MBSS Site Summary for: FIMI-207-S-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site FIMI-207-S-2012-MidpointPdownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site FIMI-207-S-2012-MidpointPupstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on FIFTEEN MILE CREEK in the Fifteen Mile Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140511.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/21/2012 and again in the summer on 7/16/2012.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 13,041 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 6.8 %
Forested Land Use 88.5 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 18 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.13
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		241.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3951 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Potomac Sculpin 241
Fantail Darter 77
Bluntnose Minnow 66
Blacknose Dace 52
Creek Chub 32
Rock Bass 30
Central Stoneroller 25
Rainbow Darter 13
White Sucker 11
Greenside Darter 10
Blue Ridge Sculpin 6
Longnose Dace 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Dusky Salamander
Northern Green Frog
Northern Ringneck Snake
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Crown Vetch
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 41
Prosimulium Black Fly 25
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 12
Epeorus Mayfly 9
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 8
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 8
Psephenus Water Penny 2
Ostrocerca Stonefly 1
Taenionema 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 1
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 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.