MBSS Site Summary for: LSUS-102-X-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LSUS-102-X-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LSUS-102-X-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MILL CREEK in the L Susquehanna River watershed, 8-digit code: 02120201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2014 and again in the summer on 7/23/2014.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,370 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 25.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 18.2 %
Forested Land Use 43.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 33 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 54 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.27
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		288.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3828 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 118
American Eel 57
Blue Ridge Sculpin 50
Creek Chub 22
Rosyside Dace 18
Tessellated Darter 5
Brown Trout 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Daylily
English Ivy
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Vinca Vine
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Simulium Black Fly 39
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 8
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 5
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 5
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 5
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 5
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Stilocladius Midge 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Antocha Crane Fly 3
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Dolophilodes Medium Evening Sedge Caddisfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 2
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Isotomidae Springtail 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura 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.