MBSS Site Summary for: BELK-110-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BELK-110-R-2017-MidpointFacingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BELK-110-R-2017-MidpointFacingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Gramies Run in the Big Elk Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130606.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/5/2017 and again in the summer on 6/16/2017.

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 Good - 5.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)

Catchment area 255 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 23.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 40 %
Forested Land Use 31.5 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters
11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 6.99
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
598.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.3334 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 283
Blacknose Dace 183
Rosyside Dace 159
Creek Chub 68
White Sucker 31
American Eel 17
Least Brook Lamprey 13
Tessellated Darter 11
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:

Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:

Burning Bush
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 19
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 10
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 9
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 9
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 7
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
ANCHYTARSUS Beetle 6
MACCAFFERTIUM March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 6
DOLOPHILODES Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 6
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 6
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 5
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 4
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 4
TRISSOPELOPIA Non-Biting Midges 3
POLYCENTROPUS Tube Maker Caddisfly 2
ECTOPRIA Water Penny Beetle 2
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 2
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 2
MICROTENDIPES Non-Biting Midges 2
DIPLECTRONA Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
CHAETOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
STENELMIS Beetle 1
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 1
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 1
TIPULIDAE Cranefly 1
PYCNOPSYCHE Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
LEUCTRA  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
PHYSA Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
NIGRONIA Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 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.