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RALEIGH — Spring is just a few weeks away, and we know that bug season is not far behind. Insects may be the key to solving problems with local watersheds.
Swift Creek in Wake County is one of a dozen endangered waterways that the state has made part of a two-year, $2 million water-quality study.
Part of the study involves collecting insects, their larvae and even crawdads that are known to be sensitive to certain pollutants. These "indicator species" will be studied to determine the cause and effects of poor water quality.
State budget woes could plague the project. If one of the employees leaves, the money crunch could make it difficult to replace him or her.
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