Equipment used: Hess sampler with 500 mesh netting. Area sampled: 0.256 m2 per sample, and three replicate samples are taken at each site. Subsampling: approx. 10-15% of samples must be halved due to richness, but counts over 200 are maintained whenever possible. Taxonomic level: to genus and species, except for Diptera chironomids, which are identified to subfamily or tribe level. Oligochaetes are identified to family level.
QA: Type specimens are confirmed by Idaho State University, Stream Ecology Center; Type specimen collection established and archived to demonstrate past id's and for future verification of specimens. Library of general and taxon specific texts and monographs for sample handling, collection and identification. Bibliography of texts, keys, monographs, etc. are available.
Analysis/metrics: Idenfication and enumeration of invertebrates and invertebrate biomass determinations. No metrics are applied.