MBSS Site Summary for: DIVI-107-R-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site DIVI-107-R-2015_Top-of-site-looking-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site DIVI-107-R-2015_Top-of-site-looking-upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on PUSEY BRANCH in the Dividing Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130204.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2015 and again in the summer on 8/24/2015.

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 Poor - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 5,797 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 17.9 %
Forested Land Use 72 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 5.18
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		17.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 17.181 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 3
Redfin Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 26
Zalutschia Non-Biting Midge 19
Hydrobaenus Midge 19
Stegopterna Black Fly 9
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 7
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 6
Orthocladiinae Midge 5
Crangonyx Amphipod 5
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Diptera True Fly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Synurella Amphipod 3
Simuliidae Black Fly 2
Tabanidae Horse Fly 2
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 2
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Bryophaenocladius 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 1
Erioptera Cranefly 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.