MBSS Site Summary for: LIBE-323-A-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-323-A-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LIBE-323-A-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BEAVER 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 6,189 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 15.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 54.5 %
Forested Land Use 27 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 42 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 45 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 30 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.515
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		497.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0394 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 232
Blacknose Dace 96
Longnose Dace 45
Cutlip Minnow 35
Rosyside Dace 25
White Sucker 19
Brown Trout 7
Central Stoneroller 6
River Chub 3
Bluegill 2
Northern Hogsucker 2
Creek Chub 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Red-Backed Salamander
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 30
Simulium Black Fly 26
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 15
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 5
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 4
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 3
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 2
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia 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.