MBSS Site Summary for: NASS-108-S-2013

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-108-S-2013-MidpointPdownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-108-S-2013-MidpointPupstream (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 3/11/2013 and again in the summer on 7/30/2013.

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 - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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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 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 2 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
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.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 4.3
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		-68.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 23.3096 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 204
Redfin Pickerel 22
Pirate Perch 11
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Spring Peeper
Southern Leopard Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 26
Pseudorthocladius Non-Biting Midges 17
Crangonyx Amphipod 15
Stegopterna Black Fly 12
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 9
Hexatoma Crane Fly 4
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Bezzia Biting Midge 2
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 2
Zalutschia Non-Biting Midge 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 2
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 2
Ostrocerca Stonefly 2
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Erioptera Cranefly 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 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.