MBSS Site Summary for: MACK-113-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-113-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window)

Located on SMITHVILLE DITCH in the Marshyhope Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130306.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/29/2004 and again in the summer on 6/11/2004.

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 - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 210 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 73 %
Forested Land Use 27 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 4/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 3/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 1 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (1 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.25
Conductivity 138 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		225.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.5 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 518
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Crangonyx Amphipod 40
Caecidotea Isopod 39
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 10
Apsectrotanypus Non-Biting Midges 7
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 4
Platycentropus 4
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Enochrus 2
Parachironomus 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Natarsia 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.