Many land management and other non-regulatory programs assess water quality using aquatic macroinvertebrates. Often they conduct these assessments using regulatory protocols, while their goal is for non-regulatory purposes. The costs of acquiring data using regulatory protocols can be burdensome both financially and on personnel resources. In Great Smoky Mountains National Park water quality was assessed using six sampling methods (kicknet, Dnet, rockwash, sand, leafpack, and visual samples). Data for this study were collected from nine wadeable streams flowing through mountainous forests. The purpose of this study was, in part, to provide evidence-based suggestions for refining water quality sampling methods. The six sampling methods were compared to determine if similar data could be obtained using fewer collection methods. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic unit. Six metrics were compared: richness, abundance, Shannon diversity, evenness, dominance, and effort ratio (abundance/richness). Then the methods that collected high-diversity samples were combined and compared with the current protocol of using all six sampling methods. An ANOVA and general linear model (P less than 0.05) were used for comparisons. The combination kicknet–visual or rock wash–Dnet–visual sampling methods produced similar richness, Shannon diversity, evenness, and dominance compared with the current protocol. However, these combinations of methods had lower abundance and effort ratios than the current protocol. Using the reduced sampling methods will lower the time required for identifications, sorting, and field time, which can reduce costs for programs that monitor water quality for non-regulatory purposes. Methods are currently being refined using this guidance.

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