MBSS Site Summary for: CE-P-022-316-97


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 6/25/1997.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 27,350 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 80.8 %
Forested Land Use 18.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 19/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 9/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 25 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 24.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.57
Conductivity 223 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		774.2 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 20 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 112
Central Stoneroller 104
Common Shiner 95
White Sucker 90
River Chub 84
Cutlip Minnow 78
Margined Madtom 44
Blacknose Dace 31
Northern Hogsucker 30
Satinfin Shiner 27
Creek Chub 17
Rosyface Shiner 3
Rosyside Dace 3
Smallmouth Bass 3
Yellow Bullhead 3
Green Sunfish 2
Spottail Shiner 2
Tessellated Darter 2
Brown Trout 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
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 52
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 14
Sublettea 7
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 7
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 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.