MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-003-X-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI_003_X_2016_Midpoint downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI_003_X_2016_Midpoint upstream (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 4/5/2016 and again in the summer on 8/11/2016.

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 - 3.7 / 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 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 28 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
No water quality measurements available for this site.

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 327
Creek Chub 239
Blue Ridge Sculpin 45
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
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 37
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 14
Stenelmis Beetle 11
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 10
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 10
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 5
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Simulium Black Fly 3
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Siphlonurus Gray Drake Mayfly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Tipula Crane Fly 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.