MBSS Site Summary for: LSUS-293-A-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LSUS-293-A-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LSUS-293-A-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MILL RUN in the L Susquehanna River watershed, 8-digit code: 02120201.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2012 and again in the summer on 7/3/2012.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,379 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 20.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 17.1 %
Forested Land Use 53.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 43 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 47 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.28
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		274.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6316 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Rosyside Dace 257
Blacknose Dace 131
Creek Chub 74
Blue Ridge Sculpin 64
Tessellated Darter 53
Common Shiner 32
American Eel 31
Cutlip Minnow 16
Green Sunfish 10
White Sucker 9
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Water Snake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus bartonii bartonii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 65
Diamesa Bloodworm 8
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 6
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 4
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 3
Simulium Black Fly 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Acroneuria Golden Stoneflies 1
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Epeorus Mayfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 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.