MBSS Site Summary for: NCRW-003-N-2004


Located on MIDDLE BR OF CHOPAWAPISIC CR in the watershed, 8-digit code: .
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/8/2004 and again in the summer on 6/15/2004.

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 N R
Benthic IBI N R

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,870 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 1 %
Forested Land Use 99 %


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 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 52 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 29 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 65 %
Embeddedness 40 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.88
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		151.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.2 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Redbreast Sunfish 24
Margined Madtom 18
Creek Chubsucker 11
Blacknose Dace 10
Common Shiner 5
Tessellated Darter 5
Chain Pickerel 3
American Eel 1
Cutlip Minnow 1
Fallfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Spring Peeper

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 24
Simulium Black Fly 17
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 15
Prosimulium Black Fly 13
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 10
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 5
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 4
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 4
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Elmidae Riffle Beetle 2
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Chimarra Fingernet 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.