MBSS Site Summary for: NANT-106-R-2002

Site Photos

Located on REWASTICO CR in the Nanticoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/2002 and again in the summer on 6/18/2002.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,788 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 6 %
Agricultural Land Use 76 %
Forested Land Use 17 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 10 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 92 %
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 18.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.57
Conductivity 190 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		324.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.4 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Pirate Perch 95
Eastern Mudminnow 84
American Eel 30
Least Brook Lamprey 25
Chain Pickerel 11
Pumpkinseed 8
Bluegill 4
Creek Chubsucker 3
Redfin Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Gammarus Amphipod 32
Caecidotea Isopod 30
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 14
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 5
Hydrobaenus Midge 4
Calopteryx Damselfly 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Paramerina Non-Biting Midge 2
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Amphipoda Scud 1
Hydroporus Water Beetle 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.