MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-117-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-117-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-117-R-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on LIBERTY RESERVOIR UT in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/11/2014 and again in the summer on 6/18/2014.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 339 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 8.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 18.2 %
Forested Land Use 67.2 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 38 meters
13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 6.88
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
404.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1718 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 96
Blacknose Dace 87
Creek Chub 22
Rosyside Dace 12
Largemouth Bass 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Green Frog
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:

Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Shrub Honeysuckle
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 24
Neophylax Caddisfly 22
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 15
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 9
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 6
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Antocha Crane Fly 3
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 3
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance 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.