MBSS Site Summary for: PG-N-071-212-97


Located on SOUTHWEST BR UT1 in the Western Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02131103.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/4/1997 and again in the summer on 6/10/1997.

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 - 3.7 / 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 1,365 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 22.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 50.3 %
Forested Land Use 24.6 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.12
Conductivity 522 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1005 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.7 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 77
Tessellated Darter 42
Blacknose Dace 30
White Sucker 18
Swallowtail Shiner 17
Golden Shiner 14
Redbreast Sunfish 14
Creek Chub 7
Creek Chubsucker 3
Pumpkinseed 3
American Eel 1
Fallfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 15
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 11
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 7
Caecidotea Isopod 5
Eurylophella Mayfly 5
Crangonyx Amphipod 5
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 5
Calopteryx Damselfly 4
Stenochironomus European Non-Biting Midge 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Stictochironomus Non-Biting Midge 3
Hydrobaenus Midge 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Thienemannimyia Non-Biting Midges 2
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning 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.