MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-105-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 7/16/2010.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 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 107 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 62.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 19.9 %
Forested Land Use 17.4 %


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 9/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 56 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 19 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 25 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.375
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1055.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3625 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 192
Creek Chub 182
Blue Ridge Sculpin 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 38
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 19
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 17
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 7
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 3
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Prodiamesa 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus 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.