MBSS Site Summary for: GEOR-209-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site GEOR-209-R-2017-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GEOR-209-R-2017-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Sand Spring Run in the Georges Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02141004.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/4/2017 and again in the summer on 8/8/2017.

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 Fair - 3.5 / 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 1,778 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 16.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 6.6 %
Forested Land Use 76.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 27 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 63 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 5 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.32
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		231.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0296 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 81
Brook Trout 36
Creek Chub 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
DIPLECTRONA Net-Spinning Caddisfly 33
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 33
BAETIS Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 11
LEUCTRA  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 5
ISOPERLA Stripetail Stonefly 5
RHYACOPHILA Free-Living Caddisfly 4
DIAMESA Bloodworm 4
CHEUMATOPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
TALLAPERLA Roach-Like Stonefly 3
PTERONARCYS Giant Stonefly 2
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
DIAMESINAE Non-Biting Midges 1
EUKIEFFERIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
MICROPSECTRA Non-Biting Midges 1
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 1
THIENEMANNIELLA Non-Biting Midges 1
TVETENIA Non-Biting Midges 1
MOLOPHILUS 1
YUGUS 1
HEXATOMA Crane Fly 1
CHIMARRA Fingernet Caddisfly 1
WORMALDIA Fingernet Caddisfly 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
LYPE Net Tube Caddisfly 1
SWELTSA Stonefly 1
POLYCENTROPUS Tube Maker Caddisfly 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.