I'm looking for best methods for collecting BURROWING macros from a river bed. I have a Hester-Dendy sampler, but my interest lies deeper, pun very much intended.
In exploring the pore water of the river (the zone where groundwater seeps up into the river's surface water) to get a sense of the presence/absence/concentrations of certain pollutants, I am choosing to look at the macros instead of trying to sample the pore water itself. Essentially, as a volunteer grassroots organization with a null budget, I need to focus on those methods that will be cost-effective, engage the public, and produce meaningful results. "Interviewing" the macro population in the target zone seems to hit all those requirements to an acceptable extent. To wit, should I be digging with a shovel? Seems very "gross" and crude in terms of damaging the organisms. I have a couple of D-nets for kick samples, but would I be able to dig deep enough to collect a decent sample of macros? Other suggestions that might require DIY hand-tools? Many thanks, Kelly Stettner, Director Black River Action Team Springfield VT
