MBSS Site Summary for: MATT-033-S-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-033-S-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-033-S-2012-2 (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 3/6/2012 and again in the summer on 6/29/2012.

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 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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 63 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.97
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		212.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.6667 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 109
Tessellated Darter 51
Brown Bullhead 30
American Eel 27
Tadpole Madtom 14
Spottail Shiner 13
Pumpkinseed 12
Largemouth Bass 10
Chain Pickerel 9
Eastern Mosquitofish 9
Eastern Mudminnow 8
Redbreast Sunfish 3
Creek Chubsucker 1
Sea Lamprey 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

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

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 35
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 10
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 9
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 9
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 7
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 6
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 4
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 3
Centroptilum Small Minnow Mayfly 3
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 3
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 2
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
CAPNIIDAE Small Winter Stonefly 1
PERLODIDAE Perlodid Stonefly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Campeloma 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Leucrocuta Mayfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Siphlonurus Gray Drake Mayfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 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.