The Zippin method collection procedure, which actually involves multiple, repeated seine hauls in the same selected riffle area, was accomplished in the following manner.
1. A 20 foot common sense purse seine was set in a pre-selected area of primary habitat. In some areas, the group was already familiar with locations where darters had been taken previously.
2. Kickers formed a line about twenty feet in front of the seine opening and began turning over rocks and stirring the water column while gradually advancing toward the seine.
3. After the fish were driven into the net, the seine was lifted and carried to the bank where the fish were identified, counted and returned to the stream away from the sampling area.
4. The process was then repeated in the same location until relatively few or no fish were taken. In each strip, about 300 square feet of riffle were sampled.
Aquatic insects were collected using the triangular kick-net. To use the kick-net, a holder of the net and an agitator of the water were necessary. The kick-net, which had a mesh of 1050 microns, was placed on the substrate and moved upstream for a distance of 10 feet over the time of one minute while the substrate was agitated directly in front of the net. When possible, samples were taken in triplicate. Taxa were then identified on-site. This information was then used to determine the water's ability to support macroinvertebrates and to determine the pollution index of the water at each site.
To determine the water velocity, a global water velocity measuring tool was used. At one foot increments across the stream water velocity was measured. The average water velocity was then computed by the velocimeter. These data were used in figuring the discharge of the riffle.
Vegetation was analyzed along the transect line by identifying the larger trees and riparian vegetation. Plant specimens were identified using available keys either in the field or from specimens returned to the lab.
Water quality was evaluated using a Hach water chemistry kit, Hach conductivity meter, a YSI dissolved oxygen meter and a Hach pH meter. A spectrophotometer and powder pillow reagents were used to determine the nitrate and phosphate levels. Dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness and alkalinity were determined onsite. Water temperature was determined using a digital thermometer. The data obtained were tabulated and compared with available data on water quality.