Biological Monitoring Working Party

BMWP Results


Introduction
 

BMWP scores for the locations sampled by S.O.C.S. can be viewed below:

East Mascalls
Scaynes Hill - Main river
Scaynes Hill - Canal Cut
Sheffield Park
Barcombe Mills
Hempstead Mill - Uckfield
Stoneywish Country Park
Spatham Lane
Streat Lane
Swansyard Farm
Holmans railway bridge
Clapper's Bridge
Cooksbridge
Hamsey Road
Plumpton Mill
Ferrings Bridge
Longford Stream
Cinder Hill, Chailey
Ridgelands Lane - Newick
Longford Bridge
Pellingford Brook
Near Scaynes Hill
Scrase Stream
Lindfield
Great Bentley Stream
Brook Street, Cuckfield
Shortbridge Stream
Maresfield, Underhill
Shortbridge
Wellingham Lane
Lewes Winterbourne
Lewes Railwaylands
 
River Ouse, Andrews Stream, Barcombe Mills
 
This sample was taken a short distance downstream from where we perform chemical tests each month on the quality of the water. We intend to carry out biological tests at this site on a regular basis to monitor the long term effects that water quality has on invertebrate life in the stream.
See the latest water quality test results for this location...


September 2009

A reasonable result for this location, but poorer biodiversity than the sample in July 2008.

Location River Ouse – Andrews Stream, Barcombe Mills.
Date 8th September 2009
Grid Reference TQ433147
Notes

Long riffle 50m down stream from Pike's Bridge, open aspect. Moderate flow of clear water over silt/gravel substrate, riffle and glide, open aspect.

Also netted in this sample.

Empty caddis cases ? Sericostoma personatum, water mites, 1 Sisyrid larva ? S. fuscata

Biological quality rating C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating Good
Species Group BMWP Score
Odontoceridae Cased caddis 10
Leptoceridae Cased caddis 10
Calopterygidae Damselfly nymph 8
Limnephilidae Cased caddis 7
Caenidae Mayfly nymphs 7
Gammeridae Shrimp 6
Simuliidae Blackfly larvae 5
Elminthidae Riffle beetle 5
Baetidae Mayfly nymphs 4
Asellidae Hoglouse 3
Hydrobiidae Snail 3
Physidae Snail 3
Lymnaeidae Snail 3
Chironomidae Midge 2
Oligochaetae Worm - Tubifex 1
Total Score 77
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)

5.13


July 2008

This site scored poorly in 2005, but has since showed a good recovery. Some of the Gammaridae were infected with the parasite Echinorrhyncus.

Location River Ouse – Andrews Stream, Barcombe Mills.
Date 15th July 2007
Grid Reference TQ433147
Notes

Long riffle 50m down stream from Pike's Bridge, open aspect. Mixed clay/gravel substrate, moderate flow (tidal), clear water with some filamentous algae and water moss. Weather humid and overcast. Some renovation work was in progress at the bridge.

Also netted in this sample.

Water mites and a few empty limpet shells.

Biological quality rating B. Good biological quality
Water quality rating Very good
Species Group BMWP Score
Heptageniidae Mayfly nynphs 10
Leptoceridae Cased caddis 10
Sercostomatidae Cased caddis 10
Goeridae Cased caddis 10
Limnephilidae Cased caddis 7
Polycentropodidae Caseless caddis 7
Gammeridae Shrimp 6
Tipulidae Cranefly larva 5
Dytiscidae Water beetle 5
Haliplidae Water beetle 5
Hydropsychidae Caseless caddis 5
Planariidae Flatworms 5
Simuliidae Blackfly larvae 5
Elminthidae Riffle beetle 5
Baetidae Mayfly nymphs 4
Sphaeriidae Mussels 3
Asellidae Hoglouse 3
Hydrobiidae Snail 3
Lymnaeida Snail 3
Chironomidae Midge 2
Oligochaetae Worm - Tubifex 1
Total Score 114
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)

5.43


November 2006

This is a very good result compared with November last year, with nearly double the BMWP score and a higher ASPT.

Location River Ouse – Andrews Stream, Barcombe Mills.
Date 7th November 2006
Grid Reference TQ433147
Notes

Good flow, gravel substrate, unshaded.

Also netted in this sample.

Ribbon or Proboscis worm Prostoma spp. Water mites

Biological quality rating B. Good biological quality
Water quality rating Very good
Species Group BMWP Score
Ephemeridae Mayfly 10
Brachycentridae Caddis fly 10
Sercostomatidae Caddis fly 10
Philopotamidae Caddis fly 8
Limnephilidae Caddis fly 7
Caenidae Mayfly 7
Calopterygidae Damsel fly 7
Gammeridae Shrimp 6
Tipulidae True fly 5
Dytiscidae Beetle larva 5
Elmidae Beetle - adult & larvae 5
Hydropsychidae Caddis fly 5
Dendrocoelidae Flatworm 5
Sphaeriidae Mussel 3
Asellidae Hoglouse 3
Hydrobiidae Snail 3
Chironomidae Midge 2
Total Score 101
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)

5.9


November 2005

This result is slightly disappointing for a stream with abundant fish life with only a single Mayfly larva found. The low score may be due to the recent spate conditions which may have scoured the invertebrates out and reduced their numbers.

Location River Ouse – Andrews Stream, Barcombe Mills.
Date 29th November 2005
Grid Reference TQ433147
Notes

Moderate flow, gravel substrate, unshaded.

Also netted in this sample.

An unidentified, empty caddis larval case was also found.

Biological quality rating C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating Very good
Species Group BMWP Score
Agriidae Damselfly 8
Caenidae Mayfly 7
Gammeridae Shrimp 6
Unionidae Mussel 6
Hydropsychidae Caddis 5
Hydrophilidae Beetle 5
Elminthidae Riffle beetle (Adult & larva) 5
Simuliidae Blackfly larva 5
Sphaeriidae Mussel 3
Asellidae Hoglouse 3
Chironomidae Midge 2
Oligochaeta Round worm 1
Total Score 56
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) 4.7