MANSFIELD — The Richland County Park District is celebrating 30 years of the B&O Trail.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, RCPD is providing 30 programs and activities during the month of September.
On Monday, Sept. 8, RCPD’s Trail Manager Josh Dyer led a Clear Fork Creekin’ program in Bellville along the B&O Trail. During the introduction, Dyer explained why getting into a creek or river to explore is important.
“Well, getting in the water is great fun!” he proclaimed. “But when we look closer and survey the small macroinvertebrates, those little animals tell us something: is our river healthy?”
Macroinvertebrates are small animals without a backbone–typically with an exoskeleton–and, while small, can be seen with the unaided eye.
These macros (as they’re called in the field) have different tolerances for water quality. Some, e.g., midge and blackfly larva, can tolerate poor water, while others like mayflies and caddisflies have a much lower tolerance for poor water quality.
Naturalists and field technicians can quickly determine the health of a stream due to the presence or absence of certain species groups.
After Dyer handed out nets and containers, participants walked the short trail to the banks of the Clear Fork River. Once in the water, dip nets and kick seines were employed to assist in capturing the little animals hiding below the water’s surface.
“Let’s put the seine in this riffle,” Dyer stated.
Riffles are places in a stream where water flows and tumbles over rocks, which increases oxygen levels in the water.
“Okay! Now with the seine in place, you have to do the ‘Clear Fork Shuffle’!”
With that proclamation, Dyer started moving and turning in what can only be described as the “Twist,” the 1960’s dance craze. This action disturbs the substrate, which then allows the river’s current to carry any macros into the seine.
“We have a darter!” exclaimed Naomi Weaver, an RCPD Naturalist who was also in attendance.
They had captured a Rainbow Darter, along with a Banded Darter and Mottled Sculpin. At barely three inches in length, these fishes are integral parts of a stream ecosystem.
“Sport fish get all the glory,” Dyer said. “Yeah, they’re fun to catch and have for dinner. But these small stream fishes are, in my opinion, so much fun to explore and examine … and … they are gorgeous!”
Along with the darters and sculpin, caddisfly larva and waterpenny beetle larva were captured in the seine. “
That’s great! They indicate good water quality,” Dyer said.
An excited participant then came forward, “I have something!”
“A mayfly!” Dyer stated.
“I caught a crawdad!”
Another participant rushed forward with a very large crayfish.
“Who wants to join the Crawdad Club?” Dyer asked.
After a few people declined the offer, one boy overcame his fears. Expertly, Dyer carefully folded the claws forward and showed the youngster how to grip the crawdad without getting pinched.
After many more Clear Fork Shuffles were performed, participants helped release the animals back into their home.
“Thanks for letting us have fun with you!” Dyer told the macros and fishes.
To learn more about the Richland County Park District and to get involved with the B&O Trail’s 30th anniversary celebration, follow the RCPD on Facebook, or visit their website, richlandcountyparks.com.