MBSS Site Summary for: DEER-408-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site DEER-408-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window)

Located on DEER CR in the Deer Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02120202.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/14/2001 and again in the summer on 7/18/2001.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 91,680 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 %
Agricultural Land Use 63 %
Forested Land Use 35 %


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 = 50 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters
19/20 (Optimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 22.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.67
Conductivity 160 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
436.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.9 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 23 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fallfish 590
American Eel 560
Tessellated Darter 280
White Sucker 217
Margined Madtom 161
River Chub 96
Common Shiner 94
Spottail Shiner 88
Sea Lamprey 84
Northern Hogsucker 78
Satinfin Shiner 66
Cutlip Minnow 64
Rosyface Shiner 38
Longnose Dace 37
Blue Ridge Sculpin 35
Blacknose Dace 25
Swallowtail Shiner 18
Smallmouth Bass 14
Redbreast Sunfish 11
Rock Bass 10
Creek Chub 6
Bluegill 1
Cyprinid Hybrid 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 29
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 19
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 9
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 7
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 3
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Perlidae Common Stonefly 3
Antocha Crane Fly 2
Neureclipsis 2
Synorthocladius 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Promoresia Riffle Beetle 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Serratella Mayfly 1
Stygobromus Amphipod 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Helichus Beetle 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 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.