MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-127-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-127-R-2003-632 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-127-R-2003-633 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-127-R-2003-851 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MORGAN RUN UT4 in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/5/2003 and again in the summer on 6/18/2003.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 451 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 2 %
Agricultural Land Use 78 %
Forested Land Use 19 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 55 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 14.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.31
Conductivity 138 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		343.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6 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 99
Blue Ridge Sculpin 61
Creek Chub 38
Rosyside Dace 32
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Northern Slimy Salamander
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

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 60
Neophylax Caddisfly 13
Allocapnia Small Winter Stonefly 9
Stegopterna Black Fly 8
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Sweltsa Stonefly 1
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 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.