MBSS Site Summary for: NASS-302-S-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-302-S-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-302-S-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 3/14/2001 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 - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.6 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 19,604 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 32.7 %
Forested Land Use 61.6 %


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 18/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 80 %
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 22.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.1 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.25
Conductivity 90 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		127.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 12.2 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Golden Shiner 117
Pirate Perch 35
American Eel 31
Eastern Mudminnow 25
Chain Pickerel 17
Redfin Pickerel 17
Creek Chubsucker 16
Yellow Perch 15
Pumpkinseed 7
Tadpole Madtom 7
Bluegill 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel 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
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 50
Lumbriculidae Worm 13
Caecidotea Isopod 9
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 8
Crangonyx Amphipod 7
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 6
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 4
Eurylophella Mayfly 4
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 1
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 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.