MBSS Site Summary for: CR-P-345-321-96


Located on MORGAN RUN in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/18/1996 and again in the summer on 7/18/1996.

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 17,770 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 0.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 68.9 %
Forested Land Use 30 %


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 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 19/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 45 %
Embeddedness 10 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.94
Conductivity 139 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		352 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1 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 19 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 458
Longnose Dace 160
Bluntnose Minnow 50
Central Stoneroller 50
Bluegill 42
White Sucker 35
Largemouth Bass 32
Tessellated Darter 22
Northern Hogsucker 17
Rosyside Dace 16
Blacknose Dace 15
Smallmouth Bass 9
Creek Chub 8
Satinfin Shiner 8
Cutlip Minnow 5
Margined Madtom 4
Pumpkinseed 2
Green Sunfish 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 36
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 31
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Epeorus Mayfly 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
Corynoneura 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.