MBSS Site Summary for: NANT-113-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-113-R-2002-1 (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 3/14/2002 and again in the summer on 6/17/2002.

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 - 4.3 / 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 2,300 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 5 %
Agricultural Land Use 78 %
Forested Land Use 16 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 6/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 5/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		8/20 (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 16.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.68
Conductivity 190 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		336 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 72
American Eel 45
Least Brook Lamprey 34
Bluegill 26
Pumpkinseed 5
Pirate Perch 3
Chain Pickerel 2
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 51
Gammarus Amphipod 36
Caecidotea Isopod 6
Crangonyx Amphipod 5
Calopteryx Damselfly 4
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 4
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 4
Apsectrotanypus Non-Biting Midges 3
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 2
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Paramerina Non-Biting Midge 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Sialis Alderfly 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 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.