MBSS Site Summary for: PISC-327-A-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-327-A-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PISC-327-A-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PISCATAWAY CREEK in the Piscataway Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02140203.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2012 and again in the summer on 6/28/2012.

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 - 3.7 / 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 36,320 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 41.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 9.1 %
Forested Land Use 46.1 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 7/20 (Marginal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 65 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 14 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 40 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 7.35
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		431.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.9155 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
Longnose Dace 111
American Eel 105
Bluegill 79
Pumpkinseed 41
Tessellated Darter 36
Spottail Shiner 25
White Sucker 23
Eastern Mosquitofish 20
Eastern Silvery Minnow 20
Satinfin Shiner 14
Brown Bullhead 11
Redbreast Sunfish 8
White Perch 5
Creek Chub 4
Green Sunfish 3
Eastern Mudminnow 2
Largemouth Bass 2
Blacknose Dace 1
Striped Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Water Snake
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
English Ivy
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 27
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 16
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 16
Hydrobaenus Midge 7
Orthocladiinae Midge 6
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 4
TANYTARSINI Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Haploperla Green Stonefly 2
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
HYDROPSYCHIDAE Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
HEPTAGENIIDAE Flathead Mayfly 1
COENAGRIONIDAE Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Prosimulium Black Fly 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle 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.