MBSS Site Summary for: MICR-208-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-208-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-208-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-208-R-2002-3 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MORGAN CR UT 1 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 8/7/2002.

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 Good - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,360 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 88 %
Forested Land Use 9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 10 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.4 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.18
Conductivity 270 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1047 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.6 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
Redbreast Sunfish 183
Bluegill 105
Tessellated Darter 44
Pumpkinseed 40
Eastern Mudminnow 35
Least Brook Lamprey 22
Largemouth Bass 19
Golden Shiner 16
Creek Chubsucker 4
American Eel 1
Brown Bullhead 1
Tadpole Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel 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
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 14
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 7
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 6
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 6
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 6
Simulium Black Fly 5
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 4
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 3
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 3
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 3
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 2
Oecetis Long-Horned Caddisfly 2
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Tabanus Biting Horsefly 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus 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.