MBSS Site Summary for: MICR-205-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-205-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-205-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MORGAN CR UT 2 in the Middle Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130509.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/26/2002 and again in the summer on 6/20/2002.

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 - 2.7 / 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 1,535 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 4 %
Agricultural Land Use 87 %
Forested Land Use 6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 63 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 12 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 89 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 24.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 9.08
Conductivity 630 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		2959 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 9 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 28
Eastern Mudminnow 16
Tadpole Madtom 14
Pumpkinseed 3
Bluegill 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog
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 22
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 10
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 8
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 4
Calopteryx Damselfly 4
Stegopterna Black Fly 3
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 3
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Limnodrilus Worm 2
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Musculium Fingernail Clam 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Glossiphoniidae Leech 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Lymnaeidae Pond Snail 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra 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.