MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-004-X-2010

Site Photos

Located on UT to Atkisson Reservoir (Wheel Creek) in the Atkisson Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130703.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/21/2010 and again in the summer on 7/12/2010.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 90 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 61.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 13.8 %
Forested Land Use 24.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 9/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 53 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 23 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.22
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		834.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.9651 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Creek Chub 71
Blacknose Dace 24
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 28
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 23
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 15
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 8
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 5
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 4
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Stygobromus Amphipod 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Hemerodromia Tiny 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.