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Puget Sound Stream Benthos

Ambient Freshwater Biological Monitoring Program, Washington State Department of Ecology

This data represents data from those sites that are in least disturbed and minimally disturbed conditions across the state of Washington. The goal of this project is to monitor aquatic health related to ambient conditions (without significant human influence).

These sites are sampled on a rotating basis. The samples were collected using a 500 micron mesh D-frame kick net to conduct kick samples from 8 square feet of substrate surface area. Kick samples are taken on a reach wide basis, which may include all habitat types. Our taxonomic lab uses a Genus/Species resolution and a 500 individual count.