Members of the Octoraro Watershed Association (OWA) took the organization's mission of educating the public about the Octorara Creek on the road by taking part in Oxford's First Friday program.

During the event, OWA members displayed a live touch tank in which visitors could view a sampling of macroinvertebrates that were found in the creek. This year's display included crayfish, crane fly larvae, hellgrammites, caddisfly cases and dragonfly nymphs. In addition, attendees were able to make rubbings of raised paper images of other types of macroinvertebrates.

The samples were collected by OWA president Chotty Sprenkle several days before the event. "I took a small net and went into the Octorara Creek and some of the feeder streams, lifted up rocks and collected them," she stated. "I like to get a good quantity (to display)." She added that the creatures were returned to the creek after the First Friday event.

Sprenkle explained that a stream's quality is determined by the creatures that can be found in the water. "Macroinvertebrates are large insects without backbones, and the presence or absence of certain species are water pollution indicators," she explained. "Some of the macroinvertebrates will live in pollution-tolerant water. Others will live in water that is not tolerant to pollution. By identifying the different macroinvertebrates, you can tell if you have high, medium or low water quality."

For example, she noted, a leech will live in low-quality water because leeches are pollution tolerant. "If you have caddisflies, mayflies or stoneflies, you have good water quality because they are pollution intolerant," Sprenkle added.

The mission of the OWA is to "restore and protect the natural resources of the scenic Octoraro Creek." In addition to community events, OWA members take part in cleanup activities and stream studies. The organization also holds an annual nature photography contest and awards an environmental scholarship to an Octorara Junior-Senior High School student.

For more details, including volunteer opportunities and membership information, visit www.theowa.net. More information is also available at http://www.facebook.com/OctoraroWatershedAssociation. Those with questions may email octorarowa@gmail.com.