MBSS Site Summary for: NEWP-111-B-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NEWP-111-B-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NEWP-111-B-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on Kitts Branch in the Newport Bay watershed, 8-digit code: 02130105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/2009 and again in the summer on 6/1/2009.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,732 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 24.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 48.2 %
Forested Land Use 23.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 63 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 12 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 19.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.8 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.71
Conductivity 193 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		637.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.4777 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Pumpkinseed 94
American Eel 35
Bluegill 16
Eastern Mudminnow 16
Brown Bullhead 14
Eastern Mosquitofish 6
Largemouth Bass 6
Banded Killifish 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Procambarus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Common Reed (Phragmites)
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 36
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 21
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 11
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 5
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 5
Dytiscidae Predaceous Diving Beetle 3
Gammarus Amphipod 3
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 3
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Gyrinus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Limnodrilus Worm 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.