MBSS Site Summary for: LOCR-102-S-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCR-102-S-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LOCR-102-S-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SWAN CR in the Lower Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130505.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/28/2001 and again in the summer on 7/3/2001.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 390 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 12.3 %
Forested Land Use 80.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 10 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 99 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 99%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 2.9 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (2.9 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 5.92
Conductivity 90 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		84.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 20.2 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 1603
Pumpkinseed 213
Golden Shiner 97
Brown Bullhead 22
American Eel 6
Redfin Pickerel 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Watersnake
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stegopterna Black Fly 56
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 11
Lumbriculidae Worm 7
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 6
Caecidotea Isopod 5
Simulium Black Fly 5
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 4
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Endochironomus 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 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.