Flint River Watershed Coalition
432 North Saginaw St. 
Benthic Monitoring
What is benthic monitoring?
Benthic Monitoring is the collection of critters (insects and other invertebrates) from the bottom of a river or stream. To participate, contact Sue Lossing at slossing@flintriver.org.
Why do we monitor benthic life?
These critters in the bottom of the stream are more or less sensitive to pollution. By catching these critters and noting how many of what kinds are living in the stream, we can get an idea of how healthy the river is.
- Cumulative Benthic Monitoring Results
- DEQ Monitoring Program Presentation to the Flint River Watershed Coalition at our annual meeting in January 2002
- Volunteer for the Flint River Monitoring Program
Forms and procedures used for monitoring
- Volunteer Monitoring In Stream Procedure Guidelines
- Benthic Collection Standard Operating Procedure
- Stream Assessment Standard Operating Procedure
- Laboratory Standard Operating Procedure
- Stream Survey Form
- Benthic Survey Form
- Macroinvertebrate Key
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Monitoring Sites
Interactive Watershed MAP
The map is best viewed in Firefox or Google Chrome.
If using Internet Explorer, use the links on the side of the page.
Gilkey Creek - Applewood Monitoring Project
The Gilkey Creek - Applewood Monitoring Project assesses the effects of the Gilkey Creek rehabilitation project at Applewood on water quality to inform staff and educate the public.
- Gilkey Creek Monitoring Project Report
- Gilkey Creek Survey
- Gilkey Creek Report Appendix
- Gilkey Creek Stream Stability 2009
Flint River GREEN
"Turning Students into Environmental Stewards"
The Flint River Watershed Coalition, with our partners in Flint River GREEN - Earthforce, the Genesee Intermediate School District, the Genesee County Drain Commissioner, General Motors and a handful of others, coordinates an applied curriculum for Middle School and High School students that has a positive impact on the environment, now and into the future.
Using scientific methods, a classroom of students tests or monitors a body of water; identifies an environmental problem, researches the causes of the problem, and works to eliminate the problem. Beyond merely identifying the environmental issue, the class works to make positive changes in practices or policies that allowed the problem to emerge in the first place. In Genesee County, the work done in Flint River GREEN compliments the on-going monitoring project that the Watershed Coalition has conducted for several years. It also provides information for use by the County Drain Commissioner in fulfilling their responsibilities relative to storm water run off concerns and abatement.
The Watershed Coalition currently has several classrooms in a number of Genesee County school districts involved in Flint River GREEN.
The program is partly funded by General Motors, and the Genesee County Drain Office, both of whom have has classroom mentors assisting throughout the entire process. The Intermediate School District coordinates the classroom involvement; and the Watershed Coalition oversees the entire program and coordinates the partnership. The Genesee County Drain Commissioner has "adopted" some schools and will use the program to further promote storm water issues. Earthforce is the national organization that supports the training and other aspects of the program.
For additional information, you may contact the Flint River Watershed Coalition at (810) 767-6490.
For more information on Genesee GREEN, visit http://www.geneseegreen.org/
For our local data, check out our local site at www.geneseegreen.org/history.php
Clean-up at Viet Nam Vets Park 2008
Next River Clean Up: Date to be announced
Thanks to ALL of our 2009 clean up volunteers. We had 170 volunteers at sites throughout Genesee and Lapeer Counties. Your efforts resulted in over 250 bags of trash representing over 1,700 cubic feet of trash removed from our watershed.
We couldn't do it without you!
We also want to thank our 2009 financial sponsors:
- Hurley Regional Medical Ceter
- Coldwell Banker - Wade Pyles Realty Network
- ELGA Credit Union
- UM-Flint Outreach
- Congressman Dale Kildee
- Genesee County Land Bank
- Resource Genesee
- Mott Community College Environment Club
- Wade Trim
- Mott Community College
- Rowe, Inc
- Friends of the Flint River Trail
As well as our 2009 donors of in-kind services:
- Keep Genesee County Beautiful
- Lapeer City Parks and Recreation
- Rick Rhein Disposal
- City of Flint Department of Parks and Recreation
- Genesee County Parks and Recreation
- River Walks
- Canoe Trips
- FRWC Speakers Bureau
- Storm Drain Stenciling
The Flint River Watershed Coalition has a variety of opportunities for fun and education throughout the watershed. See our calendar for dates for our upcoming activites, such as:
We also have programs to bring to your school, organization, or service group. Contact Sue Lossing for: