MBSS Site Summary for: CDAM-305-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site CDAM-305-R-2017-LeftBraidMidpointFacingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CDAM-305-R-2017-LeftBraidMidpointFacingUpstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CDAM-305-R-2017-RightBraidMidpointFacingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site CDAM-305-R-2017-RightBraidMidpointFacingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Conowingo Creek in the Conowingo Dam Susq R watershed, 8-digit code: 02120204.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/29/2017 and again in the summer on 7/20/2017.

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 - 4.0 / 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 28,628 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 9.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 68.1 %
Forested Land Use 20.3 %


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 = 65 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 68 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 10 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.69
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		831.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.0013 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 25 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Common Shiner 203
Longnose Dace 150
Smallmouth Bass 88
American Eel 80
Central Stoneroller 71
Blacknose Dace 64
Green Sunfish 64
Chesapeake Logperch 42
Greenside Darter 29
River Chub 29
Tessellated Darter 21
White Sucker 18
Rock Bass 16
Margined Madtom 11
Creek Chub 10
Bluegill 9
Cutlip Minnow 9
Fallfish 7
Rosyface Shiner 6
Yellow Bullhead 5
Northern Hogsucker 3
Flathead Catfish 2
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Pumpkinseed 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Box Turtle
Longtailed Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Northern Water Snake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes rusticus
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
CLINOCERA Aquatic Dance Fly 23
ISONYCHIA Slate Drake Mayfly 15
MACCAFFERTIUM March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 13
CRANGONYX Amphipod 12
DIAMESA Bloodworm 8
HYDROBAENUS Midge 8
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 5
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 4
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 3
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 3
STENELMIS Beetle 3
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 2
LEUCROCUTA Mayfly 2
DIAMESINAE Non-Biting Midges 2
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 1
PSEPHENUS Water Penny 1
RHEOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
SYMPOTTHASTIA Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
MACRONYCHUS Riffle Beetle 1
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 1
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 1
PROMORESIA Riffle Beetle 1
EURYLOPHELLA Mayfly 1
ARGIA Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
CLADOTANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midge 1
CORYNONEURA Non-Biting Midges 1
SYNURELLA Amphipod 1
NEOPLASTA 1
OCHROTRICHIA 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.