MBSS Site Summary for: LOCR-102-S-2012

Site Photos

Located on SWAN CREEK in the Lower Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130505.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/15/2012 and again in the summer on 7/18/2012.

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 - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.6 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 431 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.4 %
Forested Land Use 76.8 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 61 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 14 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 85 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 85%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.07
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		123.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 22.5364 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 86
Golden Shiner 27
Eastern Mosquitofish 21
Pumpkinseed 20
Bluegill 6
American Eel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Autumn Olive
Callery Pear
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Simulium Black Fly 73
Stegopterna Black Fly 11
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 7
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 2
PISIDIIDAE Pill Clam 2
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 2
ENCHYTRAEIDAE Aquatic Worm 2
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
SIMULIIDAE Black Fly 1
TIPULIDAE Cranefly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Neoporus 1
Pilaria 1
Placobdella 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Synurella Amphipod 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.