MBSS Site Summary for: CE-P-022-301-97


Located on CONOWINGO CR in the Conowingo Dam Susq R watershed, 8-digit code: 02120204.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/5/1997 and again in the summer on 7/1/1997.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 28,012 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 0.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 79.1 %
Forested Land Use 20.1 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 49 %
Embeddedness 6 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 10 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.68
Conductivity 220 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		736 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4 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
White Sucker 351
Longnose Dace 238
Central Stoneroller 98
River Chub 87
Common Shiner 38
Cutlip Minnow 27
Northern Hogsucker 25
Creek Chub 9
Margined Madtom 9
Smallmouth Bass 9
Blacknose Dace 7
Tessellated Darter 6
Green Sunfish 1
Rosyside Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Box Turtle
Fowler's Toad
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 45
Hydrobaenus Midge 9
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 9
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 8
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 6
Heptagenia 6
Diamesa Bloodworm 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 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.