MBSS Site Summary for: MACK-204-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-204-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-204-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on NORTH DAVIS MILL POND 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 6/8/2004.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 1,854 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 81 %
Forested Land Use 18 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 70 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 25 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
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 15.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.53
Conductivity 170 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		65.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.1 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blue Ridge Sculpin 111
Eastern Mudminnow 48
Least Brook Lamprey 22
American Eel 21
Pirate Perch 11
Redfin Pickerel 8
Tessellated Darter 5
Chain Pickerel 3
Bluegill 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 59
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 26
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 15
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 5
Synurella Amphipod 4
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 3
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Trissopelopia 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.