MBSS Site Summary for: NANT-311-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-311-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-311-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BARREN 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 8/22/2001.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 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 9,706 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 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 68 %
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 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 47 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 38 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 96 %
Embeddedness 80 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 80%. 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 19.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.68
Conductivity 120 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		216.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.6 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 11 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 112
American Eel 24
Bluegill 16
Pumpkinseed 12
Pirate Perch 7
Chain Pickerel 6
Yellow Bullhead 3
Largemouth Bass 2
Least Brook Lamprey 2
Eastern Mudminnow 1
Margined Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Painted Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Simulium Black Fly 30
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 29
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 12
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 9
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 8
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 6
Eurylophella Mayfly 4
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Stegopterna Black Fly 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 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.