MBSS Site Summary for: MATT-117-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-117-R-2014-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-117-R-2014-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on MATTAWOMAN CREEK UT in the Mattawoman Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140111.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2014 and again in the summer on 7/9/2014.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 101 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 2.2 %
Forested Land Use 54.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 4/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 6/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 59 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 17 meters 		4/20 (Poor)
Shading 90 %
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 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 5.03
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		7.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 11.9816 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 32
Blacknose Dace 23
Least Brook Lamprey 6
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Cricket Frog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Red Salamander
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Vinca Vine
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 13
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 12
Apsectrotanypus Non-Biting Midges 9
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 9
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 9
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 7
Synurella Amphipod 6
Caecidotea Isopod 6
Scirtidae Marsh Beetle 6
Bittacomorpha 5
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 4
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 4
Alotanypus Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Bezzia Biting Midge 3
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Anisocentropus 1
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Cordulegaster Spiketail Dragonfly 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Chauliodes 1
Coptotomus 1
Dixa 1
Sphaeromias 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.