In coastal plain regions, headwater streams are often slow-moving with variable flows and little is known about the physiochemical effects on benthic macroinvertebrate communities, especially under low flow and low dissolved oxygen conditions. A study is being conducted in a subtropical watershed in Louisiana where sluggish and seasonally hypoxic streams are common. The research assesses the usefulness of macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality for headwater streams in this area. In April and August 2006, benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected at 11 locations with a core sampler and monthly dissolved oxygen and velocity measurements were taken throughout the year. Results from this study show that despite the low flow and low dissolved oxygen conditions, macroinvertebrates were relatively abundant throughout the watershed. Species density varied from 88 to 797 individuals per m², Shannon-Weiner index values ranged from 0.57 – 1.94, and percent EPT taxa ranged from 0 – 21.53. While percent EPT were positively correlated with dissolved oxygen (p<0.01), no significant relationship was found between Shannon-Weiner and dissolved oxygen. These results suggest that biological criteria for developing water quality indicators need to be refined for this subtropical area with very gentle topographic features.