MBSS Site Summary for: PG-N-219-324-97


Located on WESTERN BR in the Western Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02131103.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/2/1997 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 - 5.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 18,186 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 26.7 %
Agricultural Land Use 34.1 %
Forested Land Use 38 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality 6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 80 %
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 22.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.06
Conductivity 456 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		527.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.8 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
Bluegill 65
Tessellated Darter 31
American Eel 29
Eastern Mudminnow 19
Redbreast Sunfish 16
Pumpkinseed 15
Swallowtail Shiner 15
Largemouth Bass 14
Satinfin Shiner 11
Creek Chubsucker 9
Fallfish 9
Redfin Pickerel 9
Least Brook Lamprey 8
Yellow Perch 8
Black Crappie 5
White Sucker 4
Cutlip Minnow 3
Margined Madtom 2
Golden Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Box Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Pickerel Frog
Stinkpot

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 24
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 16
Hydrobaenus Midge 13
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 6
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 4
Limnodrilus Worm 3
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 2
Nematomorpha Horsehair Worm 2
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Naididae Aquatic 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.