MBSS Site Summary for: PG-N-253-122-97


Located on RITCHIE BR in the Western Branch watershed, 8-digit code: 02131103.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/7/1997 and again in the summer on 6/3/1997.

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 Poor - 2.0 / 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 136 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 17.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 18 %
Forested Land Use 59.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 9/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 10/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 25 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 13.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.23
Conductivity 422 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		2091 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 7.5 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 2 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 131
Blacknose Dace 118
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus

Exotic Plants:
No exotic plants noted.
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 23
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 17
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 9
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 9
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 7
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 5
Larsia Non-Biting Midge 4
Ironoquia Northern Caddisfly 3
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Collembola Springtail 3
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Culicoides 1
Sialis Alderfly 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Pisidium Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 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.