MBSS Site Summary for: MICR-101-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-101-R-2003-0953 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-101-R-2003-0954 (Opens in a new window)

Located on HAMBLETON CR in the Middle Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130509.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/1/2003 and again in the summer on 6/30/2003.

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 Poor - 2.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,277 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 89 %
Forested Land Use 8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 39 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 40 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 92 %
Embeddedness 10 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 26 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.16
Conductivity 149 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		473.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.1 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 1814
Tadpole Madtom 57
Pumpkinseed 35
Eastern Mudminnow 29
American Eel 23
Golden Shiner 23
Green Sunfish 22
Brown Bullhead 9
Black Crappie 8
Eastern Mosquitofish 4
Largemouth Bass 3
Yellow Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Painted Turtle
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Northern Watersnake
Queen Snake
Southern Leopard Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Naididae Aquatic Worm 43
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 26
Glyptotendipes 19
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 11
Parachironomus 5
Musculium Fingernail Clam 4
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 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.