MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-318-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-318-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-318-R-2014-2 (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 3/11/2014 and again in the summer on 8/8/2014.

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 Good - 4.7 / 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 12,021 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 9.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 59.1 %
Forested Land Use 30.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 55 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 23 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 35 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.8
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		425.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.9069 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 16 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 552
Central Stoneroller 297
Longnose Dace 184
Rosyside Dace 156
Blacknose Dace 113
Creek Chub 39
Tessellated Darter 30
White Sucker 26
Bluntnose Minnow 22
Bluegill 14
Common Shiner 13
Cutlip Minnow 7
Northern Hogsucker 5
Rainbow Trout 2
Brown Trout 1
River Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 54
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 24
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 13
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 9
Antocha Crane Fly 6
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 2
Epeorus Mayfly 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Isonychia Slate Drake Mayfly 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.