MBSS Site Summary for: MATT-305-X-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-305-X-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-305-X-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 3/29/2011 and again in the summer on 7/28/2011.

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 16,283 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 25.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 12.5 %
Forested Land Use 57.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 88 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.935
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		183.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 6.9585 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 127
Chain Pickerel 16
Pumpkinseed 9
Redfin Pickerel 7
Golden Shiner 5
Tessellated Darter 5
American Eel 3
Eastern Mudminnow 3
Sea Lamprey 3
Largemouth Bass 2
Redbreast Sunfish 2
Yellow Bullhead 2
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambaridae
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Siphlonurus Gray Drake Mayfly 15
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 10
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 9
Caecidotea Isopod 8
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 7
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 4
Hydrobaenus Midge 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Natarsia Non-Biting Midges 2
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Neoporous Predaceous Diving Beetle 1
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Centroptilum Small Minnow Mayfly 1
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Enallagma Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Basiaeschna 1
Dasyhelea 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.