Biological Assessment of Rock Creek
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Camille McNeely
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
Understanding stream health is essential for monitoring ecosystem function and informing conservation efforts. This study presents a biological assessment of Rock Creek, located in Spokane County, Washington, to evaluate its water quality and habitat condition. Water chemistry, physical habitat, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities were analyzed to infer overall stream health. Five invertebrate samples were collected at two locations—upstream (pre-riffle) and downstream (post-riffle)—using a Surber sampler. Invertebrates were collected by flipping rocks and disturbing the substrate, then preserved in 90% ethanol for later identification. Water chemistry indicated elevated nutrient levels, including 5 ppm nitrate and 1.5 ppm phosphate, suggesting moderate eutrophication. The invertebrate community composition reflected an intermediate water quality score, with both pollution-sensitive and tolerant taxa. These results suggest that while Rock Creek exhibits some functional aquatic habitat, nutrient enrichment and other stressors may impact ecosystem integrity. Continued monitoring and potential restoration efforts may be needed to improve water quality and support a more diverse invertebrate community.
Recommended Citation
Gibson, Madeline, "Biological Assessment of Rock Creek" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 10.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/ps_2025/p1_2025/10
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Biological Assessment of Rock Creek
PUB NCR
Understanding stream health is essential for monitoring ecosystem function and informing conservation efforts. This study presents a biological assessment of Rock Creek, located in Spokane County, Washington, to evaluate its water quality and habitat condition. Water chemistry, physical habitat, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities were analyzed to infer overall stream health. Five invertebrate samples were collected at two locations—upstream (pre-riffle) and downstream (post-riffle)—using a Surber sampler. Invertebrates were collected by flipping rocks and disturbing the substrate, then preserved in 90% ethanol for later identification. Water chemistry indicated elevated nutrient levels, including 5 ppm nitrate and 1.5 ppm phosphate, suggesting moderate eutrophication. The invertebrate community composition reflected an intermediate water quality score, with both pollution-sensitive and tolerant taxa. These results suggest that while Rock Creek exhibits some functional aquatic habitat, nutrient enrichment and other stressors may impact ecosystem integrity. Continued monitoring and potential restoration efforts may be needed to improve water quality and support a more diverse invertebrate community.
