MBSS Site Summary for: MACK-202-R-2015

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-202-R-2015_Midpoint-downstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-202-R-2015_Midpoint-upstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on DAVIS MILLPOND BRANCH 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 8/26/2015.

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 - 4.3 / 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 3,732 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 5.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 69.6 %
Forested Land Use 22 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 20 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.41
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		127.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.4179 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 73
American Eel 30
Blue Ridge Sculpin 26
Redfin Pickerel 22
Least Brook Lamprey 19
Eastern Mudminnow 11
Redbreast Sunfish 8
Largemouth Bass 4
Chain Pickerel 2
Bluegill 1
Brown Bullhead 1
Pirate Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Red-Bellied Cooter
Pickerel 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
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 26
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 13
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 6
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 5
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 5
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 5
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 2
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 2
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius 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.