Save Our Streams - Project Heartbeat

WHAT IS PROJECT HEARTBEAT?
Project Heartbeat is Save Our Streams' volunteer stream monitoring program. It includes biological, chemical and physical monitoring of streams in Maryland.

WHEN IS PROJECT HEARTBEAT?
After an annual training, we take to the streams three seasons out of the year. During these seasons you may monitor as many streams as you like. (In addition, there are other activities that you may wish to become involved in - like lab identification of the collected macroinvertibre samples or serving on a committee dedicated to the enhancement of the project.)

WHERE IS PROJECT HEARTBEAT?
Stream sites across Maryland include Baltimore, Howard, Harford, Anne Arundel, and Prince George's Counties and Baltimore City.

WHAT ARE THE MONITORING TECHNIQUES?
There are several facets to the Project Heartbeat Stream Monitoring Program. They include:

Biological Monitoring: Learn how to assess the health of a stream by collecting and identifying the macro invertebrates (aquatic insect larva) found within it. To collect macro invertebrates, stream monitors "kick up" the stream bed and bottom sediments and collect these materials in a kick seine. The insects, then, are preserved and brought to the lab for identification. Based on the diversity and number of insects found at the stream, one can make a basic assessment of the stream's health at that point in the waterway.

Visual Habitat Assessment: Each time a sample is collected, a visual habitat assessment is also performed. The assessment looks at environmental factors within the stream bed, along the stream banks, and within the stream's flood plain.

Pebble Counts: Pebble counts are one way to measure stream channel stability. Measuring sediment size by doing pebble count analysis provides the means for measuring subtle changes in stream bed composition.

Stream Cross-Sections: Another method of measuring channel stability is to measure stream depths at regular intervals from one bank to the opposite bank. Cross-sections provide the means for detecting and measuring changes in channel shape and position.

Chemical Monitoring: Volunteers measure basic chemical stream parameters using handheld meters. Dissolved oxygen, turgidity, conductivity, temperature,and pH are measured at various points in the riffle.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF PROJECT HEARTBEAT?

o To train increasing numbers of volunteers to monitor and assess freshwater stream and river systems.
o To build an educated and articulate constituency for Maryland's water resources by promoting an ethic of stewardship and community leadership development.
o To build and foster partnerships among all watershed communities - residents, businesses, and government - in resource protection and management.
o To complement local, state and federal agency programs by providing cost-effective and technically credible monitoring data to assist with the necessary assessment of water resources.
o To participate in and help build the volunteer monitoring movement on the local, state, regional, and national levels.

To become involved with Project Heartbeat call Save Our Streams