MBSS Site Summary for: NASS-301-S-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-301-S-2000-12_01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-301-S-2000-12_02 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-301-S-2000-12_03 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-301-S-2000-12_04 (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 3/28/2000 and again in the summer on 9/12/2000.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 9,547 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 36.3 %
Forested Land Use 58.8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 19/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 9/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters
18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 25 meters
15/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
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 20.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 2.7 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (2.7 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.07
Conductivity 90 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
130.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 17.8 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Pirate Perch 126
Eastern Mudminnow 47
Redfin Pickerel 39
Golden Shiner 33
Tadpole Madtom 22
American Eel 21
Tessellated Darter 6
Pumpkinseed 5
Bluegill 4
Yellow Bullhead 3
Chain Pickerel 1
Creek Chubsucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Eastern Ratsnake
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:

No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:

Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Caecidotea Isopod 29
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 18
Perlesta 16
Cnephia Black Fly 7
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 6
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 6
Simulium Black Fly 5
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Amphipoda Scud 2
Crangonyctidae Scud 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Parachironomus 1
Menetus Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Psectrocladius Non-Biting Midge 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.