MBSS Site Summary for: LSUS-108-R-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LSUS-108-R-2017-MidpointFacingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LSUS-108-R-2017-MidpointFacingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Susquehanna River in the L Susquehanna River watershed, 8-digit code: 02120201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/29/2017 and again in the summer on 6/21/2017.

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 - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 181 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 63.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 7.1 %
Forested Land Use 24.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 9/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 28 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 47 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 65 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 65%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.17
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		378.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.0587 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 73
Creek Chub 27
American Eel 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Ground Ivy
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
OPTIOSERVUS Riffle Beetle 49
GAMMARUS Amphipod 31
EPHEMERELLA Sulphur Mayfly 19
OULIMNIUS Riffle Beetle 7
AMPHINEMURA Spring Stonefly 7
DIPLECTRONA Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
PARAMETRIOCNEMUS Non-Biting Midges 3
BAETIS Blue-Winged Olive Mayfly 2
NEOPHYLAX Caddisfly 2
LEUCTRA  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 2
HETEROCLOEON 1
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
HYDROPSYCHE Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
PARACLADOPELMA Non-Biting Midge 1
CHAETOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
MACCAFFERTIUM March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
STEMPELLINELLA 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.