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
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
Great Bentley Stream
Brook Street, Cuckfield
Shortbridge Stream
Maresfield, Underhill
Shortbridge
Wellingham Lane
 
Longford Stream, Longford Bridge, Spithurst
 
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.


August 2007

The scores for this sample indicate that the water quality rating is of fair biological quality and the ASPT falls just within the very good rating. Surprisingly no caseless caddis or blackfly larvae were found.

Location Longford Stream – 60 metres below Longford Bridge, Spithurst.
Date 27th August 2007
Grid Reference TQ433181
Notes

Three minute kick sample in pool upstream of bridge. Clay substrate – low flow – heavily shaded.

Also netted in this sample. Several empty planorbis shells.
Biological quality rating C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating Good
Species Group BMWP Score
Leptophlebiidae Mayfly nymph 10
Sericostomatidae Cased Caddis Fly 10
Aeshnidae Dragonfly nymph 8
Limnephilidae Cased Caddis Fly 7
Gammaridae Shrimp 6
Ancylidae River limpet 6
Corixidae Water boatman 5
Dytiscidae Diving Beetle 5
Baetidae Mayfly 4
Sialidae Alderfly nymphs 4
Sphaeriidae Pea mussels 3
Hydrobiidae Snail 3
Glossiphoniidae Leech 3
Asellus Hoglouse 3
Erpobdellidae Leech 3
Chironomidae Midge larvae 2
Oligochaetae Tubifex worms 1
Total Score 83
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) 4.9


May 2006

This is a surprisingly high BMWP score and ASPTfor this location, considering the recent poor water quality result. In April we measured a very high level of ammonia at 1.36 mg/l which exceeds the EU Freshwater Fisheries Directive Mandatory value of 0.78 mg/l as N.

Location Longford Stream – 60 metres below Longford Bridge, Spithurst.
Date 1st May 2006
Grid Reference TQ433181
Notes

Fast flow, silty substrate, light shading.

Also netted in this sample. -
Biological quality rating C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating Very good
Species Group BMWP Score
Leptophlebiidae Mayfly (Habrophlebia fusca ) 10
Ephemerellidae Mayfly (Ephemerella ignita ) 10
Ephemeridae Mayfly (Ephemera danica) 10
Lepidostomatidae Caddis Fly 10
Psychomyiidae Caddis Fly 8
Polycentropidae Caddis Fly 7
Gammaridae Shrimp 6
Hydropsychidae Caddis Fly 5
Elminthidae Beetle 5
Simuliidae Blackfly 5
Baetidae Mayfly 4
Piscicolidae Fish Leech 4
Glossiphoniidae Leech (Glossiphonia complanata) 3
Planorbiidae Ramshorn Snail 3
Asellidae Hoglouse 3
Oligochaeta Blood worm 1
Total Score 94
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) 5.9