: Dunkard Creek Watershed Association conducted its
first benthic survey in Jakes Run with the help of West Virginia
University senior John Harshbarger, who is working with our nonprofit
organization as part of his capstone course that requires community
service.We conducted two surveys of one square meter each, one in a fast-moving and one in a slower-moving riffle. We used identification charts from the Izaak Walton League's Save Our Streams program.
The fast-moving riffle (Site 1) was more productive and diverse. It produced several organisms, some of which are sensitive to pollution: waterpennies, fishfly larva, riffle beetles, horsefly, stonefly and mayfly larvae, one crayfish, 7 tiny white eggs (fish?), 2 minnows not ID'd, small worms. No gastropods (snails) were found.
At Site 2 were five crayfish, three mayflies, one fish, two small clams and 19 tiny eggs in which minute organisms could be seen.
Running its entire length in West Virginia, Jakes Run is a major tributary of Dunkard Creek. From the information gathered during this stream survey, it is safe to conclude that the stream is relatively unpolluted and healthy, even though there are bound to be sewage outflows and animal feces in the stream over its considerable length.
In the photos:
John Harshbarger and Vanessa Price are shown conducting the survey (above) and a captured mayfly larva is shown (at the right).
