MBSS Site Summary for: MARS-224-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MARS-224-R-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MARS-224-R-2014-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on MARSH RUN in the Marsh Run watershed, 8-digit code: 02140503.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/15/2014 and again in the summer on 7/17/2014.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 13,459 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 20.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 64.8 %
Forested Land Use 13.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 19/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 45 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 35 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 90 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 90%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 8.08
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		698.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.3753 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Central Stoneroller 13
Fallfish 12
Green Sunfish 4
Rock Bass 4
Fantail Darter 3
Smallmouth Bass 3
Blacknose Dace 1
Bluegill 1
Bluntnose Minnow 1
Rainbow Trout 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:
Empress Tree
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
Tree Of Heaven
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 52
Simulium Black Fly 19
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 7
Crangonyx Amphipod 6
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 2
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Cardiocladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Diamesinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia 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.