MBSS Site Summary for: BRET-450-H-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site BRET-450-H-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BRET-450-H-2008-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BRET-450-H-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site BRET-450-H-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MACINTOSH RUN in the Breton Bay watershed, 8-digit code: 02140104.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/24/2008 and again in the summer on 6/11/2008.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 17,422 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 26.2 %
Forested Land Use 67.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 64 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 26 meters 		20/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.17
Conductivity 90 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		501.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 8.0939 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Redbreast Sunfish 88
Tessellated Darter 14
American Eel 12
Margined Madtom 11
Rosyface Shiner 11
Swallowtail Shiner 9
Spottail Shiner 6
Least Brook Lamprey 5
Eastern Mudminnow 4
Bluegill 3
Pirate Perch 3
Largemouth Bass 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 28
Gammarus Amphipod 12
Plauditus Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 12
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 9
Simulium Black Fly 7
Stenelmis Beetle 6
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 6
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 5
Caecidotea Isopod 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 4
Neoporus 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Psephenus Water Penny 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Timpanoga 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 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.