After attending this class, volunteers can go out on their own to collect habitat data on other streams around the county. A great way to accrue service hours when it suits you.
Location: Class will be held at Gregory Creek at Dudley Woods Park in Liberty Twp. We meet at the picnic shelter.
What: Citizens Qualitative Habitat Assessment Index (cQHEI) is a visual assessment of creek habitat. It looks at the river bottom, tree cover, fallen logs, and other habitat components. Modeled on the EPA method, this was specifically modified for using in citizen science programs. Join us to learn about the method and to find out how to become a habitat evaluation volunteer. We have invited a biologist to bring her electro-fishing equipment to show us the fish that live in this section of creek. The equipment stuns, it does not kill the fish, allowing us time to look and identify before releasing. This is so you can see the types of fish that live in the water that we are assessing habitat for.
Format: We will start on dry land and go over the basics, then we will head down to the creek to practice monitoring. We will need to enter the creek, so please wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet.
Please bring:
- closed-toe shoes that can get wet.
- Reading glasses if you wear them.
Restrooms: There are restrooms on site.
Find out more about cQHEI at www.butlercountystreamteam.org/habitat
