MBSS Site Summary for: ATKI-106-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-106-R-2016_ midpoint upstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ATKI-106-R-2016_midpoint downstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Heavenly Waters in the Atkisson Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130703.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/30/2016 and again in the summer on 7/13/2016.

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 - 5.0 / 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 685 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 65.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 6 %
Forested Land Use 27.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 39 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 36 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Shading 25 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.73
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1258.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.8351 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 1098
Blacknose Dace 226
Longnose Dace 112
White Sucker 98
Creek Chub 40
Rosyside Dace 5
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Privet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 45
Diamesa Bloodworm 28
Orthocladiinae Midge 12
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 11
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 5
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Philopotamidae Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus 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.