MBSS Site Summary for: MACK-105-R-2004


Located on MILL CR MARSHYHOPE CR 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 - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 381 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 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 97 %
Forested Land Use 2 %


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 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 63 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 12 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 95 %
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 18.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 3.1 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (3.1 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.37
Conductivity 172 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		266.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.5 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 50
Bluegill 2
Chain Pickerel 2
Pirate Perch 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Ratsnake
Fowler's Toad
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Common Reed (Phragmites)
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 40
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 15
Caecidotea Isopod 14
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 9
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 7
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Hydrobaenus Midge 5
Calopteryx Damselfly 4
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 4
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes 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.