MBSS Site Summary for: MICR-204-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-204-R-2003-1016 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-204-R-2003-1017 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MORGAN CR UT2 in the Middle Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130509.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2003 and again in the summer on 7/23/2003.

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 - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,867 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 86 %
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 = 55 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 44 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 80 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 80%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.42
Conductivity 233 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		818.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.4 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 22
Tessellated Darter 21
Tadpole Madtom 18
American Eel 16
Mummichog 15
Satinfin Shiner 14
Eastern Mudminnow 6
White Perch 6
Brown Bullhead 3
Creek Chubsucker 3
Pumpkinseed 3
Redbreast Sunfish 3
Golden Shiner 1
Yellow Perch 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Southern Leopard Frog

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
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 44
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 31
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 6
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 4
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 4
Chironomidae Non-Biting Midge 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 3
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 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.