Benthic macroinvertebrate communities are sampled from four sites in EFPC and from two reference streams in the fall and spring of each year.
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The macroinvertebrate communities at EFK 23.4 and EFK 24.4 remained significantly degraded through 1998 (Figure 1). |
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However, subtle but persistent increases in total richness and the richness of pollution tolerant taxa at these sites indicate continuing improvement in water quality. |
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The benthic macroinvertebrate communities at sites further downstream (i.e., EFK 13.8) appear only minimally impacted relative to reference conditions. |
| Figure 1. Total taxonomic richness (mean number of taxa/sample, ± SE) and total taxonomic richness of the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (mean number of EPT taxa/sample, ± SE) of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities in East Fork Poplar Creek (EFK) and a reference site (BFK 7.6) [EPT taxa include relatively pollution-sensitive species]. |
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Last Modified: April 17, 2001