MBSS Site Summary for: FURN-210-A-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site FURN-210-A-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site FURN-210-A-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PRINCIPIO CREEK in the Furnace Bay watershed, 8-digit code: 02130609.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/19/2012 and again in the summer on 6/25/2012.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,933 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 6.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 73 %
Forested Land Use 17.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 34 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 52 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.07
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		590.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.7451 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 319
Rosyside Dace 253
Common Shiner 129
Tessellated Darter 112
White Sucker 103
Cutlip Minnow 98
Creek Chub 84
American Eel 69
Margined Madtom 54
Blue Ridge Sculpin 48
Swallowtail Shiner 34
Northern Hogsucker 23
Satinfin Shiner 13
River Chub 9
Redbreast Sunfish 4
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 37
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 29
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 13
Orthocladiinae Midge 10
Simulium Black Fly 8
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 6
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Sublettea 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 1
Prostoia Spring 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.