MBSS Site Summary for: BACK-101-R-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-101-R-2016_midpoint downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BACK-101-R-2016_midpoint upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Herring Run in the Back River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130901.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/3/2016 and again in the summer on 6/20/2016.

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 N R
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 123 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 96.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 3.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 39 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 36 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.63
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		2094.98 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.6094 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:
Fish data is unavailable or no fish observed.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Callery Pear
English Ivy
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
Norway Maple
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
White Mulberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 49
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 41
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.