MBSS Site Summary for: MATT-308-A-2010

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-308-A-2010-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MATT-308-A-2010-2 (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 4/17/2010 and again in the summer on 7/26/2010.

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 - 2.3 / 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 29,231 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 21.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 18 %
Forested Land Use 58.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 2/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 1/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 1/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 18 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 45 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.12
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		301.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 6.4062 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
Tessellated Darter 2
Bluegill 1
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Acentrella Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 35
Baetidae Small Minnow Mayfly 26
Plauditus Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 11
Cladotanytarsus Non-Biting Midge 8
Stenelmis Beetle 7
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 4
Amphipoda Scud 4
Ephemerellidae Spiny Crawler Mayfly 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Sphaeromias 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Perlidae Common Stonefly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 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.