Streams in the Ozark Highlands (central USA) are physically complex habitats with high biodiversity. Hyporheic zones in deep gravel beds produce diverse and abundant invertebrates, which likely provide substantial energy to stream food webs. A common method to sample hyporheic invertebrates is the Bou-Rouch pumping method. We speculated that hammering a steel driver creates a local disturbance that alters invertebrate communities at the sample location. Alternatively, leaving a sample well in place for an extended period might affect local communities by creating a unique microhabitat for colonization within the well. We addressed these questions in a shallow glide of an Ozark reference stream in October 2023. The study included 18 total wells, 24 samples, and 4 treatments (6 replicate samples per treatment). On Day 1, 12 wells were installed, with 6 sampled immediately (“Immediate1” treatment). All 12 were then left in the sediment for a week. On Day 7, all 12 existing wells were sampled (6 “Repeat” and 6 “Delayed”), with an additional 6 wells installed then sampled immediately (“Immediate2”). This combination allowed us to determine whether well installation is a disturbance, assess recovery of the community after a known disturbance (removing invertebrates by pumping), and control for any natural changes in community structure through time. Preliminary results (with ~half the data currently processed) indicate similar community structure between immediate and delayed samples and that 7 days allows full recovery from a pump sampling event. If these patterns hold, we conclude that Bou-Rouch sampling is a flexible strategy for characterizing hyporheic communities and is robust to variations in sample timing. Results of this study will be useful for informing future study design decisions to ensure precise description of hyporheic communities and enhance our understanding of the hyporheic zone’s role in supporting iconic stream animals like fish, birds, and bats.