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Biological Monitoring Working Party
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| 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 |
| Clapper's Bridge |
| North End Stream |
| Cooksbridge |
| Hamsey Road |
| Plumpton Mill Stream |
| 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 |
| Norlington Stream |
| Wellingham Lane |
| Lewes Winterbourne |
| Lewes Railwaylands |
| Lewes Winterbourne – Lewes Railwaylands Wildlife Park | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 2009A marginally improved score on December 2008, but well below what should be expected in a chalk stream of this nature. The presence of juvenile flounders and strands of marine algae demonstrates that this part of the stream is subject to tidal influence from the River Ouse. It also receives urban run off. Potential for pollution is possible from both these sources.
It was not possible to undertake a standard kick sample from this site due to the water depth and large amount of soft silt in the bed of the stream. The samples were taken by sweeping the net at various points close to the banks. This may have some bearing on the low score recorded. However, this stream has had a history of severe pollution incidents. A further sampling will be done in 2009 and at intervals thereafter. |
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| Location | Lewes Winterbourne– Lewes Railwaylands Wildlife Park | |
| Date | 9th December 2008 | |
| Grid Reference | TQ 420099 | |
| Notes | Moderately shaded, crystal clear water – Depth <1.3 m, width 4.0 m. Clay substrate with fine chalk, silt and leaf litter. Scattered clumps of Callitriche spp. |
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| Also netted in this sample. | 1 three spined stickleback. 1 water mite. One empty Physa fontinalis shell. |
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| Biological quality rating | D. Poor | |
| Water quality rating | Very poor | |
| Species | Group | BMWP Score |
| Gammaridae | Shrimps | 6 |
| Haliplidae | Water beetle (adult) | 5 |
| Sialidae | Alderfly larvae | 4 |
| Hydrobiidae | Snail | 3 |
| Glossiphoniidae | Leech | 3 |
| Asellidae | Hoglouse | 3 |
| Chironomidae | Midge larvae | 2 |
| Oligochaetae | Worm | 1 |
| Total Score | 24 | |
| ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) | 3.43 | |
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