MBSS Site Summary for: DELA-291-B-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site DELA-291-B-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site DELA-291-B-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MILL CREEK in the watershed, 8-digit code: .
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/2012 and again in the summer on 6/7/2012.

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 - 4.0 / 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 3,223 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 63 %
Agricultural Land Use 10.5 %
Forested Land Use 20.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 69 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 18 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 45 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.53
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1217.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.7529 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
White Sucker 298
Rosyside Dace 78
American Eel 74
Bluegill 74
Tessellated Darter 73
Common Shiner 68
Longnose Dace 34
Satinfin Shiner 34
Creek Chub 33
Spottail Shiner 33
Redbreast Sunfish 20
Blacknose Dace 14
Fallfish 4
Cutlip Minnow 3
Largemouth Bass 3
Pumpkinseed 3
Brown Bullhead 2
Green Sunfish 1
Mummichog 1
Swallowtail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Painted Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Burning Bush
English Ivy
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Hops
Japanese Stiltgrass
Lesser Celandine (Fig Buttercup)
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 51
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 19
Orthocladiinae Midge 15
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 9
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 9
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Stictochironomus Non-Biting Midge 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Cura Flatworm 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.