MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-318-A-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-318-A-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-318-A-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MORGAN RUN in the Liberty Reservoir watershed, 8-digit code: 02130907.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/18/2011 and again in the summer on 6/7/2011.

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 - 4.3 / 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 12,141 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 9.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 59.3 %
Forested Land Use 30.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 44 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 75 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 50 %
Embeddedness 15 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.45
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		463.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0893 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 239
Rosyside Dace 94
Central Stoneroller 63
Longnose Dace 63
Blacknose Dace 47
Creek Chub 23
Northern Hogsucker 15
White Sucker 14
Cutlip Minnow 7
Bluntnose Minnow 5
Tessellated Darter 5
Common Shiner 2
River Chub 2
Bluegill 1
Brown Trout 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 16
EPHEMERELLIDAE Spiny Crawler Mayfly 13
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 12
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Simulium Black Fly 9
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 7
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 7
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 2
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 2
Helichus Beetle 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
EMPIDIDAE Dance Fly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Diamesa Bloodworm 1
Drunella Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella 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.