MBSS Site Summary for: MACK-115-R-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-115-R-2015_Midpoint-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-115-R-2015_Midpoint-upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on SKINNERS RUN in the Marshyhope Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130306.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/9/2015 and again in the summer on 8/25/2015.

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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,283 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 5.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 69.8 %
Forested Land Use 24.4 %


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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 69 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 11 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
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.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.44
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		243 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.032 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 63
Bluegill 45
Pirate Perch 36
Tessellated Darter 26
Blue Ridge Sculpin 22
Eastern Mudminnow 19
Pumpkinseed 11
Least Brook Lamprey 6
Chain Pickerel 5
Brown Bullhead 3
Yellow Bullhead 3
Largemouth Bass 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Golden Shiner 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 40
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 16
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 10
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 5
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Synurella Amphipod 5
Corbicula Basket Clam 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 2
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Platycentropus 2
Robackia European Non-Biting Midge 2
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Pseudosuccinea Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraphaenocladius 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.