MBSS Site Summary for: EVIT-303-R-2004


Located on EVITTS CR in the Evitts Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02141002.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/15/2004 and again in the summer on 8/23/2004.

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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.8 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 49,499 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6 %
Agricultural Land Use 14 %
Forested Land Use 78 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 46 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 41 meters
17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 87 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 18.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.11
Conductivity 208 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
1051 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8 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 18 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 172
Longnose Dace 163
Blacknose Dace 112
Fantail Darter 64
Greenside Darter 48
Central Stoneroller 46
Creek Chub 22
Potomac Sculpin 16
Rainbow Darter 10
Northern Hogsucker 9
Rock Bass 6
Fallfish 5
Smallmouth Bass 4
Bluntnose Minnow 3
White Sucker 3
Golden Redhorse 2
Rainbow Trout 2
Spottail Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 21
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 13
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 10
Allocapnia Small Winter Stonefly 7
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 7
Prosimulium Black Fly 7
Psephenus Water Penny 6
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 4
Oemopteryx Stonefly 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Empididae Dance Fly 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Leptoxis Freshwater Snail 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Isonychia Slate Drake 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.