Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance - State of New Jersey

provide suitable habitat. D-framed or rectangular framed 500 – 900 mm mesh “kick” netscan be employed as either single or multiple habitat samplers.Single Habitat SamplingA 100-meter reach representative of the characteristics of the stream is chosen, andwhenever possible, upstream of road or bridge crossing. A composite sample is takenfrom individual sampling spots in the riffles and runs in the stream reach. A minimum of2m 2 composited area is sampled. Sampling begins at the downstream end of the reachand proceeds upstream. Two to three kicks are sampled at various velocities in the reach.A kick is a stationary sampling accomplished by positioning the net on the bottom of thestream and disturbing one square meter upstream of the net. The substrate can bedisturbed using the heel and toe of the boot or rubbed by hand for larger substrateparticles. Several kicks will make up the composite sample. Empty the composite sampleinto a sieve or sieve bucket and mix to ensure a homogeneous composite.Multi-habitat SamplingFor sampling low-gradient streams or streams with variable habitats, a multi-habitatsampling approach is required. A 100-meter reach representative of the characteristics ofthe stream is chosen, and whenever possible, upstream of road or bridge crossing.Sampling begins at the downstream end of the reach and proceeds upstream. Habitats aresampled in their approximate proportion to their representation of surface area in thereach. In low-gradient streams, snags, vegetated banks, submerged macrophytes, andgravel and sand are habitats that support fauna. A total of 20 jabs or kicks should besampled over the length of the reach. A kick is a stationary sampling accomplished bypositioning the net on the bottom of the stream and disturbing one square meter upstreamof the net. The substrate can be disturbed using the heel and toe of the boot or rubbed byhand for larger substrate particles. A jab consists of forcefully thrusting the net into aproductive habitat for a linear distance of 0.5 meters. Then, sweep the area with a net toensure that benthic macroinvertebrates that have disengaged from the substrate arecollected. A minimum of two square meters of composited area is sampled. Empty thecomposite sample into a sieve or sieve bucket and mix to ensure a homogeneouscomposite.Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 121Version 1.2 8/29/12