MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-102-X-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-102-X-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-102-X-2014-2 (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 3/12/2014 and again in the summer on 6/26/2014.

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 - 2.0 / 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 82.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 13.1 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 51 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 29 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.15
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		887 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.2628 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 277
Blue Ridge Sculpin 159
Creek Chub 103
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Painted Turtle
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Tree Of Heaven
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 34
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 23
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 15
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 10
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 4
Antocha Crane Fly 3
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Empididae Dance Fly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group 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.