MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-004-X-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-004-X-2013-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-004-X-2013-2 (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 3/20/2013 and again in the summer on 7/8/2013.

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 Good - 4.0 / 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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 9/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 58 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 26 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.23
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		890.6 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
Creek Chub 147
Blacknose Dace 86
Blue Ridge Sculpin 50
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 47
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 16
Stenelmis Beetle 8
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 4
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
DIAMESINAE Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 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.