Interaction of Land Use or Landscape Position and Microhabitat on Urban Stormwater: Integrating Research and Education in Citizen Science

Basins, especially small, shallow ponds are a common and conspicuous feature of many landscapes. Yet, relatively little is known about their ecology. In partnership with local neighborhoods, schools and public works, we initiated research to study the relationship of land use or landscape position and microhabitat, both shoreline and substrate, to water quality and to macroinvertebrate ecology. We have found a consistent relationship of microhabitat quality and quantity to water quality, especially dissolved oxygen and turbidity, macroinvertebrate species richness and relative abundance. This pattern is similar in storm water ponds and in a stream fed, in part, by urban storm water ponds. These findings suggest that microhabitat improvements have considerable potential to off set negative impacts of land use.

A relatively unique aspect of this study is that research has integrated K-12 students, teachers and university undergraduates as investigators. Research methodologies and findings have been integrated in curriculum and instruction throughout the local school district. The involvement of local students, teachers and schools has undoubtedly raised the profile of the research on these systems in the community and has resulted in a school-neighborhood-public works-university partnership to restore and improve microhabitat on several local basins.