MBSS Site Summary for: NANT-114-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-114-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 8/24/2001.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 6,807 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 2 %
Agricultural Land Use 64 %
Forested Land Use 32 %


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 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 32 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 70 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 70%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.88
Conductivity 160 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		293.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.2 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 29
Pumpkinseed 22
American Eel 17
Bluegill 10
Eastern Mudminnow 8
Brown Bullhead 4
Chain Pickerel 1
Eastern Mosquitofish 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Least Brook Lamprey 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 40
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 16
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 14
Caecidotea Isopod 7
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Labrundinia Non-Biting Midges 3
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Eurylophella Mayfly 3
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Larsia Non-Biting Midge 1
Paramerina Non-Biting Midge 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Gammarus Amphipod 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.