MBSS Site Summary for: MILE-106-R-2007

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MILE-106-R-2007-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MILE-106-R-2007-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Glebe Creek in the Miles River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130502.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/22/2007 and again in the summer on 6/25/2007.

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 - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 439 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 33.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 55.7 %
Forested Land Use 8.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 5/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 73 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 2 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 40 %
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 19.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.19
Conductivity 286 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		994.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2669 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 20
Fathead Minnow 15
Green Sunfish 14
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Gartersnake
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 12
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 9
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 9
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 7
Calopteryx Damselfly 6
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 6
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 5
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 4
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 4
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 3
Synurella Amphipod 3
Stagnicola Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 3
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 2
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Caecidotea Isopod 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.