MBSS Site Summary for: NASS-217-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-217-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-217-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on NASSAWANGO CR in the Nassawango Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130205.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2001 and again in the summer on 8/23/2001.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 5.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 9,779 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1 %
Agricultural Land Use 42 %
Forested Land Use 53 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 38 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
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 22.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 4.8 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (4.8 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.63
Conductivity 130 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		169.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 10 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Pirate Perch 143
Eastern Mudminnow 104
Redfin Pickerel 56
American Eel 55
Tadpole Madtom 15
Golden Shiner 11
Creek Chubsucker 9
Yellow Bullhead 7
Tessellated Darter 6
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green 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
Stegopterna Black Fly 16
Simulium Black Fly 15
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 15
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 9
Crangonyx Amphipod 6
Caecidotea Isopod 6
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 5
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 5
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Synurella Amphipod 3
Hyalella Amphipod 2
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Scirtidae Marsh Beetle 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 2
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 1
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 1
Zalutschia Non-Biting Midge 1
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Placobdella 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 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.