MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-102-X-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-102-X-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-102-X-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on WHEEL CREEK in the Atkisson Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130703.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/30/2011 and again in the summer on 7/12/2011.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.3 / 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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 19 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 57 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 5 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.25
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		799.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.037 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 142
Blacknose Dace 129
Creek Chub 112
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 70
Diamesa Bloodworm 12
Orthocladiinae Midge 12
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 6
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Stenelmis Beetle 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
CERATOPOGONIDAE Biting Midge 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes 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.