MBSS Site Summary for: NANT-108-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-108-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-108-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-108-R-2002-3 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-108-R-2002-4 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PLUM CR UT in the Nanticoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/13/2002 and again in the summer on 6/5/2002.

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 Poor - 1.7 / 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 344 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 69 %
Forested Land Use 29 %


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 2/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 25 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (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.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.1 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.24
Conductivity 160 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		361.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 9.5 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 25
Pirate Perch 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 16
Synurella Amphipod 12
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 11
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 9
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 7
Lumbriculidae Worm 7
Chironomus Non-Biting Midges 5
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 5
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 3
Hydroporus Water Beetle 3
Tabanidae Horse Fly 3
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Somatochlora 2
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 2
Hydrobius Water Scavenger Beetle 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Amphipoda Scud 1
Libellulidae Skimmer Dragonfly 1
Ferrissia Small Air-Breathing Freshwater Limpets 1
Microvelia Small Water Strider Beetle 1
Cordulegaster Spiketail Dragonfly 1
Enochrus 1
Ischnura 1
Matus 1
Phagocata 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Scirtidae Marsh Beetle 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 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.