MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-216-R-2000

Site Photos

Located on LITTLE MORGAN RUN in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/7/2000 and again in the summer on 6/15/2000.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 843 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 2.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 74.4 %
Forested Land Use 21.5 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 16 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 61 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 73 %
Embeddedness 9 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.49
Conductivity 210 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		637.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 272
Blue Ridge Sculpin 83
Creek Chub 74
Rosyside Dace 61
White Sucker 38
Bluntnose Minnow 35
Central Stoneroller 3
Pumpkinseed 2
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

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
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 14
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 13
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 13
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 12
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 11
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Orthocladiinae Midge 7
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 7
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Baetis Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 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.