MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-204-C-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-204-C-2000-15_03 (Opens in a new window)

Located on COOKS BR in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/11/2000 and again in the summer on 6/7/2000.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,604 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 25 %
Forested Land Use 74.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 70 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 13 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.39
Conductivity 120 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		495.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 321
Blacknose Dace 62
Longnose Dace 31
Creek Chub 16
Tessellated Darter 8
Yellow Bullhead 8
White Sucker 7
Green Sunfish 4
River Chub 2
Smallmouth Bass 2
Fathead Minnow 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 24
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 14
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 12
Serratella Mayfly 12
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 9
Simulium Black Fly 7
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 6
Prosimulium Black Fly 5
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 4
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 4
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 2
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Helichus Beetle 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Dixa 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 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.