MBSS Site Summary for: BELK-221-R-2023

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BELK-221-R-2023-MidpointLookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BELK-221-R-2023-MidpointLookingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on GRAMMIES RUN in the Big Elk Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130606.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/21/2023 and again in the summer on 6/22/2023.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area No data available 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 23.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 37.8 %
Forested Land Use 37.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 32 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 43 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.62 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.28
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		548.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.973 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Rosyside Dace 106
Blacknose Dace 89
Blue Ridge Sculpin 69
White Sucker 24
Creek Chub 23
American Eel 12
Tessellated Darter 12
Longnose Dace 4
Sea Lamprey 3
Cutlip Minnow 2
Largemouth Bass 2
Least Brook Lamprey 2
Common Shiner 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern American Toad
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Faxonius limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 24
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 17
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 13
TRICHOCLINOCERA 8
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 7
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 5
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 5
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 4
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 4
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 4
HYDROBAENUS Midge 4
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 3
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 3
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 3
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 2
ANCYRONYX Spider Riffle Beetle 2
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 2
ANTOCHA Crane Fly 2
PARAKIEFFERIELLA European Non-Biting Midge 1
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 1
NEOPLASTA 1
LEUCTRA  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
CLADOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midge 1
DICROTENDIPES Non-Biting Midges 1
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
STENONEMA Flatheaded Mayfly 1
GLOSSOSOMA Little Black Caddisfly 1
POTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 1
ISONYCHIA Slate Drake 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.