Pre-dredging assessment of aquatic macroinvertebrates from Sharon Lake and Creek, Cincinnati, Ohio
Start Date
2023 4:00 PM
Location
Alter Hall Poster Session 1 - 2nd floor
Abstract
Dams can serve a multitude of purposes for humans including water storage and flood control. However, dams can also have negative cascading impacts on the surrounding ecosystem. One impact is sedimentation, where reduced water flow can increase the accumulation of benthic sediment. Nutrients can also accumulate leading to eutrophication, affecting organismal and ecosystem health. In order to improve water and ecosystem quality, dredging can occur to remove benthic sediments. The main objective of this study was to characterize the macroinvertebrate community above and below a dam prior to substrate dredging. This study was conducted in Sharon Lake and Creek near Cincinnati, Ohio, in fall 2022, before dredging activities in 2023. Macroinvertebrates were collected at three stream sites, one upstream and two downstream of the dam, and two wetland sites, both upstream of the dam in the reservoir. All macroinvertebrate samples were sorted and identified to family level, and functional feeding groups were assigned. Multiple macroinvertebrate attributes were calculated to assess baseline conditions before dredging and to compare post-dredging impacts over multiple years. Preliminary stream results indicate higher macroinvertebrate abundance and lower evenness upstream compared to downstream. Upstream samples were dominated by Hydropsychiidae (Trichoptera) and Chironomidae (Diptera). Wetland samples had higher diversity, including more Crustacea and Mollusca. Overall, this study will provide park and project managers insight into dredging impacts and help in future management and restoration efforts in this watershed.
Pre-dredging assessment of aquatic macroinvertebrates from Sharon Lake and Creek, Cincinnati, Ohio
Alter Hall Poster Session 1 - 2nd floor
Dams can serve a multitude of purposes for humans including water storage and flood control. However, dams can also have negative cascading impacts on the surrounding ecosystem. One impact is sedimentation, where reduced water flow can increase the accumulation of benthic sediment. Nutrients can also accumulate leading to eutrophication, affecting organismal and ecosystem health. In order to improve water and ecosystem quality, dredging can occur to remove benthic sediments. The main objective of this study was to characterize the macroinvertebrate community above and below a dam prior to substrate dredging. This study was conducted in Sharon Lake and Creek near Cincinnati, Ohio, in fall 2022, before dredging activities in 2023. Macroinvertebrates were collected at three stream sites, one upstream and two downstream of the dam, and two wetland sites, both upstream of the dam in the reservoir. All macroinvertebrate samples were sorted and identified to family level, and functional feeding groups were assigned. Multiple macroinvertebrate attributes were calculated to assess baseline conditions before dredging and to compare post-dredging impacts over multiple years. Preliminary stream results indicate higher macroinvertebrate abundance and lower evenness upstream compared to downstream. Upstream samples were dominated by Hydropsychiidae (Trichoptera) and Chironomidae (Diptera). Wetland samples had higher diversity, including more Crustacea and Mollusca. Overall, this study will provide park and project managers insight into dredging impacts and help in future management and restoration efforts in this watershed.
