Investigator Name(s):
Greg Hennemuth and Arne Hagman
Site Description:
Ethan Brook is directly north of Hazen union high school. The brook drains an eastern cedar wetland dominated by cedars, spruces and sphagnum moss. The brook does experience some student activity and is situated near hiking/walking/biking/dog walking paths. Moreover, the northern end of the brook travels under a dirt road and down near the mouth travels under the rail trail which has really destroyed the habitat here. This deserves investigation to repair the southern portion.
A positive note from some follow up sampling revealed a brook trout just north of the school and south of the culvert (dirt road) of Brigman's Hill. Macroinvertebrate sampling highlights include many mayflies and some large dobsonfly and stoneflies. Few hydropsychidae no blood worms (chironomidae) were noticed.
Surrounding Development or Land Use:
Do you see any pipes entering into the river?:
Is there a water treatment plant upstream?:
Physical Summary:
Turbidity is very low but the water column can decrease to dangerous levels such as what occurred in 2020-2021. Pools are apparent and paramount to trout survival.