MBSS Site Summary for: PG-N-219-306-97


Located on 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 7/10/1997.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 18,039 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 26.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 34.3 %
Forested Land Use 37.7 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 10/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 77 %
Embeddedness 98 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 98%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.14
Conductivity 360 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		531.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4 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 19 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 78
Bluegill 69
Satinfin Shiner 30
Swallowtail Shiner 28
Redbreast Sunfish 24
Fallfish 21
American Eel 17
Largemouth Bass 12
Yellow Perch 8
Eastern Mudminnow 4
Creek Chubsucker 3
Cutlip Minnow 3
Least Brook Lamprey 3
Margined Madtom 3
Pumpkinseed 3
Black Crappie 1
Tadpole Madtom 1
White Sucker 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Marbled Salamander
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Cambaridae

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydrobaenus Midge 27
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 11
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 5
Prosimulium Black Fly 5
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 5
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 3
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 2
Stegopterna Black Fly 2
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Stenelmis 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.