MBSS Site Summary for: PG-N-141-215-97


Located on NORTHEAST BR WESTERN BR in the Western Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02131103.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/12/1997 and again in the summer on 6/26/1997.

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 Good - 4.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 5,510 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 9.2 %
Agricultural Land Use 53.1 %
Forested Land Use 35.8 %


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 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 8/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 1/20 (Poor)
Shading 70 %
Embeddedness 90 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 90%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.06
Conductivity 346 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		382.8 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.5 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 17 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Bluegill 53
American Eel 26
Fallfish 19
Creek Chubsucker 13
Satinfin Shiner 13
Tessellated Darter 13
White Sucker 11
Redbreast Sunfish 10
Pumpkinseed 7
Golden Shiner 6
Largemouth Bass 6
Swallowtail Shiner 6
Redfin Pickerel 5
Eastern Mudminnow 2
Gizzard Shad 2
Pirate Perch 1
Tadpole Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 14
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 14
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 7
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 7
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 4
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 2
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Stenelmis Beetle 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Pseudosuccinea Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 2
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Hyalella Amphipod 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Pericoma 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 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.