MBSS Site Summary for: MICR-215-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-215-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-215-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MORGAN CR in the Middle Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130509.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/2/2002 and again in the summer on 6/10/2002.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,698 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 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 93 %
Forested Land Use 5 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 20 %
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 21 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.38
Conductivity 170 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		769.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.4 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
Eastern Mudminnow 95
Eastern Mosquitofish 78
Creek Chubsucker 76
Golden Shiner 46
American Eel 23
Tadpole Madtom 18
Pumpkinseed 16
Tessellated Darter 16
Brown Bullhead 5
Redfin Pickerel 4
Largemouth Bass 2
Bluegill 1
Common Carp 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Stinkpot

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 20
Caecidotea Isopod 17
Ischnura 16
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 14
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 10
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Caenis Mayfly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Sialis Alderfly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Hydroporus Water Beetle 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Batracobdella 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.