Urbanization in the 1800's Stream Ecology with Dr. Ken Belt: Aquatic Insects Workshop and Field Trip

Photo credit: Gary Peeples

Explore life underwater as we investigate aquatic insects and their connection to the health of our streams. Dr. Ken Belt will present, “Urbanization in the 1800's Stream Ecology” which will follow the history and evolution of an urban reservoir and its watershed, the legacies of pollution, and a look at live aquatic insects from urban and forested watersheds. Afterwards, we will investigate a nearby pond, take a close-up look at live aquatic insects, and discuss our findings. This workshop will give you a great chance to see some aquatic insects under a microscope and learn how to identify some of the common local groups.

Also joining this event will be Bradley Simpson from the Audubon Naturalist Society who will demonstrate the use of their macroinvertebrate identification app, Creek Critters. Please download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play prior to the event so you can follow along and ID the critters you find in the pond!
https://anshome.org/creek-critters/

Dr. Ken Belt has studied urban streams and their ecology in Baltimore for 40 years. He has worked for Baltimore City Department of Public Works, the USDA Forest Service, and the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, and now teaches at the department of Geography and Environmental Science at UMBC. His perspective has been holistic, with an eye for both the engineering of the urban landscape and the connections to aquatic ecosystems.

 “Urbanization in the 1800's Stream Ecology with Dr. Ken Belt: Aquatic Insects Workshop” is being presented in honor of Water/Ways, the newest traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program.The Historical Society of Baltimore County (HSBC) is the first of six Maryland sites to host Water/Ways and the Natural History Society of Maryland is joining HSBC and many local organizations and businesses to promote water-themed programming from May 25, 2019 to July 6, 2019 to raise people’s understanding of what water means to our community. Water/Ways is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Maryland Humanities Council, and was adapted from an exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York.