MBSS Site Summary for: MICR-102-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-102-R-2003-0965 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-102-R-2003-0966 (Opens in a new window)

Located on RADCLIFFE 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 6/17/2003.

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 Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 417 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 78 %
Forested Land Use 21 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 54 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 21 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 50 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.61
Conductivity 170 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		351.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 16.7 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Fathead Minnow 111
Brown Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Synurella Amphipod 25
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 22
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 9
Caecidotea Isopod 8
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 8
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 5
Musculium Fingernail Clam 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Chrysops Deerfly 3
Chironominae Non-Biting Midge 3
Bezzia Biting Midge 3
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 2
Chaetocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 2
Ptychopteridae Phantom Crane Fly 2
Lymnaeidae Pond Snail 1
Ephydridae Shore Fly 1
Corixidae Water Boatman 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Molannodes 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Tipulidae Cranefly 1
Peltodytes Crawling Water Beetle 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.