MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-003-X-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-003-X-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-003-X-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on WHEEL CREEK UT in the Atkisson Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130703.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/2014 and again in the summer on 6/26/2014.

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Results:

An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) is a scientific tool used to identify and classify stream health. An IBI associates anthropogenic influences on a stream or with biological condition in the stream, and is formulated using data developed from biosurveys.
Details on the development and application of MBSS IBIs are in this document.
Fish IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 105 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 75 %
Agricultural Land Use 2.3 %
Forested Land Use 22.7 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 22 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 59 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.2
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		830.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.192 mg/L

Biological Stream Condition:

Surveys of the organisms living within a stream can give indications of stream health. Species richness, or the number of different species present, as well as indicator species (species whose presence, absence or abundance can serve as a measure of environmental conditions) are informative for stream health. 		Close-up of a mayfly indicator species.

Fish Survey Results:
The following 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 64
Creek Chub 60
Blue Ridge Sculpin 32
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 58
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 10
Stenelmis Beetle 10
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 8
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 5
Hydrobaenus Midge 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Kick net sampling for macroinvertebrates.
Sampling with a kick net.

Information disclaimer: The information and data on this page is for guidance and general planning purposes only. It should not be used to make decisions on specific matters.