Are You Curious about Water Bugs?

When out near water, one can hardly ignore the myriad of bugs, shells, and water creatures. Here's your chance to understand their critical role in our precious water resources!
 
Benzie Conservation District is gearing up for their Volunteer Stream Monitoring Project (VSMP) and is offering this hand’s on opportunity to learn about the aqua-ecology and macro-invertebrates that indicate the quality of water. In this project, volunteers will be collecting insects, mollusks, and crustaceans in three Benzie Watershed sites: Platte, Betsie, and Herring Lakes. Volunteers will have their choice of which team to join.
 
The process of monitoring streams and lakes shows how different species have different tolerances for pollution or poor habitat conditions. For example, there are some species that only exist in good quality water situations; whereas, another species may only tolerate poor water quality. These critters are vital indicators of the quality of Benzie’s watershed. Studying the various species that exist in the rivers and lakes will compliment the current water quality programs that are being done to manage and protect the health of the Platte, Betsie and Herring Lakes Watersheds.
 
The collection will occur on Sat, May 14, from 9 am to approximately 3 pm (lunch included). Please sign up for this buggy opportunity by contacting John Ransom, Conservation Specialist, 231-882-4391 x 13; john@benziec.org. All are welcome!

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