Integrating Macroinvertebrate Community Analysis into the Management of Small Watersheds at the Township Level

Monitoring benthic communities in streams with small watersheds is useful for evaluating cumulative ecosystem impacts associated with changing land-use and can assist townships in managing for responsible development. Benthic sampling was conducted in the downstream reach of four Delaware River tributaries in Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, an area susceptible to increasing population density. The sampled streams originate in watersheds with varying land-use patterns and riparian areas, subjecting them to differing stressors. The macroinvertebrate communities sampled reflect variation in current land-uses and establish baseline conditions that can be utilized when implementing a water resources based approach that maintains natural resources and monitors the impacts of land-use changes on small watersheds. By combining benthic sampling with other measurements of biological, physical, and chemical components, this township is obtaining data that assists with protecting their water resources, consistent with water-based planning elements of its Comprehensive Plan. Comparisons are made to the existing baseline data on benthic communities in Delaware River tributaries located upstream and downstream of Solebury Township, where land is more and less developed. This analysis is being used to evaluate the priorities for more detailed assessments of the four sampled streams and determining a stream's ability to tolerate changing land-use.