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

Site Photos

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

Located on Massey 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 6/17/2009.

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 - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 162 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 0 %
Agricultural Land Use 40.3 %
Forested Land Use 59.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
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.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 3.4 mg/L
Dissolved oxygen levels measured in the stream were very low (3.4 mg/L). Many fishes and other aquatic animals cannot tolerate low levels of oxygen in the water.
pH (lab) 6.2
Conductivity 175 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		231.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 15.2903 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 4 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 115
American Eel 7
Redfin Pickerel 6
Pirate Perch 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
Privet
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Musculium Fingernail Clam 23
Crangonyx Amphipod 13
Caecidotea Isopod 12
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 11
Hydrobaenus Midge 10
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 9
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 6
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 4
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 3
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 2
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Bittacomorpha 1
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Spirosperma Aquatic Oligochaete Worm 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 1
Agabus Predatory Aquatic Beetle 1
Crangonyctidae Scud 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 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.