MBSS Site Summary for: NASS-108-S-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-108-S-2017-At'P'LookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-108-S-2017-At'P'LookingUpstream (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 4/10/2017 and again in the summer on 7/19/2017.

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 - 2.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 19,606 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 4.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 21.9 %
Forested Land Use 63.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 4/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		9/20 (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.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 4.33
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		-62.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 33.294 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 61
Redfin Pickerel 15
Pirate Perch 4
Banded Sunfish 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Common Five-Lined Skink
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
CAECIDOTEA Isopod 50
PSECTROCLADIUS Non-Biting Midge 34
ZALUTSCHIA Non-Biting Midge 8
SYNURELLA Amphipod 8
SIMULIUM Black Fly 6
TANYTARSUS Non-Biting Midges 5
ORTHOCLADIINAE Midge 2
POLYPEDILUM Non-Biting Midges 2
TANYPODINAE Non-Biting Midges 1
CHIRONOMINI Non-Biting Midge 1
DUGESIIDAE Flatworm 1
THIENEMANNIMYIA GROUP Non-Biting Midges 1
NEOPOROUS Predaceous Diving Beetle 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.