MBSS Site Summary for: MATT-201-A-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-201-A-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-201-A-2008-2 (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 4/23/2008 and again in the summer on 7/28/2008.

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 Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,744 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.8 %
Forested Land Use 71.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 3/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		5/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 10 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 27.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 2.8 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (2.8 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 5.79
Conductivity 56 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		46.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 13.2946 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 21
Redfin Pickerel 9
Yellow Bullhead 8
Creek Chubsucker 4
Bluegill 3
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Cricket Frog
Gray Treefrog
Northern Black Racer
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 76
Synurella Amphipod 7
Tanypus Non-Biting Midge 4
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Lestidae Spreadwinged Damselfly 2
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 2
Neoporus 2
Hyalella Amphipod 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Peltodytes Crawling Water Beetle 2
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Limonia 1
Sialis Alderfly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Corixidae Water Boatman 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.