MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-105-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-105-R-2003-617 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-105-R-2003-618 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-105-R-2003-619 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLE RUN in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/4/2003 and again in the summer on 6/23/2003.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 728 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 16 %
Agricultural Land Use 63 %
Forested Land Use 20 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 10 meters
7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters
14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 15 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 15.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.07
Conductivity 273 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
283.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1 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
Blue Ridge Sculpin 90
Blacknose Dace 23
Rosyside Dace 5
Creek Chub 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Red Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 26
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 16
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 14
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 9
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 6
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 5
Diamesa Bloodworm 5
Antocha Crane Fly 4
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Sweltsa Stonefly 3
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 2
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 2
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Planariidae Flatworm 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Agnetina Golden Stoneflies 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra 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.