MBSS Site Summary for: MATT-306-X-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-306-X-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-306-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 8/9/2011.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 10,971 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 23.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 11.7 %
Forested Land Use 59.8 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 69 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 6 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.945
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		192.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 6.6422 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 74
Yellow Bullhead 14
Redbreast Sunfish 13
American Eel 12
Redfin Pickerel 9
Golden Shiner 8
Green Sunfish 8
Pumpkinseed 6
Sea Lamprey 6
Largemouth Bass 5
Least Brook Lamprey 5
Creek Chubsucker 3
Eastern Mudminnow 3
Margined Madtom 2
Tessellated Darter 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambaridae
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 25
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 17
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 13
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 7
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Hyalella Amphipod 5
GORDIIDAE Horsehair Worm 4
Caecidotea Isopod 4
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 4
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Hydrobaenus Midge 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Caenis Mayfly 2
NAIDIDAE Aquatic Worm 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
LIBELLULIDAE Skimmer Dragonfly 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
CERATOPOGONIDAE Biting Midge 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Hydroptila Microcaddisfly 1
SCIOMYZIDAE Marsh Fly 1
COENAGRIONIDAE Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 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.