MBSS Site Summary for: GEOR-211-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site GEOR-211-R-2003-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GEOR-211-R-2003-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site GEOR-211-R-2003-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on ELK LICK RUN in the Georges Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02141004.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/1/2003 and again in the summer on 7/9/2003.

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 Poor - 2.5 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 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 1,710 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 5 %
Forested Land Use 88 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 14 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.42
Conductivity 75 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		253.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.3 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 147
Blue Ridge Sculpin 11
Fantail Darter 7
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 29
Epeorus Mayfly 14
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 10
Hexatoma Crane Fly 8
Neophylax Caddisfly 5
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 5
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 5
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 4
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 4
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 4
Oemopteryx Stonefly 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 2
Sweltsa Stonefly 2
Polycentropodidae Trupetnet And Tubemaking Caddisfly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Heleniella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 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.