Biological Monitoring Working Party

BMWP Results

Introduction

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

River Ouse

East Mascalls

Scaynes Hill - Main river

Scaynes Hill - Canal Cut

Sheffield Park

Barcombe Mills

River Uck

Hempstead Mill - Uckfield

Bevern Stream

Stoneywish Country Park

Spatham Lane

Streat Lane

Swansyard Farm

Holmans railway bridge

North End Stream

Plumpton Mill Stream

Longford Stream

Ridgelands Lane - Newick

Longford Bridge

Pellingford Brook

Near Scaynes Hill

Scrase Stream

Lindfield

Great Bentley Stream

Brook Street, Cuckfield

Shortbridge Stream

Maresfield, Underhill

Shortbridge

Norlington Stream

Wellingham Lane

Lewes Winterbourne

Lewes Railwaylands

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...

March 2010

A lower total score than in June 2009, but higher ASPT. The result indicates that the stream is healthy with a particular abundance of mayfly nymphs.

Location	North End Stream – Hamsey Road, Hamsey.
Date	9th March 2010
Grid Reference	TQ41491376
Notes	Riffle and glide, open aspect, clay/gravel substrate, moderate flow.
Also netted in this sample.	Water spider, water mites, empty Jenkins spire shell.
Biological quality rating	B. Good biological quality
Water quality rating	Very good
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Ephemeridae	Mayfly nymph	10
Leptophlebiidae	Mayfly nymph	10
Goeridae	Cased caddis	10
Sericostomatidae	Cased caddis	10
Leptoceridae	Cased caddis	10
Calopterygidae	Demoiselle	8
Limnephilidae	Cased caddis	7
Gammeridae	Shrimp	6
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Tipulidae	Cranefly larvae	5
Hydropsychidae	Caseless caddis	5
Simuliidae	Blackfly larvae	5
Dendrocoelidae	Flatworm	5
Piscicolidae	Fish leech	4
Baetidae	Mayfly	4
Lymnaeidae	Snail	3
Asellidae	Hoglouse	3
Chironomidae	Midge larvae	2
Oligochaetae	Roundworms	1
Total Score		113
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		5.9

June 2009

Excellent result especially in view of the low flow conditions.

Location	North End Stream – Hamsey Road, Hamsey.
Date	21st June 2009
Grid Reference	TQ41491376
Notes	Low flow
Also netted in this sample.	Water cricket Velliidae
Biological quality rating	B. Good biological quality
Water quality rating	Very good
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Ephemeridae	Mayfly nymph	10
Leptophlebiidae	Mayfly nymph	10
Lepidostomatidae	Cased caddis	10
Sericostomatidae	Cased caddis	10
Leptoceridae	Cased caddis	10
Calopterygidae	Demoiselle	8
Limnephilidae	Cased caddis	7
Gammeridae	Shrimp	6
Ancylidae	River limpet	6
Gyrinidae	Whirligig beetle larva	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Dytiscidae	Diving beetle	5
Hydropsychidae	Caseless caddis	5
Tipulidae	Crane fly	5
Planariidae	Flatworm	5
Piscicolidae	Fish leech	4
Baetidae	Mayfly	4
Sphaeriidae	Mussel	3
Glossiphoniidae	Leeches	3
Hydrobiidae	Snail	3
Planorbiidae	Snail	3
Asellidae	Hoglouse	3
Chironomidae	Midge larvae	2
Oligochaetae	Roundworms	1
Total Score		133
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		5.5

September 2008

A good sample considering the proximity of the sewage treatment works.

Location	North End Stream – Hamsey Road, Hamsey.
Date	4th September 2008
Grid Reference	TQ41491376
Notes	Moderate flow over stony riffle.
Also netted in this sample.	2 Bullheads, unidentified Dipteran larva
Biological quality rating	C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating	Good
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Leptoceridae	Cased caddis	10
Sericostomatidae	Cased caddis	10
Calopterygidae	Demoiselle	8
Polycentropidae	Caseless caddis	7
Gammeridae	Shrimp	6
Simuliidae	Blackfly larvae	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Hydropsychidae	Caseless caddis	5
Sialidae	Alderfly	4
Baetidae	Mayfly	4
Lymnaeidae	Snail	3
Planorbiidae	Snail	3
Glossiphoniidae	Leeches	3
Chironomidae	Midge larvae	2
Total Score		75
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		5.4

May 2008

This is a satisfactory result for this stream.

Location	North End Stream – Hamsey Road, Hamsey.
Date	22nd May 2008
Grid Reference	TQ41491376
Notes	Good flow over mostly gravel substrate. Shaded.
Also netted in this sample.	1 Bullhead, several water mites (Arrhenurus sp.), 1 limpet shell, 1 Planorbis shell, several empty Sericostomatid cases.
Biological quality rating	C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating	Very good
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Ephemeridae	Mayfly nymph	10
Leptophlebiidae	Mayfly nymph	10
Lepidostomatidae	Cased caddis	10
Brachycentridae	Cased caddis	10
Limnephilidae	Cased caddis	7
Caenidae	Mayfly nymphs	7
Gammeridae	Shrimp	6
Simuliidae	Blackfly larvae	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Dytiscidae	Diving beetle	5
Hydropsychidae	Caseless caddis	5
Piscicolidae	Fish leech	4
Baetidae	Mayfly	4
Erpobdellidae	Leech	3
Sphaeriidae	Mussel	3
Glossiphoniidae	Leeches	3
Chironomidae	Midge larvae	2
Oligochaetae	Worms	1
Total Score		100
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		5.56

August 2007

A BMWP Score of 63 is rated as fair biological quality but the ASPT rates as very good. Considering the abundance of some species, the lack of Mayflies and Caddis Flies was surprising.

Location	North End Stream – Hamsey Road, Hamsey.
Date	24th August 2007
Grid Reference	TQ41491376
Notes	Good flow over mostly gravel substrate. Shaded.
Also netted in this sample.	1 Bullhead and a Ramshorn Snail shell.
Biological quality rating	C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating	Good
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Ephemeridae	Mayfly	10
Sericostomatidae	Caddis Fly	10
Calopterygidae	Demoiselle	8
Gammeridae	Shrimp	6
Simuliidae	Blackfly larvae	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Sialidae	Alder Fly	4
Baetidae	Mayfly	4
Erpobdellidae	Leech	3
Sphaeriidae	Mussel	3
Asellidae	Hoglouse	3
Chironomidae	Midge	2
Total Score		63
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		5.3

August 2006

This is a disappointing score and lower than that recorded in March this year.

Location	North End Stream – Hamsey Road, Hamsey.
Date	28th August 2006
Grid Reference	TQ41351383
Notes	Moderate flow – Sample from gravel riffle, light shade - downstream from Hamsey Road bridge.
Also netted in this sample.	1 Bullhead
Biological quality rating	C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating	Poor
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Limnephilidae	Caddis Fly	7
Gammeridae	Shrimp	6
Simuliidae	Blackfly larvae	5
Hydropsychidae	Caddis fly (caseless)	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Dendrocoelidae	Flatworm (Dugesia tigrina)	5
Baetidae	Mayfly	4
Glossiphoniidae	Leech (Glossiphonia complanata)	3
Erpobdellidae	Leech (Erpobdella testacea)	3
Sphaeriidae	mussel (Sphaerium & Pisidium)	3
Hydrobiidae	Snail	3
Asellidae	Hoglouse (Asellus aquaticus)	3
Chironomidae	Midge	2
Oligochaeta	Round worm - Tubifex	1
Total Score		55
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		3.9

March 2006

This score is significantly better than that recorded in October last year with a better ASPT. The flow of the stream has improved after recent rain making the habitat healthier for invertebrate life.

Location	North End Stream – Hamsey Road, Hamsey.
Date	9th March 2006
Grid Reference	TQ41351383
Notes	Moderate flow – Sample from gravel riffle downstream from Hamsey Road bridge.
Also netted in this sample.	1 Bullhead 1 empty caddis case – (Stenophylax)
Biological quality rating	C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating	Fair
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Sericostomatidae	Cased caddis	10
Ephemerellidae	Mayfly	10
Gammeridae	Shrimp	6
Ancylidae	River limpet	6
Simuliidae	Blackfly larvae	5
Hydropsychidae	Caddis fly (caseless)	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Baetidae	Mayfly	4
Piscicola	Fish leech	4
Glossiphoniidae	Leech	3
Erpobdellidae	Leech	3
Sphaeriidae	mussel	3
Chironomidae	Midge	2
Oligochaeta	Tubifex	1
Total Score		67
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		4.8

October 2005

This sample shows there is plenty of life in this part of the stream but mainly Hoglice and diving beetles. Also several Alder fly nymphs, which we hyave only found once before, also in the Northend Stream at Beechwood Lane. The ASPT is equal to the lowest we have recorded.

Location	North End Stream – Hamsey Road, Hamsey.
Date	5th October 2005
Grid Reference	TQ41351383
Notes	Flow rate slow. Shaded. Substrate pure silt.
Also netted in this sample.	-
Biological quality rating	D. Poor biological quality
Water quality rating	Poor
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Gammeridae	Shrimp	6
Dytiscidae	Diving beetle (adults & larva)	5
Hydropsychidae	Caddis fly (caseless)	5
Baetidae	Mayfly	4
Sialidae	Alderfly	4
Glossiphoniidae	Leech	3
Asellidae	Hoglouse	3
Chironomidae	Midge	2
Total Score		32
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		4.0

Biological Monitoring Working Party BMWP Results