MBSS Site Summary for: DEER-302-R-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site DEER-302-R-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site DEER-302-R-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on DEER CREEK in the Deer Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02120202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/17/2008 and again in the summer on 6/18/2008.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 58,962 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 2.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 65.3 %
Forested Land Use 31.2 %


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 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 19/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.32
Conductivity 167 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		371.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0181 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
American Eel 113
River Chub 65
Fallfish 64
Margined Madtom 35
Cutlip Minnow 32
Redbreast Sunfish 28
Northern Hogsucker 18
Sea Lamprey 14
Brown Bullhead 13
Smallmouth Bass 11
Rock Bass 8
Pumpkinseed 7
Bluegill 6
Rosyface Shiner 6
Tessellated Darter 6
White Sucker 3
Blue Ridge Sculpin 2
Green Sunfish 1
Rainbow Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 17
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 15
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 15
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 13
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 7
Antocha Crane Fly 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Epeorus Mayfly 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Promoresia Riffle Beetle 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Leucrocuta Mayfly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Brachycentridae Humpless Case Maker Caddisfly 1
Leucotrichia 1
Perlesta 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 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.