TEN MILE CREEK sanctuary:

Bug Catching

Volunteers in and around Audubon's Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary on the central Oregon coast are learning what it really means to be up a creek. Following an afternoon-long lesson by an entomologist, the volunteers collect bugs found in the creek and other coastal basins. The presence or absence of insects can tell experts about the health of the watershed. "It's a citizen-science type project. We have everyone from 11-years-olds to 70-year-olds out there getting wet," says sanctuary manager Paul Engelmeyer. "It's a way to educate the community about the health of a watershed." The project will help establish baselines for water quality and will be used to assess the effectiveness of future restoration activities. Although the sanctuary is closed to the public, you can initiate your own water-monitoring project by calling 541-547-4227.