MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-004-X-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-004-X-2015_Midpoint-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-004-X-2015_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 4/23/2015 and again in the summer on 6/23/2015.

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 - 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 76.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 2.2 %
Forested Land Use 21.5 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 38 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 42 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.13
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		960.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.1993 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 117
Creek Chub 61
Blue Ridge Sculpin 24
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 Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 40
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 12
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Stenelmis Beetle 6
Simulium Black Fly 6
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 5
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Microvelia Small Water Strider Beetle 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 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.