Macroinvertebrates as an Indicator of Water Quality in White Clay Creek

• Alex Ei

  Juniata College

  Author

Since the late 1800s, Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams have been stocked with trout to boost recreational opportunities and supplement wild populations. In 2015, PFBC started the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters Program to create enhanced trout fishing opportunities in every region, selecting the Middle Branch of White Clay Creek as part of the program for the Southeast region. Streams that enter the program should be able to support trout populations of 250 per mile or more. This study focused on whether the water quality of White Clay Creek’s Middle Branch exceeded that of its East Branch and main stem. This study calculated species richness, EPT index, and pollution tolerance index to determine water quality in the main stem, Middle Branch and East Branch. EPT index revealed no significant difference, but species richness data revealed a difference between the main stem and East Branch as well as between the Middle Branch and East Branch. Pollution tolerance index was lowest at the East Branch indicating poorer water quality. However, no difference could be drawn from the data between the Middle Branch and main stem.

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