Biological Monitoring
Trott Brook
| Monitoring Location | at Highway 5, Ramsey |
| Monitored By | ACD Staff |
| Number of Years Monitored | 4.5 yrs |
| Background: Trott Brook originates in eastern Sherburne County and flows east through Anoka County in Ramsey. Ford Brook joins Trott Brook Near Highway 47. Trott Brook enters the Rum River in northeastern Ramsey. This stream has few riffles and pools and the bottom is predominantly silt. The surrounding watershed is developing quickly but still contains large areas of undeveloped land. The sampling site is in the road right of way and on private property east of Highway 5. This site is typical of conditions found elsewhere along this stream. |
|
|
|
| Results In 2006 this stream was monitored only in spring. In 2006, as in most preceding years, the biological data suggested below average stream health at this site. The Family Biotic Index (FBI) has consistently been below average. The number of families found has been similar to the average for Anoka County streams, but most of these are generalists. Except for 2005 and fall 2004, fewer than average EPT families were present. |
|
| Discussion Factors limiting the biological community of Trott Brook probably include both habitat and chemical water quality. Habitat factors that limit the invertebrate community include heavy siltation and lack of trees and shrubs along the stream in many areas. Chemical monitoring of this stream has revealed that dissolved oxygen is occasionally low enough to impact stream biota. It has been below 5.0 mg/L (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s daily minimum standard for listing as “impaired”) on six of 23 times that it has been measured since 1998. An additional three measurements were between 5.0 and 5.5 mg/L. Put another way, DO was low 39.1% of the 23 observations. Other aspects of water quality were ok, though chloride and conductivity are slightly higher than the county-wide median and expectations for this ecoregion. Trott Brook biomonitoring will not be continued after 2006 because of lack of funding and volunteer assistance |
|
< PREVIOUS: Springbrook | NEXT: Ford Brook >
