MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-006-X-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-006-X-2013-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-006-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 9/13/2013.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 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 57 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 72.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 5.8 %
Forested Land Use 22 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 48 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 33 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.41
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1041.2 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 140
Blacknose Dace 32
Blue Ridge Sculpin 4
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Bamboo
Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 52
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 21
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 7
Tipula Crane Fly 6
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus 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.