MBSS Site Summary for: NASS-209-B-2007

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-209-B-2007-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-209-B-2007-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Nassawango Creek in the Nassawango Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130205.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/25/2007 and again in the summer on 7/9/2007.

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 Good - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 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 24,626 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 30.9 %
Forested Land Use 64 %


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 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
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.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.5 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.5 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.19
Conductivity 67 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		156.9 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 19.7159 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 17 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Golden Shiner 74
American Eel 26
Creek Chubsucker 22
Pirate Perch 15
Pumpkinseed 15
Chain Pickerel 14
Yellow Perch 14
Eastern Mudminnow 11
Redfin Pickerel 11
Margined Madtom 10
Least Brook Lamprey 8
Tadpole Madtom 8
Tessellated Darter 6
Black Crappie 1
Bluegill 1
Brown Bullhead 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Northern Black Racer
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Southern Leopard Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus acutus acutus

Exotic Plants:
No Exotic Plants Observed
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 19
Xylotopus Midge 12
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 11
Eurylophella Mayfly 10
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 3
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 3
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
Hyalella Amphipod 3
Nyctiophylax 2
Probezzia Biting Midges 2
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Amnicola Freshwater Snail 2
Hydroporus Water Beetle 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 2
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Ephydridae Shore Fly 1
Campeloma 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Gomphus Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 1
Perlesta 1
Enchytraeidae 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.