MBSS Site Summary for: MATT-033-S-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-033-S-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-033-S-2011-2 (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 3/15/2011 and again in the summer on 7/25/2011.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.765
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		158.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 6.0596 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
Bluegill 52
Tessellated Darter 23
Brown Bullhead 21
Pumpkinseed 13
American Eel 3
Chain Pickerel 3
Sea Lamprey 3
Eastern Mudminnow 2
Largemouth Bass 2
Tadpole Madtom 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Least Brook Lamprey 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

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
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 30
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 10
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 9
LIMNEPHILIDAE Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 9
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 6
PERLIDAE Common Stonefly 5
Perlesta 5
Hydrobaenus Midge 5
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 5
Siphlonurus Gray Drake Mayfly 4
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 3
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 3
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
BAETIDAE Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Centroptilum Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Campeloma 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.