MBSS Site Summary for: MACK-103-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-103-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-103-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MILES BR in the Marshyhope Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130306.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/25/2004 and again in the summer on 6/3/2004.

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 Poor - 1.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 725 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 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 66 %
Forested Land Use 32 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 87 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 0.8 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (0.8 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 5.84
Conductivity 92 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		72.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 11.2 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 418
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Black Racer
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 22
Cnephia Black Fly 15
Musculium Fingernail Clam 10
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 9
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 8
Crangonyx Amphipod 7
Hydrobaenus Midge 7
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 5
Caecidotea Isopod 4
Prosimulium Black Fly 3
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 3
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheosmittia 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.