MBSS Site Summary for: PISC-207-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-207-R-2001-107 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-207-R-2001-108 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PISCATAWAY CR in the Piscataway Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140203.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/14/2001 and again in the summer on 7/12/2001.

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 Good - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 6,786 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 46 %
Agricultural Land Use 18 %
Forested Land Use 34 %


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 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 70 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 5 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 75 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.05
Conductivity 130 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		356.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.1 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 21 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 47
Creek Chubsucker 23
White Sucker 23
Redbreast Sunfish 19
Swallowtail Shiner 19
Margined Madtom 17
Eastern Mudminnow 15
Satinfin Shiner 12
Creek Chub 11
Common Shiner 10
Fallfish 10
Pumpkinseed 10
Blacknose Dace 8
American Eel 5
Yellow Bullhead 5
Chain Pickerel 3
Least Brook Lamprey 3
Sea Lamprey 3
Golden Shiner 2
Pirate Perch 1
Tadpole Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Ratsnake
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 33
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 24
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 6
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 5
Stegopterna Black Fly 5
Stenelmis Beetle 4
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 3
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Paratendipes European Non-Biting Midge 1
Chimarra Fingernet Caddisfly 1
Orthocladiinae Midge 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheocricotopus 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.