MBSS Site Summary for: NASS-108-S-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-108-S-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-108-S-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MILLVILLE CREEK in the Nassawango Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130205.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2008 and again in the summer on 7/9/2008.

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 Poor - 2.1 / 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 2,848 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1.1 %
Agricultural Land Use 17.2 %
Forested Land Use 75.1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 98 %
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 21.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 1.8 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (1.8 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 4.24
Conductivity 76 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		-75.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 18.0932 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 3 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 41
Pirate Perch 3
Redfin Pickerel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Fowler's Toad
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 43
Caecidotea Isopod 18
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 17
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 11
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 3
Stegopterna Black Fly 3
Hexatoma Crane Fly 2
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Dytiscidae Predaceous Diving Beetle 1
Crangonyx 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.