MBSS Site Summary for: NANT-107-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-107-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window)

Located on REWASTICO CR in the Nanticoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/2001 and again in the summer on 7/23/2001.

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.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 5,888 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 3 %
Agricultural Land Use 67 %
Forested Land Use 28 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 10 meters 		5/20 (Poor)
Shading 95 %
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 23.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.92
Conductivity 140 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		306.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.7 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Pirate Perch 89
American Eel 67
Least Brook Lamprey 58
Brown Bullhead 57
Pumpkinseed 40
Bluegill 27
Eastern Mudminnow 19
Creek Chubsucker 3
Chain Pickerel 2
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 23
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 23
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 10
Simulium Black Fly 9
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Corduliidae Emerald Dragonfly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Stegopterna Black Fly 1
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Stictochironomus Non-Biting Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Conchapelopia 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.