MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-004-X-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-004-X-2012_Mid-pointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-004-X-2012_Mid-pointUpstream (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 4/3/2012 and again in the summer on 6/13/2012.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.3 / 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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 42 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 33 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 55 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 55%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


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
Creek Chub 69
Blacknose Dace 53
Blue Ridge Sculpin 15
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Empress Tree
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 15
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 14
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 8
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 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.