MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-102-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 Good - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 146 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 65.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 18.6 %
Forested Land Use 15.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 41 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 41 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.31
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		884.988 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3173 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
Blue Ridge Sculpin 199
Blacknose Dace 144
Creek Chub 139
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Tree Of Heaven
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 38
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 34
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 21
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 19
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 17
Orthocladiinae Midge 7
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 5
Naididae Aquatic Worm 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Simulium Black Fly 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Empididae Dance Fly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 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.