MBSS Site Summary for: DEER-460-A-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site DEER-460-A-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site DEER-460-A-2012-2 (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 3/19/2012 and again in the summer on 7/26/2012.

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 99,564 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 9.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 49.9 %
Forested Land Use 37 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 25 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
No water quality measurements available for this site.

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 25 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Spottail Shiner 383
Fallfish 263
Swallowtail Shiner 185
American Eel 167
Tessellated Darter 158
White Sucker 137
Common Shiner 126
River Chub 82
Rosyface Shiner 75
Northern Hogsucker 73
Satinfin Shiner 53
Cutlip Minnow 48
Longnose Dace 47
Smallmouth Bass 45
Redbreast Sunfish 35
Margined Madtom 33
Sea Lamprey 13
Spotfin Shiner 13
Blue Ridge Sculpin 11
Rock Bass 8
Blacknose Dace 6
Rosyside Dace 3
Creek Chub 2
Largemouth Bass 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Water Snake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 30
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 12
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 10
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 5
Antocha Crane Fly 5
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Simulium Black Fly 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Petrophila 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Agapetus Tiny Black Short-Horned Caddisfly 1
Psychomyia Trumpet-Net Caddisfly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Micrasema 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Robackia European Non-Biting Midge 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 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.