promoting the sport of fly fishing through education and conservation

 

Little Miami River
Quality Monitoring Program


2023 BUFF monitoring results (link)
Sample ODNR monitoring scoring sheet (link)
Macroinvertebrates Identification sheet (link)

Annual Volunteer Monitoring Reports
For all data collection points on the Little Miami River
2019     2020     2021     2022     2023

Developed in 1983, the Ohio Stream Quality Monitoring (SQM) Project uses volunteers who assist in aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring to compile biological and water quality data on the state’s scenic rivers.

The Ohio Scenic Rivers Program compiles volunteer field assessment information into a statewide database. An assessment for the diversity and tolerance levels of taxonomy collected generates the Cumulative Index Value (CIV) for the site on a given date. Field assessment results are used as basic indicators of long-term changes in a stream’s macroinvertebrate community and help the Scenic Rivers staff identify pronounced stream quality problems. Our sections of the Little Miami River always score in the "Excellent" to “Good” ranges by the criteria for aquatic macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates, such as Mayflies larva and Stonefly larva, are good indicators of stream health.

The Buckeye United Fly Fishers monitor the Little Miami River (LMR) three times a year, once each in spring, summer, and fall, at two locations:
  • At Bass Island, near the Newtown Bridge, River Mile 8.1
  • At the Caesar Creek Access on the LMR, just north of the LMR & Caesar Creek confluence. River Mile 51.3

Public access to the LMR is widely available. As a result, many stream quality monitoring sites are located on public property and present little difficulty for volunteers to access and regularly monitor. Each of our sites has a BUFF Team Captain(s) to help organize and lead the data gathering and collection. They are happy to help you learn more about the Little Miami River and the “bugs” that live in it.

Check the BUFF calendar for the date of the next scheduled SQM monitoring event nearest you.