MBSS Site Summary for: GA-A-094-303-97


Located on BEAR CR in the Youghiogheny River watershed, 8-digit code: 05020201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/10/1997 and again in the summer on 7/28/1997.

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.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 19,611 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 25.8 %
Forested Land Use 73.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 20/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.13
Conductivity 122 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		171.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.9 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Longnose Dace 54
Blacknose Dace 45
White Sucker 20
Brown Trout 13
Creek Chub 4
Rainbow Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander
Northern Dusky Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus carinirostris

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 24
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 24
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 17
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 15
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 8
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 7
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 6
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 5
Cinygmula Dark Red Quill Mayfly 4
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Haploperla Green Stonefly 3
Epeorus Mayfly 3
Serratella Mayfly 3
Simulium Black Fly 3
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Probezzia Biting Midges 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Sublettea 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Blepharicera Net-Winged Midges 1
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 1
Diploperla 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 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.