MBSS Site Summary for: MICR-216-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-216-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-216-R-2002-2 (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 4/2/2002 and again in the summer on 8/8/2002.

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 Fair - 3.0 / 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 1,714 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 92 %
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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 64 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 11 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
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 21.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.36
Conductivity 310 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1256 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.7 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 150
Redbreast Sunfish 27
Bluegill 11
Tessellated Darter 11
Pumpkinseed 9
American Eel 5
Largemouth Bass 3
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Canada Thistle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 27
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 16
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 13
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 11
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 4
Simulium Black Fly 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Orthocladius 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.