MBSS Site Summary for: MATT-033-S-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-033-S-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-033-S-2010-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Mattawoman Creek in the Mattawoman Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140111.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/17/2010 and again in the summer on 7/16/2010.

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 Good - 5.0 / 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 40,503 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 17.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 18.4 %
Forested Land Use 62.4 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 62 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 16 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.01
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		261.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.9272 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 18 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 361
Pumpkinseed 57
Tessellated Darter 47
Largemouth Bass 22
Spottail Shiner 15
Eastern Mudminnow 14
American Eel 10
Gizzard Shad 8
Brown Bullhead 5
Golden Shiner 5
Eastern Mosquitofish 4
Sea Lamprey 3
Tadpole Madtom 3
Spotfin Shiner 2
Chain Pickerel 1
Creek Chubsucker 1
Green Sunfish 1
White Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Box Turtle
Stinkpot

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 21
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 19
Plauditus Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 15
Dannella 6
Amphipoda Scud 5
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 3
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 3
Hyalella Amphipod 2
Corduliidae Emerald Dragonfly 2
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Paramerina Non-Biting Midge 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Paralauterborniella 1
Centroptilum Small Minnow 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.