Assessment of Little Paint Branch in (2019-2020) Aleeya Scott & Delmy Vargas Funding provided by NSF Grant High Point High School, Beltsville, Maryland OIA‐1556770 Mentor: Prof. GlendaAlmodóvar-Morales Introduction: Stream health is important and provides multiple benefits to all of us, so it is beneficial that we make sure it is healthy. The purpose Data Results of this investigation was to conduct a stream assessment in River Dynamics Beltsville, Maryland. The stream that the researchers decided to check is called Little Paint Branch. The reason why the researchers Macroinvertebrates Water Chemistry picked this stream, is because it is near from where they live and it has an impact on our lives, so it would be nice to know if it is River Flow Data healthy or not. The way that they conducted the assessment was Average cross-Sectional Area 2.175 by collecting data from the stream between August 2019 and m2 February 2020. Each time they went, the researchers collected three water samples from different areas located in the stream. Length of Stream Reach 16 m Site Description: Coefficient 0.8 m With 22.5 km of length the Little Paint Branch flow through Prince George and Montgomery Counties in Maryland. Little Paint Branch Travel Time 52.144 originates in the vicinity of Burtonsville, MD and flows in a southerly sec direction to the , and the DiscussionFlow of the results: 0.534 . The most abundant macroinvertebrate that the m3/sec researchers found was Psychomyiidae (Nettube Caddisflies). The As a result of the analysis of this investigation, the researcher recommend continue with long term assessment in the researchers found 7 species of Psychomyiidae(Nettube site. AR_LttlPntBrnch_118 Caddisflies), Planariidae (Thumbnail),Philopotamidae Stream Name: Little PaintBranch (Fingernet Caddisflies), and Elmidae (Riffle Beetle). These ● 39.01781, -76.9345 were the most abundant species in Little Paint Branch. These species were mostly found in healthy quality due to Methodology the fact that these organisms are moderately sensitive. Most abundant The average in pH Little Paint Branch was 7.0. The average of dissolved oxygen was 9.5 ppm and the average ammonia Stream Site GeneralAssessment Macroinvertebrates was 0.1 ppm. The range of thalweg depth upstream was an average of 11.8 cm. The range of thalweg depth downstream was an average of 18.8 cm. With this data, the researchers were able to conclude that the investigation helped to do a water quality stream assessment and identify diversity of the macroinvertebrates Psychomyiidae Philopotamidae (Nettube Caddisflies) (Fingernet Caddisflies) found in Little Paint Branch as indicators to determine the quality of the stream. In the future steps of this first year of Macroinvertebrates & research, they recommend doing more quality assessment to monitor the anthropogenic effects during a long period of time. water sampling

Elmidae (Riffle Planariidae Acknowledgements: Beetle) (Thumbnail) We give special thanks to: Veronica Sosa-Gonzalez, Coordinator VT EPSCoR CWDD Janel Roberge, Education & Outreach Liaison VT EPSCoR CWDD LeeAnn Trusela, VT EPSCoR CWDD Project Manager Water Chemistry Babu George, HPHS Science Dept. Coordinator Nicole Isley-McClure, High Point HS Principal Noelia Báez, Prog. Coord. LTER Schoolyard Average of Dissolved Oxygen, pH and Ammonia We are grateful to St. Michael’s College, Vermont EPSCoR, BREE, between December 2019 and February 2020 CWDD, NSF for helping in our research.

Identification References: • Aquatic macroinvertebrates identification key Dissolved Oxygen 9.5 ppn https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ARqjeOILzIC8PwWMSf4HTBuMsJeJZGyEqB & analysisof nBlyoR4k8/edit • Bouchard, R. W. (2004). Guide to aquatic invertebrates of the upper macro Midwest:Identification Manual for students, citizen monitors, and aquatic resource pH 7 professionals. University of Minnesota. invertebrates • Little Paint Branch Watershed Study https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/Resources/Files/ReportsandPublications /Water/Watershed%20studies/Anacostia/Little-Paint-Branch-Watershed-study-97.pdf • VT EPCoR, (n.d.) Research Manual for High School Teams 2019-2020 – The Stream Ammonia 0.1 ppm Project Research, from https://epscor.w3.uvm.edu/2/node/899#macroinvertebrates