MBSS Site Summary for: MACK-218-R-2004

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-218-R-2004-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MACK-218-R-2004-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MARSHYHOPE CR UT 2 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 6/8/2004.

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 Fair - 3.6 / 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 1,423 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 79 %
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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 61 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 14 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
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 18.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.68
Conductivity 179 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		154.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.6 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 129
American Eel 66
Tessellated Darter 26
Least Brook Lamprey 25
Blue Ridge Sculpin 18
Yellow Bullhead 18
Pirate Perch 17
Redfin Pickerel 13
Tadpole Madtom 8
Margined Madtom 7
Redbreast Sunfish 7
Bluegill 5
Chain Pickerel 4
Brown Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Mud Turtle
Fowler's Toad
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Watersnake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

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

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 32
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 8
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 7
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 6
Synurella Amphipod 6
Caecidotea Isopod 4
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 4
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Unniella Non-Biting Midge 1
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 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.