link to the stream biological monitoring main page

environmental information > stream biological monitoring > state network >

Ambient stream biological monitoring site

Chuckanut Cr @ Aroyo Park

Photo of stream from sample site

Site details

project Ambient ecoregion Puget Lowland
latitude 48.70285 county Whatcom
latitude -122.4840 land use reference site
elevation (ft) 55 reference site True
stream order 2 map link

Years when sampling has occurred:

2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998

Site comment:

Selected as one of ten core reference sites to be monitored annually starting in 2002.
For explanation on this site summary and any visit report below, see site summary and visit report keys.

Site visit reports:

Chuckanut Cr @ Aroyo Park

Habitat measurements and taxa metrics - September 30, 2003

Note: A key is available for this visit report. For background on ambient monitoring protocol and ambient taxa metrics, see, respectively, Benthic Macroinvertebrate Biological Monitoring Protocols for Rivers and Streams: 2001 Revision and Multi-Metric Index Development for Biological Monitoring in Washington State Streams.

Visit comment

Sculpins present in channel; Very low flow this year.

Habitat: stream chemistry, temperature, and flow

temperature
(deg C)
dis o winkler
(mg/L)
stream flow
(CFS)
pH
(pH)
conductivity
(umhos/cm)
 10.30.078.275

Habitat: dimensions, gradient, velocity, and canopy

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
wetted
width
(m)
stream
gradient
(%)
sample
area
(m^2)
RPD
(m)
middepth
velocity
(FS)
max
depth
(m)
Dp
(m)
canopy
(%)
bottom
velocity
(FS)
bankfull
width
(m)
avg
depth
(m)
DKICKriffle14.44.00  1.30.05 0.061.39.20.05
DKICKriffle22.63.00  0.30.07 0.100.312.40.07
DKICKriffle31.13.50  0.50.10 0.190.55.70.08
DKICKriffle44.27.00  0.90.06 0.120.77.30.05

Habitat: substrate

loc
no
otherwoodsilt
clay
sandfine
gravel
coarse
gravel
cobbleboulderbedrock
rough
bedrock
smooth
1   6%16%44%34%   
2   4%18%18%60%   
3   8%26%40%22%  4%
4   4%38%30%36%8% 4%

Habitat: pebble counts

loc
no
<2mm2-4mm4-6mm6-8mm8-11mm11-16mm16-22mm22-32mm32-45mm45-64mm64-90mm90-128mm128-180mm180-256mm256-512mm>=512mm
1                
2                
3                
4                

Taxa: RIVPACS score

RIVPACS not available.

Taxa: composition

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentEPT
(%)
ephem
(%)
chiron
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited67%36%2%

Taxa: richness

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentTrichop
richness
(count)
total
richness
(count)
Plecop
richness
(count)
EPT
richness
(count)
Ephem
richness
(count)
DKICKriffle0field composited8
(5)
38
(5)
7
(5)
2510
(5)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: tolerance

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentTV3
richness
(count)
temp
pref
avg
(score)
HBI
(score)
BiTol
richness
(count)
tv7
(%)
top3
(%)
BiTol
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited1811.713313%
(5)
35%
(5)
5%

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: trophic/habit

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentsv
richness
(count)
clinger
richness
(count)
scrapers
(%)
predators
(%)
filterers
(%)
clingers
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited5
(3)
1524%9%
(1)
9%45%
(3)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: sample results (individuals-per-square-meter estimates)

sample #2057

habitat typelocation no.sampler typesample area (m^2)
riffle (composite sample) DKICK 0.76
taxon id     	taxon name          	density (m^2)	% of total
------------------------------------------------------------------
68510        	Enchytraeidae       	    108      	   12.7
100572       	Rhithrogena sp.     	     96      	   11.3
102594       	Z. cinctipes        	     89      	   10.5
115453       	Hydropsyche sp.     	     76      	    9.0
100557       	Cinygmula sp.       	     55      	    6.5
101187       	Paraleptophlebia sp.	     47      	    5.5
114167       	Heterlimnius sp.    	     41      	    4.8
100666       	Ironodes sp.        	     36      	    4.2
114093       	Elmidae             	     32      	    3.8
101233       	Ephemerella sp.     	     26      	    3.1
100817       	B. tricaudatus      	     26      	    3.1
53964        	Turbellaria         	     25      	    2.9
82754        	Acarina             	     24      	    2.8
103202       	Chloroperlidae      	     20      	    2.4
115097       	Rhyacophila sp.     	     14      	    1.6
117159       	Glossosoma sp.      	     13      	    1.5
95081        	Crangonyx           	     13      	    1.5
103273       	Sweltsa grp.        	     12      	    1.4
116794       	Lepidostoma sp.     	     12      	    1.4
102643       	Capniidae           	      9      	    1.1
115153       	R. Sibirica grp. - b	      8      	    0.9
100626       	Epeorus sp.         	      7      	    0.8
100996       	Ameletus sp.        	      7      	    0.8
114142       	Narpus sp.          	      7      	    0.8
128978       	Parametriocnemus    	      5      	    0.6
136305       	Chelifera sp.       	      5      	    0.6
117044       	Polycentropus sp.   	      4      	    0.5
129657       	Polypedilum         	      4      	    0.5
102986       	C. californica      	      3      	    0.4
81388        	Pisiidae            	      3      	    0.4
101368       	D. doddsi           	      3      	    0.4
102972       	H. pacifica         	      3      	    0.4
129890       	Micropsectra        	      3      	    0.4
129197       	Tvetenia            	      3      	    0.4
126629       	Thaumalea sp.       	      1      	    0.1
129746       	Stenochironomus     	      1      	    0.1
568598       	D. hageni           	      1      	    0.1
129086       	Rheocricotopus      	      1      	    0.1
128477       	Brillia             	      1      	    0.1
P622         	R. Betteni grp.     	      1      	    0.1
P630         	R. Brunnea grp.     	      1      	    0.1
Z690         	Thienemannimyia Gr. 	      1      	    0.1
Y820         	Eukiefferiella Pseud	      1      	    0.1
102840       	Leuctridae          	      1      	    0.1

Chuckanut Cr @ Aroyo Park

Habitat measurements and taxa metrics - July 11, 2002

Note: A key is available for this visit report. For background on ambient monitoring protocol and ambient taxa metrics, see, respectively, Benthic Macroinvertebrate Biological Monitoring Protocols for Rivers and Streams: 2001 Revision and Multi-Metric Index Development for Biological Monitoring in Washington State Streams.

Visit comment

Just downstream from the Aroyo Cr. turnout

Habitat: stream chemistry, temperature, and flow

temperature
(deg C)
dis o winkler
(mg/L)
stream flow
(CFS)
pH
(pH)
conductivity
(umhos/cm)
14.89.70.867.9150

Habitat: dimensions, gradient, velocity, and canopy

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
wetted
width
(m)
stream
gradient
(%)
sample
area
(m^2)
RPD
(m)
middepth
velocity
(FS)
max
depth
(m)
Dp
(m)
canopy
(%)
bottom
velocity
(FS)
bankfull
width
(m)
avg
depth
(m)
DKICKriffle15.43.00  1.40.06 0.841.48.1 
DKICKriffle23.44.00  0.50.05 0.720.38.6 
DKICKriffle35.66.00  0.90.12 0.630.57.3 
DKICKriffle46.84.50  0.90.08 0.900.99.5 

Habitat: substrate

loc
no
otherwoodsilt
clay
sandfine
gravel
coarse
gravel
cobbleboulderbedrock
rough
bedrock
smooth
1   16%42%36%6%   
2   10%24%54%12%   
3   6%6%48%26%14%  
4    20%52%26%2%  

Habitat: pebble counts

loc
no
<2mm2-4mm4-6mm6-8mm8-11mm11-16mm16-22mm22-32mm32-45mm45-64mm64-90mm90-128mm128-180mm180-256mm256-512mm>=512mm
16%4%2%  2%4%18%22%20%10%10%2%   
26%2%2%  2%4%6%18%6%12%12%2%6%2%10%
3   2% 2% 2%8%18%12%16%12%8%8%12%
48%2%   4%8%4%16%16%10%8%4%8%6%6%

Taxa: RIVPACS score

RIVPACS not available.

Taxa: composition

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentEPT
(%)
ephem
(%)
chiron
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited29%22%48%

Taxa: richness

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentTrichop
richness
(count)
total
richness
(count)
Plecop
richness
(count)
EPT
richness
(count)
Ephem
richness
(count)
DKICKriffle0field composited6
(3)
38
(5)
7
(5)
207
(5)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: tolerance

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentTV3
richness
(count)
temp
pref
avg
(score)
HBI
(score)
BiTol
richness
(count)
tv7
(%)
top3
(%)
BiTol
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited1512.24538%
(5)
60%
(5)
5%

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: trophic/habit

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentsv
richness
(count)
clinger
richness
(count)
scrapers
(%)
predators
(%)
filterers
(%)
clingers
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited5
(3)
1515%5%
(1)
1%26%
(3)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: sample results (individuals-per-square-meter estimates)

sample #1835

habitat typelocation no.sampler typesample area (m^2)
riffle (composite sample) DKICK 0.76
taxon id     	taxon name          	density (m^2)	% of total
------------------------------------------------------------------
129657       	Polypedilum         	    254      	   35.3
129890       	Micropsectra        	     78      	   10.8
100557       	Cinygmula sp.       	     61      	    8.5
68510        	Enchytraeidae       	     53      	    7.4
114167       	Heterlimnius sp.    	     34      	    4.7
100817       	B. tricaudatus      	     32      	    4.5
100637       	E. longimanus       	     30      	    4.2
114093       	Elmidae             	     25      	    3.5
101368       	D. doddsi           	     24      	    3.3
82754        	Acarina             	     16      	    2.2
117159       	Glossosoma sp.      	     11      	    1.5
115153       	R. Sibirica grp. - b	      8      	    1.1
119656       	Antocha sp.         	      8      	    1.1
128978       	Parametriocnemus    	      8      	    1.1
103273       	Sweltsa grp.        	      8      	    1.1
136305       	Chelifera sp.       	      8      	    1.1
102591       	Zapada sp.          	      7      	    1.0
101399       	S. tibialis         	      5      	    0.7
59490        	Nematoda            	      5      	    0.7
102596       	Z. columbiana       	      5      	    0.7
100504       	Heptageniidae       	      4      	    0.6
102972       	H. pacifica         	      4      	    0.6
68440        	Lumbriculidae       	      4      	    0.6
P622         	R. Betteni grp.     	      3      	    0.4
126774       	Simulium sp.        	      3      	    0.4
129197       	Tvetenia            	      3      	    0.4
53964        	Turbellaria         	      3      	    0.4
102567       	Malenka sp.         	      1      	    0.1
117121       	Agapetus sp.        	      1      	    0.1
101187       	Paraleptophlebia sp.	      1      	    0.1
102994       	Perlodidae          	      1      	    0.1
103254       	Suwallia sp.        	      1      	    0.1
114142       	Narpus sp.          	      1      	    0.1
114205       	Zaitzevia sp.       	      1      	    0.1
116054       	N. rickeri          	      1      	    0.1
121027       	Dicranota sp.       	      1      	    0.1
128173       	Labrundinia         	      1      	    0.1
128477       	Brillia             	      1      	    0.1
129086       	Rheocricotopus      	      1      	    0.1
130915       	Glutops sp.         	      1      	    0.1
568515       	Cricotopus Isocladiu	      1      	    0.1
115453       	Hydropsyche sp.     	      1      	    0.1

Chuckanut Cr @ Aroyo Park

Habitat measurements and taxa metrics - September 15, 1999

Note: A key is available for this visit report. For background on ambient monitoring protocol and ambient taxa metrics, see, respectively, Benthic Macroinvertebrate Biological Monitoring Protocols for Rivers and Streams: 2001 Revision and Multi-Metric Index Development for Biological Monitoring in Washington State Streams.

Visit comment

1. Sculpin present near riffle 1; 2. Heavy moss growth on tops of boulders, and woody debris in the stream channel.

Habitat: stream chemistry, temperature, and flow

temperature
(deg C)
dis o winkler
(mg/L)
stream flow
(CFS)
pH
(pH)
conductivity
(umhos/cm)
11.410.10.557.9193

Habitat: dimensions, gradient, velocity, and canopy

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
wetted
width
(m)
stream
gradient
(%)
sample
area
(m^2)
RPD
(m)
middepth
velocity
(FS)
max
depth
(m)
Dp
(m)
canopy
(%)
bottom
velocity
(FS)
bankfull
width
(m)
avg
depth
(m)
DKICKriffle12.41.001.00 1.00.10 0.971.07.7 
DKICKriffle22.43.001.00 1.70.15 1.001.77.7 
DKICKriffle32.21.501.00 1.70.08 0.871.712.7 
DKICKriffle41.92.001.00 1.80.09 0.871.817.0 

Habitat: substrate

loc
no
otherwoodsilt
clay
sandfine
gravel
coarse
gravel
cobbleboulderbedrock
rough
bedrock
smooth
1   6%10%14%30%40%  
2   12%12%24%28%24%  
3   10%30%50%10%   
4   14%16%30%40%   

Taxa: RIVPACS score

RIVPACS (River InVertebrate Prediction and Classification System) is a model that predicts probabilities of aquatic invertebrates occurring in streams in Western Washington. The number of observed taxa (O) at a test site is divided by the expected taxa (E), yielding a ratio. A ratio of 1 indicates that all expected taxa are present. As a site becomes more degraded, fewer expected taxa are observed, yielding a smaller ratio. We are 90% confident that a ratio smaller than 0.86 is degraded relative to a reference condition.

RIVPACS score for this visit: 1.02

Taxa: composition

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentEPT
(%)
ephem
(%)
chiron
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited58%33%8%

Taxa: richness

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentTrichop
richness
(count)
total
richness
(count)
Plecop
richness
(count)
EPT
richness
(count)
Ephem
richness
(count)
DKICKriffle0field composited5
(3)
23
(3)
4
(3)
145
(3)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: tolerance

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commenttemp
pref
avg
(score)
TV3
richness
(count)
HBI
(score)
BiTol
richness
(count)
tv7
(%)
top3
(%)
BiTol
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited 11
(3)
4
(5)
0%3%53%5%
(5)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: trophic/habit

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentsv
richness
(count)
clinger
richness
(count)
scrapers
(%)
predators
(%)
filterers
(%)
clingers
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited5
(5)
12
(5)
25%3%34%63%
(5)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: sample results (individuals-per-square-meter estimates)

sample #1159

habitat typelocation no.sampler typesample area (m^2)
riffle (composite sample) DKICK 0.75
taxon id     	taxon name          	density (m^2)	% of total
------------------------------------------------------------------
126774       	Simulium sp.        	     96      	   23.1
100572       	Rhithrogena sp.     	     78      	   18.8
115453       	Hydropsyche sp.     	     44      	   10.6
100817       	B. tricaudatus      	     39      	    9.4
102594       	Z. cinctipes        	     39      	    9.4
127917       	Chironomidae        	     35      	    8.4
114167       	Heterlimnius sp.    	     19      	    4.6
100666       	Ironodes sp.        	     15      	    3.6
68422        	Oligochaeta         	     12      	    2.9
117159       	Glossosoma sp.      	     11      	    2.7
82754        	Acarina             	      5      	    1.2
103273       	Sweltsa grp.        	      4      	    1.0
P622         	R. Betteni grp.     	      2      	    0.5
53964        	Turbellaria         	      2      	    0.5
114142       	Narpus sp.          	      2      	    0.5
119660       	Antocha monticola   	      2      	    0.5
101226       	P. temporalis       	      2      	    0.5
115153       	R. Sibirica grp. - b	      2      	    0.5
101233       	Ephemerella sp.     	      2      	    0.5
102986       	C. californica      	      1      	    0.2
125392       	Maruina sp.         	      1      	    0.2
115530       	A. grandis          	      1      	    0.2
102972       	H. pacifica         	      1      	    0.2

Chuckanut Cr @ Aroyo Park

Habitat measurements and taxa metrics - September 9, 1998

Note: A key is available for this visit report. For background on ambient monitoring protocol and ambient taxa metrics, see, respectively, Benthic Macroinvertebrate Biological Monitoring Protocols for Rivers and Streams: 2001 Revision and Multi-Metric Index Development for Biological Monitoring in Washington State Streams.

Visit comment

moderately abundant Gerridae; fingerlings in pools; iron seep from hillside; Ecclisomyia sp. present; Glossosomatidae present.

Habitat: stream chemistry, temperature, and flow

temperature
(deg C)
dis o winkler
(mg/L)
stream flow
(CFS)
pH
(pH)
conductivity
(umhos/cm)
12.99.90.068.1242

Habitat: dimensions, gradient, velocity, and canopy

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
wetted
width
(m)
stream
gradient
(%)
sample
area
(m^2)
RPD
(m)
middepth
velocity
(FS)
max
depth
(m)
Dp
(m)
canopy
(%)
bottom
velocity
(FS)
bankfull
width
(m)
avg
depth
(m)
DKICKriffle14.93.501.00 0.60.05 0.900.611.7 
DKICKriffle24.93.501.00 0.80.05 0.680.811.7 
DKICKriffle35.12.501.00 0.20.09 0.900.111.4 
DKICKriffle45.42.501.00 1.00.06 0.931.010.9 

Habitat: substrate

loc
no
otherwoodsilt
clay
sandfine
gravel
coarse
gravel
cobbleboulderbedrock
rough
bedrock
smooth
1     34%66%   
2    4%22%72%2%  
3    4%16%50%30%  
4    6%16%64%14%  

Taxa: RIVPACS score

RIVPACS (River InVertebrate Prediction and Classification System) is a model that predicts probabilities of aquatic invertebrates occurring in streams in Western Washington. The number of observed taxa (O) at a test site is divided by the expected taxa (E), yielding a ratio. A ratio of 1 indicates that all expected taxa are present. As a site becomes more degraded, fewer expected taxa are observed, yielding a smaller ratio. We are 90% confident that a ratio smaller than 0.86 is degraded relative to a reference condition.

RIVPACS score for this visit: 0.94

Taxa: composition

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentEPT
(%)
ephem
(%)
chiron
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited44%15%31%

Taxa: richness

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentTrichop
richness
(count)
total
richness
(count)
Plecop
richness
(count)
EPT
richness
(count)
Ephem
richness
(count)
DKICKriffle0field composited4
(3)
26
(3)
2
(1)
148
(5)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: tolerance

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commenttemp
pref
avg
(score)
TV3
richness
(count)
HBI
(score)
BiTol
richness
(count)
tv7
(%)
top3
(%)
BiTol
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited 9
(3)
4
(5)
0%0%54%0%
(5)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: trophic/habit

samp
type
loc
type
loc
no
commentsv
richness
(count)
clinger
richness
(count)
scrapers
(%)
predators
(%)
filterers
(%)
clingers
(%)
DKICKriffle0field composited3
(3)
11
(3)
8%1%38%44%
(3)

Note: numbers in parentheses shows contribution to IBI score: 1 - poor; 3 - medium; 5 - good;

Taxa: sample results (individuals-per-square-meter estimates)

sample #1158

habitat typelocation no.sampler typesample area (m^2)
riffle (composite sample) DKICK 0.75
taxon id     	taxon name          	density (m^2)	% of total
------------------------------------------------------------------
126774       	Simulium sp.        	   1441      	   18.7
115398       	Hydropsychidae      	   1376      	   17.8
128457       	Orthocladiinae sp.  	   1355      	   17.6
129228       	Chironominae sp.    	    968      	   12.6
102591       	Zapada sp.          	    774      	   10.0
100800       	Baetis sp.          	    516      	    6.7
100626       	Epeorus sp.         	    238      	    3.1
100666       	Ironodes sp.        	    215      	    2.8
114167       	Heterlimnius sp.    	    109      	    1.4
126640       	Simuliidae          	    108      	    1.4
82754        	Acarina             	    108      	    1.4
101232       	Ephemerellidae      	     65      	    0.8
114093       	Elmidae             	     65      	    0.8
100504       	Heptageniidae       	     65      	    0.8
115097       	Rhyacophila sp.     	     46      	    0.6
115453       	Hydropsyche sp.     	     43      	    0.6
101095       	Leptophlebiidae     	     43      	    0.6
127917       	Chironomidae        	     43      	    0.6
125392       	Maruina sp.         	     22      	    0.3
119037       	Tipula sp.          	     22      	    0.3
127994       	Tanypodinae         	     22      	    0.3
117159       	Glossosoma sp.      	     22      	    0.3
100572       	Rhithrogena sp.     	     22      	    0.3
100557       	Cinygmula sp.       	     22      	    0.3
93773        	Gammarus sp.        	      1      	    0.0
102972       	H. pacifica         	      1      	    0.0

Download file containing all Ecology ambient stream biological monitoring data
Microsoft Access version 2000 format in ZIP archive, ~2 megabyte download

Questions or comments on content may be sent to George Onwumere
Questions or comments on presentation may be sent to Steve Barrett.

Ecology logo  Washington State Department of Ecology