 Declan McCabe (right), Professor of Biology at St. Michael's College, collects benthic macroinvertebrates with a net while workshop participants identify one on a river stone. Photo credit: Luke Foley By: Marcy Bucheit, Watershed Engagement Coordinator
Exclamations of delight could be heard as participants huddled around microscopes, peering into the hidden, wriggling world of aquatic organisms collected from the Mad River above Lareau Swimhole. Just minutes earlier, they had waded into the water, disturbing cobbles with their feet upstream from a net that captured these tiny creatures as they drifted downstream. Now, gathered around petri dishes, the group marveled at their finds while Declan McCabe, Professor of Biology at Saint Michael’s College, guided them through how to identify the many species of “river bugs” they had netted. The workshop, hosted by Friends of the Mad River (FMR), was organized for local educators and Mad River Watch volunteers to learn more about the vital organisms that form the base of the river food chain: benthic macroinvertebrates. River Bugs Benthic macroinvertebrates—the scientific term for small aquatic organisms—includes the larval stage of many flying insects like stoneflies, mayflies, and caddisflies. These insects spend their juvenile, or nymph, stage in the river before emerging as winged adults. “There are so many curious aspects of these little organisms,” said Marcy Bucheit, FMR Watershed Engagement Coordinator. “I was most interested to learn that benthic macroinvertebrates experience their most rapid growth in the fall and winter. As leaves drop into the river in the fall, they ‘steep’ in the water and break down into more palatable food for the benthics. This fuels their growth through the winter, even in the cold temperatures.” “It’s fascinating how we share the river with these organisms, but they’re hidden right under our nose,” Bucheit continued. “They’re most commonly found clinging to rocks or buried in sediment. They are often present in riffles and finding one can be as easy as picking up and flipping over a rock. It’s given me a whole new appreciation for what’s under my feet when I’m wading.” Fish Food Benthic macroinvertebrates are also a primary food source for fish and birds. They act as a vital linkage between algae and plant material and the upper levels of the food web. Healthy fish populations depend on robust benthic communities, further demonstrating their significance to the ecosystem. “A lot of people are really familiar with food webs and how different species are connected on land,” commented Luke Foley, FMR Climate & Education Manager. “However, when it comes to underwater species, we have far less familiarity with the different layers of the ecosystem. This presents a great opportunity to center more education on the foundation of healthy aquatic ecology.” Indicators of River Health Benthics are also important as biological indicators of the health of a water body and scientists have been using them for decades to track conditions over time. Many species are sensitive to pollution and poor water quality and, unlike fish, they can’t migrate away to more tolerable areas. In general, the greater the abundance and diversity of benthic species present, the healthier the river. Certain species, such as mayflies and stoneflies, are also generally more sensitive, so their presence reflects healthy water. “I was amazed at the sheer diversity of insect species we found,” said Julie Frost, FMR Watershed Projects Coordinator. “The indicators we saw that morning, especially the presence of stonefly nymphs and the wide variety of species, reflected a clean and healthy watershed, which is exactly what we’re working to protect.” Notes from the Field On August 3rd and 4th, Mad River Watch volunteers visited field sites to collect data and observe environmental conditions, continuing decades of local monitoring on the Mad River and its tributaries. These sampling dates reflected the continued stretch of dry weather, with many reports of low water levels and more exposed sediment and cobbles. Water temperatures ranged from a low of 59°F at 10:20 a.m. Sunday at Rice Brook to a high of 76°F at 4:45 p.m. at Hooper Lane. Conductivity readings varied, with the highest level recorded at Clay Brook and the lowest at Warren Falls.  An Eastern Bluebird catches a bug. Healthy riparian areas offer a far greater abundance of flying insects compared to bare shorelines, making them valuable sources of food for birds. Photo: Jen Bennett, 2020. By: Marcy Bucheit, Watershed Engagement Coordinator
On July 20th & 21st, Mad River Watch volunteers visited their field sites to collect data and make careful environmental observations, contributing to decades of monitoring along the Mad River and its tributaries. This article is part of an ongoing series that shares highlights from this field work as well as lessons learned over the past 40 years of Friends of the Mad River’s Mad River Watch program. Birds Need Healthy Buffers “We are always talking about the ecological benefits of healthy riparian buffers,” says Marcy Bucheit, Friends of the Mad River Watershed Engagement Coordinator. “These areas of vegetated land along streams and rivers provide a wide range of benefits from stabilizing riverbanks to filtering pollutants to providing shade to cool water temperatures. This summer, in collaboration with our partners at Audubon Vermont, we are bringing attention to the benefits that riparian buffers provide for birds. Many species rely on riverside habitat for foraging, breeding, and shelter; intact riparian buffers help support healthier birds.” Not All Buffers Are Equal “What is the recipe for success in a buffer to support birds? It begins with a diversity of native plants,” explains Bucheit. “The fruits of invasive vegetation, like common buckthorn and bush honeysuckle, provide poor nutrition compared to native species. Eliminating the bird “junk food” of invasive species opens up space for native plants which are better suited to bird diets.” In a buffer of native species, birds benefit the most from a biodiverse variety of plants with different ages and heights. The presence of a shrubby understory, such as willow or dogwood, provides species like Willow Flycatcher and Yellow Warbler the shrubby habitat they need for nesting or perching. Mature canopy supports species like Pileated Woodpecker by providing places for nesting cavities and insect foraging. “When it comes to the width of a riparian buffer, the number we often reference as a target benchmark for landowners is 50 feet,” adds Bucheit. “And the 50 foot standard is great for many of the bank stabilization and water temperature reduction benefits we’re going after. However, when we consider riparian buffers and bird habitat, as wide as possible is the best.” Birds that prefer edge habitat like the Northern Cardinal or the Gray Catbird can be found in buffers as small as 10 feet. In a 50 foot buffer, species like the Hairy Woodpecker or the Red-eyed Vireo will be present. However, sensitive species that need undisturbed habitat, such as the Scarlet Tananger, will typically not be seen until the buffer is 150 feet or wider. For this reason, a wider buffer will help support a greater diversity of birds in that buffer. Restoration: Birds as the Hook “Birds are charismatic and we all love seeing or hearing distinctive species,” says Bucheit. “If landowners want to plant trees, practice no mow, or manage invasive species in order to see more birds, that’s amazing! In the process, they’ll also be benefitting water quality, stream habitat and the climate resiliency of our landscape. We encourage any landowner interested in this work to get in touch with us.” Notes from the Field This week, volunteers were asked to do some birdwatching at their sites and report back who they’d found. Some species were common across multiple sites including Song Sparrow, Blue Jay, American Robin, Black capped Chickadee, Red-eyed Vireo, American Goldfinch, and Common Yellowthroat. However, some unique observations were made at particular sites. At Riverside Park, a volunteer heard a Redstart and an Alder Flycatcher. At Mill Brook, a volunteer spotted an Eastern Phoebe and a Belted Kingfisher. At Warren Covered Bridge, a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker was heard. The lack of rain and warm summer weather the last few weeks was highlighted in many observations of low flow levels. Water temperatures ranged from a low of 55F at 7:30am Monday at Chase Brook to a high of 76F at 12:30pm Sunday at Mill Brook.  The Duell & Cowen family poses with their Stream Wise Award, recognizing excellent management and condition of their streamside land! As you drive around the Valley over the next few weeks, you may notice some new signs popping up in the front yards of your friends and neighbors. With designations of “Stream Steward” and “Stream Wise”, these signs recognize local community members who have participated in a program designed to help landowners better manage their stream and riverfront properties. From Warren to Moretown, Friends of the Mad River has been busy conducting Stream Wise visits, providing assessment, planning, and implementation support . The Stream Wise program is modeled after the successful Lake Wise initiative which aims to mitigate nutrient runoff into Lake Champlain. These programs engage landowners in stewardship efforts that improve water quality and provide a host of other benefits to local flora and fauna. While decreasing the runoff of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus is certainly a component of Stream Wise, the program primarily focuses on the establishment and maintenance of a vegetated stream buffer. So what exactly is a vegetated stream buffer? Simply put, a healthy stream buffer has a wide range of native trees, shrubs, bushes, and other vegetation. It provides food, shelter, and habitat for local animals, insects, birds, and a range of other species. Healthy buffers provide shade for our streams and rivers, keeping water temperatures cool, which makes fish and other aquatic wildlife much happier. Having a solid buffer is also vital to flood resilience, as floodplain forests help to slow and spread storm waters, while also preventing erosion. Here’s the thing, though. In a perfect world, every stream and river would have at least 50 feet of buffer along the vast majority of its banks! That may sound like a lot, and compared to what we observe throughout much of the Valley, it is. Several hundred years of settlement and development have left much of our watershed without adequate buffers. By clearing land for houses, businesses, and farms, we have whittled down the natural barriers of our rivers and streams. Stream Wise is developed to help individual landowners better understand what they can do to help reverse this trend. The Stream Wise program has two levels of recognition. A “Stream Steward” property reflects the continued efforts of a landowner to help develop a healthy stream buffer. This may include actions such as removing invasive species, planting trees, or leaving sections of their yard unmowed. Many of these strategies might not seem that mind blowing, and that is exactly the point. The program aims to equip community members with simple strategies that they can do at low cost in order to do their part to contribute to a healthier watershed. A “Stream Wise” property is the highest recognition from the program. These sites have healthy buffers of at least 30-50 feet along most of the stream or riverfront. At these sites, you would observe a multi-layered forest with relatively few invasive species present, and a homeowner who has made a concerted effort to minimize impervious surfaces like paths and walkways. Keep an eye out for these signs which will be popping up around the Valley in the next few weeks. If you are interested in learning more about Stream Wise, please reach out to [email protected] or fill out this interest form. (Left) Luke Foley, Climate & Engagement Manager, and Marcy Bucheit, Watershed Engagement Coordinator, present the Robillards with a Stream Steward recognition for their committment to knotweed eradication and tree planting. (Right) A Stream Steward flag adorns the new MRV Recreation Hub site, recognizing the buffer planting of 400 trees there.
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Friendsof the Mad River Archives
August 2025
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