Hi CAMNers! We had a perfect fall morning last Saturday for the quarterly sampling of the Little Maumelle River. We had seven lucky members come out to take part. It has only been a few weeks since the last flood, so there was still many signs left of the tremendous forces of nature unleashed in this normally tranquil scene. Large debris piles were located on the west side of seemly all the trees. How do those large logs manage to get through all that forest? Perspectives were traded on the flood between Bert (washes out trails) and George (replenishes the floodplain) as we headed down to the sampling sites. How would it have affected the bugs and chemistry?

Surprisingly little. We found plenty of the usual dragonfly and damselfly larvae. Bert and Kathy S. found a dragonfly species that hadn't been spotted before, and another 1.5 inch large dragonfly larvae. The muddy site was perhaps a little muddier, but the usual rich assemblage was there with freshwater shrimp and crayfish also present. 

At the faster flowing, more gravelly site upstream of the pedestrian bridge, the sun shown warm and bright amongst the cypress knees. As usual, more gastropods were found here. Whirligig beetles were plentiful in the side channel, and the fishing was good for Bruce Walls and Phillp Jones. That is if you like tiny shrimp and minnows. A stonefly larvae, one of the more pollution sensitive bugs, was present to indicate the continuing good water quality conditions of the Little Maumelle.

Mary Pearson and Kathy Searcy helped George Lauster with the less exciting water chemistry duties. Nutrients were in the higher end of the range for the stream, but dissolved oxygen levels were plenty high and there were no indications for concern. Except for Bert, were went all out, and up to his armpits, to retrieve discharge measuring equipment that someone forgot to catch as it floated by (Bruce promises to be ready next time). Many things can be easily replaced, but film canisters are becoming scarce in this digital age, especially bright-red painted ones. Thanks to everyone who came out, and to another beautiful day down by the Kingfisher Trail.

-George Lauster- Stream Team Coordinator for CAMN    

-Pictures by Kathy Searcy