MBSS Site Summary for: MATT-115-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-115-R-2014-MidpointDownstream(afterbreechingdam) (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-115-R-2014-MidpointUpstream(afterbreechingdam) (Opens in a new window)

Located on OLD WOMAN'S RUN UT in the Mattawoman Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140111.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/3/2014 and again in the summer on 6/24/2014.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 211 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 70.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 0 %
Forested Land Use 29.6 %


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 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 14 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 25 %
Embeddedness 80 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 80%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.66
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		424.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 13.0273 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
Eastern Mudminnow 723
Creek Chubsucker 91
Pumpkinseed 72
Creek Chub 36
Golden Shiner 36
Green Sunfish 35
Blacknose Dace 22
Yellow Bullhead 10
Redbreast Sunfish 5
Bluegill 4
American Eel 3
Rosyside Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Procambarus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Porcelainberry
Privet
Wisteria
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 33
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 24
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 12
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 12
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Meropelopia 8
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Xylotopus Midge 1
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 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.