MBSS Site Summary for: NASS-302-S-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-302-S-2012-MidpointPdownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NASS-302-S-2012-MidpointPupstream (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 3/13/2012 and again in the summer on 7/12/2012.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 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 6.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 24.7 %
Forested Land Use 60.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 6/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		19/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 70 %
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) 6.24
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		138.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 16.8418 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 36
Pirate Perch 18
American Eel 17
Yellow Bullhead 6
Golden Shiner 5
Brown Bullhead 4
Black Crappie 3
Bluegill 3
Tadpole Madtom 3
Redfin Pickerel 2
Chain Pickerel 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Water Snake

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Porcelainberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 14
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 14
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 13
Simulium Black Fly 11
Stegopterna Black Fly 10
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 7
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 6
Caecidotea Isopod 5
Neoporus 4
Hyalella Amphipod 4
Crangonyx Amphipod 3
Ischnura 2
Cnephia Black Fly 2
Prosimulium Black Fly 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Tropisternus Water Scavenger Beetle 2
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Nasiaeschna 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 1
Zalutschia 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.