MBSS Site Summary for: LOCR-102-S-2006


Located on Swan Creek in the Lower Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130505.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/27/2006 and again in the summer on 7/26/2006.

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 - 2.7 / 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 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 67 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 8 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 28.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.5 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.5 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 5.82
Conductivity 62 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		111.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 35.4022 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
Eastern Mudminnow 310
Eastern Mosquitofish 92
Pumpkinseed 54
Golden Shiner 26
American Eel 12
Brown Bullhead 7
Black Crappie 6
Redfin Pickerel 5
Bluegill 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Common Five-Lined Skink
Northern Green Frog
Northern Watersnake
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 66
Synurella Amphipod 12
Musculium Fingernail Clam 9
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 7
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 4
Hydroporus Water Beetle 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Simuliidae Black Fly 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Chauliodes 1
Mesosmittia 1
Ormosia Cranefly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Erpobdellidae Leech 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.