MBSS Site Summary for: PISC-109-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-109-R-2001-24 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-109-R-2001-25 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-109-R-2001-26 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-109-R-2001-27 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-109-R-2001-28 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-109-R-2001-29 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MEETINGHOUSE BR in the Piscataway Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140203.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/20/2001 and again in the summer on 6/26/2001.

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 - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 684 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 88 %
Agricultural Land Use 3 %
Forested Land Use 8 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 10/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 57 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 22 meters 		7/20 (Marginal)
Shading 79 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 22.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.19
Conductivity 360 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		700.2 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 130
Green Sunfish 63
Creek Chub 42
Rosyside Dace 11
Swallowtail Shiner 10
White Sucker 8
Pumpkinseed 7
Redbreast Sunfish 7
Common Shiner 5
Tessellated Darter 4
Creek Chubsucker 3
American Eel 2
Eastern Mudminnow 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Ratsnake
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 37
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 20
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 10
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 10
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 7
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 4
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Stagnicola Air Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Calopteryx Damselfly 1
Isotomurus Elongate-Bodied Springtail 1
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon 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.