MBSS Site Summary for: LSUS-117-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LSUS-117-R-2004-94 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LSUS-117-R-2004-95 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LSUS-117-R-2004-96 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MILL CR CHESAPEAKE BAY in the L Susquehanna River watershed, 8-digit code: 02120201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/31/2004 and again in the summer on 7/26/2004.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 226 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 11 %
Agricultural Land Use 73 %
Forested Land Use 14 %


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 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 48 meters
11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 27 meters
11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 17.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.79
Conductivity 279 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
410.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6 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 290
Blue Ridge Sculpin 70
Rosyside Dace 18
Tessellated Darter 13
Creek Chub 8
American Eel 5
White Sucker 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 34
Diamesa Bloodworm 20
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 8
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 7
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Caecidotea Isopod 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 3
Simulium Black Fly 2
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 1
Wormaldia Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesinae 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.