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Why Bugs? DRBC Explains Their Connection to Water Quality at Shad Fest

Why do scientists collect aquatic bugs? DRBC staff answered that question and many others at the 36th Annual Lambertville Shad Festival, held April 29-30, 2017. 

DRBC's exhibit was set up on Lewis Island, where commission staff collected macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs) from the Delaware River and displayed them in trays of water. Using identification keys and with the help of DRBC staff, kids and adults alike were able to identify the bugs found in the water samples. The hands-on lesson explained that the type and amount of macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs) found in a waterway can help indicate its water quality. Some bugs, for example mayfly, damselfly, or caddisfly larva, are very sensitive to pollution; others, such as leeches or aquatic worms, are more pollution tolerant. Finding more pollution sensitive species in the water samples, which we did at Shad Fest, is a positive indicator of the health of the Delaware River off of Lewis Island. 

In addition to teaching how bugs can indicate the river’s water quality, DRBC staff talked with festival attendees about the commission and its programs and about the Delaware River and its watershed. Lewis Island is also where the Lewis Fishery, the last commercial shad fishery on the Delaware River, offered a demonstration on how they seine (catch with nets) for American shad. They fish for shad all season long; you can view their 2017 Delaware River shad fishing reports and others compiled by N.J. by clicking here. 

The Shad Festival celebrates the region's arts community, the Delaware River, and of course, the annual return of the American shad! The Delaware River is an important waterway for American shad, and their presence is indicative of the water quality improvements that have occurred over time. For decades during the 1900s, pollution robbed the lower Delaware River of the oxygen needed for shad and other fish to breathe. The number of American shad in the Delaware increased dramatically by the late 1980s and early 1990s due in large part to pollution control programs conducted by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and other environmental agencies. Learn more about American shad.

We thank Steve Meserve and the Lewis Fishery Crew for allowing us to again display on Lewis Island with them!
DRBC intern Taylor Krolik helps a youngster identify one of the bugs she saw in the water sample. Photo by DRBC.DRBC's map of the Delaware River Basin is also a popular visual. The basin, or watershed, encompasses four states and over 13,500 square miles! Photo by DRBC.The Lewis Fishery demonstrates how it seines, or collects, fish from the river using only a rowboat, nets, and lots of people power. Photo by DRBC.Steve Meserve, head of the Lewis Fishery, shows the Shad Fest crowd an American shad just caught from the river. Photo by DRBC.A close-up of an American shad caught by the Lewis Fishery during the 2017 Shad Fest. Photo by DRBC.Kids and adults alike are interested in identifying and learning about what we found in our water sample. Photo by DRBC.A young man captures a bug from the water sample. Using tweezers, kids collected bugs from the main water sample and placed them in smaller trays of water for identification. Photo by DRBC.
DRBC-hosted N.J. Americorps Ambassador Andrew Garcia talks with Shad Fest attendees about the macroinvertebrates' various life cycles. Photo by DRBC.A mother and daughter are captivated by what they found in our sample. It's hard to see, but the mother is pointing out a caddisfly larvae; these bugs are pollution-sensitive and use silk to create protective cases out of objects, such as small sticks! Who knew bugs could be so cool? Photo by DRBC. DRBC's John Yagecic helps a Shad Fest attendee find bugs in the water sample. Photo by DRBC.The Lewis Fishery crew pulls in the nets at the end of their seining demonstration. The crew rows and walks about 200-300 yards of net upstream and then loops back around, catching American shad and many other species of fish. Photo by DRBC.The Lewis Fishery crew examines their haul. During this seining, 17 American shad were caught, along with many other species of fish. All were returned to the water immediately. Photo by DRBC.The Lewis Fishery's Steve Meserve shows the Shad Fest crowd an American shad they just caught. Photo by DRBC.Kids and adults alike enjoy learning about what is found in the Delaware River. The types of insects found in a waterbody can help determine how clean the water is. Photo by DRBC.